Virulence of Leishmania major in macrophages and mice requires the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

ABSTRACT: Leishmania are protozoan parasites that replicate within mature phagolysosomes of mammalian macrophages. To define the biochemical composition of the phagosome and carbon source requirements of intracellular stages of L. major, we investigated the role and requirement for the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP). L. major FBP was constitutively expressed in both extracellular and intracellular stages and was primarily targeted to glycosomes, modified peroxisomes that also contain glycolytic enzymes. A L. major FBP-null mutant was unable to grow in the absence of hexose, and suspension in glycerol-containing medium resulted in rapid depletion of internal carbohydrate reserves. L. major Deltafbp promastigotes were internalized by macrophages and differentiated into amastigo

SUBMITTER: Naderer T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1459384 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature