Expansion of the target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase family and function in Leishmania shows that TOR3 is required for acidocalcisome biogenesis and animal infectivity.

ABSTRACT: Target of rapamycin (TOR) kinases are key regulators of cell growth, proliferation, and structure in eukaryotes, processes that are highly coordinated during the infectious cycle of eukaryotic pathogens. Database mining revealed three TOR kinases in the trypanosomatid parasite Leishmania major, as defined by homology to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related kinase (PIKK) family and a signature conserved FKBP12/rapamycin-binding domain. Consistent with the essential roles of TOR complexes in other organisms, we were unable to generate null TOR1 or TOR2 mutants in cultured L. major promastigotes. In contrast, tor3(-) null mutants were readily obtained; while exhibiting somewhat slower growth, tor3(-) maintained normal morphology, rapamycin sensitivity, and differentiation into the animal-inf

SUBMITTER: Madeira da Silva L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2900677 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature