A novel clade of unique eukaryotic ribonucleotide reductase R2 subunits is exclusive to apicomplexan parasites.

ABSTRACT: Apicomplexa are protist parasites of tremendous medical and economic importance, causing millions of deaths and billions of dollars in losses each year. Apicomplexan-related diseases may be controlled via inhibition of essential enzymes. Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) provides the only de novo means of synthesizing deoxyribonucleotides, essential precursors for DNA replication and repair. RNR has long been the target of antibacterial and antiviral therapeutics. However, targeting this ubiquitous protein in eukaryotic pathogens may be problematic unless these proteins differ significantly from that of their respective host. The typical eukaryotic RNR enzymes belong to class Ia, and the holoenzyme consists minimally of two R1 and two R2 subunits (α₂β₂). We generated a comparative, annotated,

SUBMITTER: Munro JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3824934 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature