Leishmania major UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase salvages galactose for glycoconjugate biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Leishmaniases are a set of tropical and sub-tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania whose severity ranges from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. Leishmania parasites synthesise a wide array of cell surface and secreted glycoconjugates that play important roles in infection. These glycoconjugates are particularly abundant in the promastigote form and known to be essential for establishment of infection in the insect midgut and effective transmission to the mammalian host. Since they are rich in galactose, their biosynthesis requires an ample supply of UDP-galactose. This nucleotide-sugar arises from epimerisation of UDP-glucose but also from an uncharacterised galactose salvage pathway. In this study, we evaluated the role of the ne

SUBMITTER: Damerow S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4722067 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature