Hill B, Kilsby J, Rogerson GW, McIntosh RT, Ginger CD. The enzymes of pyrimidine biosynthesis in a range of parasitic protozoa and helminths.
Mol Biochem Parasitol 1981;
2:123-34. [PMID:
6111750 DOI:
10.1016/0166-6851(81)90094-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The activities of carbamoylphosphate synthase, aspartate transcarbamoylase, dihydroorotase, orotate phosphoribosyl transferase and orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase, five of the six enzymes of pyrimidine biosynthesis, have been measured in Crithidia fasciculata, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania major, Trichomonas vaginalis, Eimeria tenella, Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium berghei, Fasciola gigantica, Schistosoma mansoni, Hymenolepis diminuta, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Trichuris muris. The majority of organisms contained all five enzyme activities. However, in T. vaginalis only carbamoylphosphate synthetase activity and in E. tenella only orotate phosphoribosyl transferase and orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase activities could be detected. It appears therefore that the ability to synthesise pyrimidines by the de novo route is probably both common and widespread amongst parasitic organisms.
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