The role of alternative oxidases in Trypanosomatidae

• Grant number: 24/14375-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: February 07, 2025
• End date: February 27, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Ariel Mariano Silber
• Grantee: Ariel Mariano Silber
• Visiting researcher: Vyacheslav Yurchenko
• Visiting researcher institution: University Of Ostrava/Osu, Czech Republic
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/12938-0 - Amino acid metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi: a toolbox to survive in hostile environments, AP.TEM

Abstract

Trypanosomatids are deficient in some of the components of the Complex I of the respiratory chain. This would limit the cell ability to re-oxidize NADH to keep an adequate ratio NAD+/NADH, which in turn is critical for a normal functionality of critical metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis or the oxidation of some amino acids. However, the functionality of the other complexes of the electron transfer chain is well documented, and the oxidative phosphorylation through the coupling of the respiratory chain to ATP synthesis through mitochondrial complex V (F1FO-ATP synthase) is well demonstrated for certain life cycle stages. (AU)