Search

This study aims to functionally characterize two enzymes, HGPRT and XPRT, of an essential purine salvage pathway in the infection stage of Trypanosoma brucei. Localization, in vivo function and in vitro activity of these enzymes were characterized. Effect of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, putative inhibitors of HGXPRT, on the viability of bloodstream form of T. brucei was evaluated.

The aim of this study was to create RNAi double-knockdown of two enzymes HGPRT and XPRT and to determine if these enzymes are essential for growth of the bloodstream stage of Trypanosoma brucei. Further, we aim to investigate the intracellular localization of these two enzymes using digitonin fractionation and immunofluorescent assay. In addition, cytotoxicity screen of three selected acyclic nucleoside phosphanates was permormed using T. brucei cell line overexpressing HGPRT and XPRT enzymes to validate their putative targets.