Molecular characteristics and physiology of microsporidia

A survey of the molecular features of microsporidia is presented which attempts to comment on unresolved questions concerning the physiology of these amitochondrial intracellular parasites. Various transports of host-derived molecules can be predicted and trehalose appears as a potential reserve of...

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Veröffentlicht in:Microbes and infection 2001-04, Vol.3 (5), p.407-415
Hauptverfasser: Metenier, G, Vivares, C P
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:A survey of the molecular features of microsporidia is presented which attempts to comment on unresolved questions concerning the physiology of these amitochondrial intracellular parasites. Various transports of host-derived molecules can be predicted and trehalose appears as a potential reserve of glucose for energy metabolism. Significant insights into membrane lipids, polyamine metabolism and sporogony-specific proteins have been gained. Some species, such as Encephalitozoon cuniculi, are heterogeneous entities and harbor a small genome. Although showing a variation in genome size of 8.5-fold, microsporidia share reduced rDNA genes. Finally, data on gene organization and a possible evolutionary relationship with fungi are considered.
ISSN:1286-4579
1769-714X
DOI:10.1016/S1286-4579(01)01398-3