The Trypanosoma cruzi Protein TcHTE Is Critical for Heme Uptake

摘要: Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, presents nutritional requirements for several metabolites. It requires heme biosynthesis heme-proteins involved in essential metabolic pathways like mitochondrial cytochromes and respiratory complexes, as well enzymes sterols unsaturated fatty acids. However, this parasite lacks a complete route its synthesis. In view these facts, T. cruzi has to incorporate from environment during life cycle. other words, their hosts must supply heme-protein Although acquisition is fundamental issue parasite's replication survival, how cofactor imported distributed poorly understood. work, we used different fluorescent analogs explore uptake along life-cycle stages showing that imports it replicative stages: epimastigote insect vector intracellular amastigote mammalian host. Also, identified characterized protein (TcHTE) with 55% sequence similarity LHR1 (protein L. amazonensis transport), which located flagellar pocket, where transport nutrients proceeds trypanosomatids. We postulate TcHTE improving efficiency or trafficking cruzi.