TY - JOUR
T1 - DEAD/DExH-Box RNA helicases in selected human parasites
AU - Marchat, Laurence A.
AU - Arzola-Rodríguez, Silvia I.
AU - Hernandez-de la Cruz, Olga
AU - Lopez-Rosas, Itzel
AU - Lopez-Camarillo, Cesar
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Korean Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine.
PY - 2015/10
Y1 - 2015/10
N2 - DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases catalyze the folding and remodeling of RNA molecules in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as in many viruses. They are characterized by the presence of the helicase domain with conserved motifs that are essential for ATP binding and hydrolysis, RNA interaction, and unwinding activities. Large families of DEAD/DExH-box proteins have been described in different organisms, and their role in all molecular processes involving RNA, from transcriptional regulation to mRNA decay, have been described. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about DEAD/DExH-box proteins in selected protozoan and nematode parasites of medical importance worldwide, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Brugia malayi. We discuss the functional characterization of several proteins in an attempt to understand better the molecular mechanisms involving RNA in these pathogens. The current data also highlight that DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases might represent feasible drug targets due to their vital role in parasite growth and development.
AB - DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases catalyze the folding and remodeling of RNA molecules in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as in many viruses. They are characterized by the presence of the helicase domain with conserved motifs that are essential for ATP binding and hydrolysis, RNA interaction, and unwinding activities. Large families of DEAD/DExH-box proteins have been described in different organisms, and their role in all molecular processes involving RNA, from transcriptional regulation to mRNA decay, have been described. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about DEAD/DExH-box proteins in selected protozoan and nematode parasites of medical importance worldwide, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Brugia malayi. We discuss the functional characterization of several proteins in an attempt to understand better the molecular mechanisms involving RNA in these pathogens. The current data also highlight that DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases might represent feasible drug targets due to their vital role in parasite growth and development.
KW - Nematode
KW - Protozoa
KW - RNA helicase
KW - RNA metabolism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945934715&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.583
DO - 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.583
M3 - Artículo de revisión
C2 - 26537038
SN - 0023-4001
VL - 53
SP - 583
EP - 595
JO - Korean Journal of Parasitology
JF - Korean Journal of Parasitology
IS - 5
ER -