Study of Aquaporins in Leishmania donovani
Author Information
Author(s): Biyani Neha, Mandal Swati, Seth Chandan, Saint Malika, Natarajan Krishnamurthy, Ghosh Indira, Madhubala Rentala
Primary Institution: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
The aquaporin family of proteins in Leishmania donovani may serve as potential targets for chemotherapy.
Conclusion
The study identifies and characterizes five aquaporin genes in Leishmania donovani, revealing their structural and functional roles.
Supporting Evidence
- The study reports the presence of five aquaporin genes in Leishmania donovani.
- Functional characterization showed that LdAQP1 acts as an aquaglyceroporin.
- Localization studies indicated that some aquaporins are found in specific parts of the parasite cells.
- Real-time PCR confirmed the expression of four aquaporin genes.
- Structural modeling revealed similarities between LdAQPs and plant aquaporins.
Takeaway
This study looks at special proteins in a parasite that help it manage water and other substances, which could be important for treating diseases caused by this parasite.
Methodology
The study involved cloning, sequencing, and functional characterization of aquaporin genes in yeast, along with structural modeling.
Limitations
The expression of one aquaporin gene was undetectable, which may limit understanding of its role.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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