Toxoplasma gondii lacks the enzymes required for de novo arginine biosynthesis and arginine starvation triggers cyst formation
BA Fox, JP Gigley, DJ Bzik - International journal for parasitology, 2004 - Elsevier
Two separate carbamoyl phosphate synthetase activities are required for the de novo
synthesis of pyrimidines and arginine in most eukaryotes. Toxoplasma gondii is novel in
possessing a single carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II gene that corresponds to a
glutamine-dependent form required for pyrimidine biosynthesis. We therefore examined
arginine acquisition in T. gondii to determine whether the single carbamoyl phosphate
synthetase II activity could provide both pyrimidine and arginine biosynthesis. We found that …
synthesis of pyrimidines and arginine in most eukaryotes. Toxoplasma gondii is novel in
possessing a single carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II gene that corresponds to a
glutamine-dependent form required for pyrimidine biosynthesis. We therefore examined
arginine acquisition in T. gondii to determine whether the single carbamoyl phosphate
synthetase II activity could provide both pyrimidine and arginine biosynthesis. We found that …