Investigating the Kennedy Pathway: phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Phospholipids are the most abundant lipid class in all cellular membranes. In eukaryotes, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) constitute the majority of phospholipids species. A major route of PC and PE biosynthesis is the Kennedy pathway, which is ubiquitous and often essential in eukaryotes. The importance of PC/PE synthesis in parasitic protozoa is well demonstrated and the enzymes involved have been shown to be good drug target candidates. For Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, its lipid metabolism is poorly understood. As drugs to treat Chagas' disease are few in number, antiquated and toxic, with poor efficacy in the chronic phase of disease, new drug targets are being sought. This project aims to characterise the Kennedy pathway of Trypanosoma cruzi to better understand its lipid metabolism and to deduce if any enzymes in the pathway are required for survival.