Trypanosomal glycolytic enzyme

Trypanosomal glycolytic enzymes are a group of proteins that catalyze the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP in parasites of the family Trypanosomatidae, including Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. In the bloodstream form of these parasites, glycolysis is the sole source of energy, making these enzymes essential for survival (Verlinde et al., 2001). A unique feature of these organisms is that the first seven enzymes of the glycolytic pathway are sequestered within specialized peroxisome-like organelles called glycosomes (Haanstra et al., 2016). This compartmentalization, along with significant structural and regulatory differences between the parasite enzymes and their human homologs, makes them attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. Inhibiting key enzymes such as phosphofructokinase (PFK), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), or pyruvate kinase (PYK) leads to a rapid depletion of ATP and subsequent parasite death (McNae et al., 2021). While several drugs like suramin and experimental inhibitors have been shown to target these enzymes, achieving high selectivity and effective delivery to the glycosome remains a primary challenge in drug development.

Other names

Glycosomal glycolytic enzymesTrypanosomatid glycolytic enzymesGlycosomal enzymesTrypanosoma brucei glycolytic enzymes

Inhibition of glycolytic enzymes leads to a rapid depletion of intracellular ATP, causing metabolic collapse and parasite death.