Taenia solium dUTPase: A potential target for anti-human cysticercosis

Acta Trop. 2007 Mar;101(3):266-70. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2007.02.002. Epub 2007 Feb 15.

Abstract

dUTPase plays an essential role in pyrimidine metabolism in many organisms. In this study we report the dUTPase-encoding gene (Tdut) from Taenia solium oncospheres and larvae. Alignment reveals that the putative protein contains five conserved motifs that are often found in many characterized dUTPases. The deduced amino acid sequence has only 65.2% identity with human dUTPases. This low identity encourages its use for the design of new drugs against cysticercosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cysticercosis / drug therapy
  • Cysticercosis / etiology
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Pyrophosphatases / classification
  • Pyrophosphatases / genetics*
  • Taenia solium / enzymology*
  • Taenia solium / genetics

Substances

  • Pyrophosphatases
  • dUTP pyrophosphatase