Heme protein biochemistry of the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Heme is a biomolecular tool whose purpose depends on the protein that wields it. Its most famous role is as the oxygen-binding site in hemoglobin of our red blood cells. However, heme has many other roles as well, and for most organisms it is indispensible. Until recently, the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia was thought to be one of the rare organisms that did not need heme, as it lacked key enzymes that require this cofactor. However, the genome of Giardia lamblia has genes that resemble those of heme proteins. We have cloned several of these genes and find that the proteins encoded by them are heme-binding proteins of the globin and cytochrome class. The aim of our work is to characterize the properties of these proteins, their location within Giardia, and the biochemical pathways that they are associated with. In this way we will have a fuller understanding of the biochemistry of an important human and animal pathogen.