The Roles of Pteridine Reductase 1 and Dihydrofolate Reductase-Thymidylate Synthase in Pteridine Metabolism in the Protozoan Parasite Leishmania major

Abstract excerpt

Trypanosomatid protozoans depend upon exogenous sources of pteridines (pterins or folates) for growth. A broad spectrum pteridine reductase (PTR1) was recently identified in Leishmania major, whose sequence places it in the short chain alcohol dehydrogenase protein family although its enzymatic activities resemble dihydrofolate reductases. The properties of PTR1 suggested a role in essential pteridine salvage as...