Characterization of Phytomonas sp. kinetoplast DNA

Isolation and characterization of kinetoplast DNA and RNA of Phytomonas davidi.

Kinetoplast DNA networks were isolated from stationary-phase culture forms of Phyromonas davidi. The networks banded in CsCl at a density of 1.699 g/ml and consisted of covalently closed circular molecules. The networks were sensitive to shear forces and exhibited several discrete sedimenting components in neutral and alkaline sucrose. Closed monomeric minicircles were isolated from sonicated n...

Physical characterization of a kinetoplast DNA fragment with unusual properties.

A 414-base pair fragment from a Leishmania tarentolae kinetoplast DNA minicircle has unusual physical properties. We reported previously that in comparison to phi X174 and pBR322 control fragments, the kinetoplast fragment behaves in gel electrophoresis, gel filtration, and electric dichroism experiments as if it has an unusually compact conformation. We accounted for these unusual properties b...

Sequence heterogeneity in kinetoplast minicircle DNA of Leishmania majer

Kinetoplast DNA: A Promising Drug Target for Treatment of Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by various species of the genus Leishmania, (trypanosomatidae family) that is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. The disease can present in a range of clinical forms, including dermal lesions, metastasis mucocutaneous forms, and fatal visceral forms. In this non-systematic review, we aimed at introducing the role of kinetoplast DNA (kD...

Kinetoplast DNA Replication

The order Kinetoplastida is composed of several families of flagellated protozoa which are among the most ancient of the eukaryotes. The most prominent members of this order are parasites that are responsible for major tropical diseases. These parasites include Trypanosoma brucei, the African trypanosome; Trypanosoma cruzi, the South American trypanosome; and several species of Leishmania. Othe...