The bioenergetics of the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei: Is the mitochondrion capable of ATP production?

MSc. Gergana Hristova TALEVA

Doctoral thesis

Bioenergetics of the bloodstream form of \kur{Trypanosoma brucei}

Abstract:

The main aim of my thesis is to challenge the current view of how the unicellular parasite bloodstream form (BF) T. brucei supplies its mitochondrion with ATP that is needed for FoF1-ATP synthase (complex V, CV) to generate the essential mitochondrial membrane potential (m). It is widely accepted that majority of the cellular ATP is produced by highly efficient glycolysis in the cytosol and a proportion of this ATP is imported into the mt matrix via ADP/ATP carrier (AAC). We show that BF T. brucei is capable of its own mt ATP production by SUBPHOS I and II and that there is a clear interplay between SUBPHOS pathways and AAC activity. These interchangeable activities allow parasites to generated mt ATP through different metabolic pathways depending on the available carbon source, thus allowing the parasite to adapt to different environmental niches in its mammalian host.

Jazyk práce: Czech

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 22. 12. 2023

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: doc. RNDr. Alena Panicucci Zíková, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Doctoral programme / odbor:
Molecular and Cell Biology / Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics