Birkholtz, Lyn-MarieWilliams, MarniNiemand, JandeliLouw, Abraham IzakPersson, LoHeby, Olle2011-10-112011-10-112011-04-21Birkholtz, LM, Williams, M, Niemand, J, Louw, AI, Persson, L, & Heby, O 2011, 'Polyamine homoeostasis as a drug target in pathogenic protozoa : peculiarities and possibilities', Biochemical Journal, vol. 438, no. 2, pp. 229-244.0264-6021 (print)1470-8728 (online)10.1042/BJ20110362http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17421New drugs are urgently needed for the treatment of tropical and subtropical parasitic diseases, such as African sleeping sickness, Chagas’ disease, leishmaniasis and malaria. Enzymes in polyamine biosynthesis and thiol metabolism, as well as polyamine transporters, are potential drug targets within these organisms. In the present review, the current knowledge of unique properties of polyamine metabolism in these parasites is outlined. These properties include prozyme regulation of AdoMetDC (Sadenosylmethionine decarboxylase) activity in trypanosomatids, co-expression of ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) and AdoMetDC activities in a single protein in plasmodia, and formation of trypanothione, a unique compound linking polyamine and thiol metabolism in trypanosomatids. Particularly interesting features within polyamine metabolism in these parasites are highlighted for their potential in selective therapeutic strategies.en© 2011 The Author(s). The author(s) has paid for this article to be freely available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence.α-difluoromethylornithineS-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC)Spermidine synthaseLeishmania -- TreatmentMalaria -- TreatmentAfrican trypanosomiasis -- TreatmentChagas' disease -- TreatmentTrypanosomaOrnithine decarboxylasePolyaminesAdenosylmethionineProtozoa, PathogenicArticle