Evolution of parasitism in kinetoplastid flagellates

Kinetoplastid protists offer a unique opportunity for studying the evolution of parasitism. While all their close relatives are either photo- or phagotrophic, a number of kinetoplastid species are facultative or obligatory parasites, supporting a hypothesis that parasitism has emerged within this group of flagellates. In this review we discuss origin and evolution of parasitism in bodonids and trypanosomatids and specific adaptations allowing these protozoa to co-exist with their hosts. We also explore the limits of biodiversity of monoxenous (one host) trypanosomatids and some features distinguishing them from their dixenous (two hosts) relatives.     

与细胞脂质蓄积有关的蛋白Adipophilin

动脉粥样硬化性疾病发生发展的关键环节就是单核巨噬细胞和平滑肌细胞脂质的蓄积(包括甘油三酯、胆固醇酯和胆固醇)所导致的泡沫细胞的形成。在泡沫细胞中,这些蓄积的脂质主要以脂滴的形式储存于胞浆中,adipophilin就是脂滴外周含量最高的一种不完全包被蛋白。