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Marilyn Parsons , Ph.D.

Protein Phosphorylation  in Trypanosomes
Protein phosphorylation regulates critical processes in all cells, including pathogens such as African trypanosomes. They are also important drug targets in many chronic diseases of humans. Upon completion of the Trypanosoma brucei genome sequence, we conducted a collaborative study to identify all of the mediators of protein phosphorylation, protein kinases, in the genome of the parasite, as well as the related parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major. In these studies, we identified over 150 protein kinases, many of which are unique to the parasites. We are now studying several specific kinases to determine whether they are essential to the parasites, using genetic approaches. Our goal is to identify multiple essential kinases that can be explored as potential targets for the development of new drugs to combat trypanosomatid diseases.
 

Protein kinases of T. brucei, unrooted tree.  Those listed in red are human or yeast protein kinases added to facilitate recognition of protein kinase families.  The family names are indicated in arcs by the branches of the tree.  See Parsons et al., PMID: 16164760.

The work on this project is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, R01 AI 31077, Marilyn Parsons, Principal Investigator.

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