Nucleotide transporters of microsporidia

Microsporidia are unicellular, obligate intracellular eukaryotes that are phylogenetically closest to fungi. Interestingly, sequences with similarity to bacterial nucleotide transporters were detected in the genomes of the microsporidia Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Antonospora locustae . The latter is particularly remarkable, as previous data suggested the exclusive presence of NTTs in bacteria and plant plastids.

One of the most important functions of NTTs is certainly the exploitation of host cells to supply their own metabolism with energy and nucleotide derivatives. This is made clear by studies of NTTs from intracellular bacteria(Chlamydia trachomatis, Protochlamydia amoebophila and Rickettsia prowazekii). The extent to which this also applies to intracellular eukaryotes is an extremely exciting question. The complete biochemical analysis of NTTs from microsporidia will help to decipher their significance in the metabolism of these obligate intracellular eukaryotes.