Metabolism in Parasitic Nematodes

Nematodes are the most plentiful multicellular animals on the planet. In just a fistful of soil, you'll find thousands of the microscopic worms, many of them the parasitic variety. This type relies on humans, plants or insects for its survival. The other species category, free-living nematodes, dine on bacteria, fungi and their nematode brethren. There are nearly 20,000 species in all.

Parasitic nematodes are culpable in a range of plant, animal and human diseases across the globe. Better understanding metabolism in nematodes can lead to more efficacious nematicidal compounds to keep these pests in check, reports the journal "Current Enzyme Inhibition."

Features

Nematodes are tubular is shape. Some biologists describe them as a tube within a tube because the organism's alimentary canal extends from the mouth to the anus. Nematodes main physiological mechanisms include the nervous, digestive, excretory and reproductive systems. Interestingly, they lack specific circulatory and respiratory systems. The nematode ranges in size from 0.3 mm to more than 8 meters.

Considerations

According to the "Biochemical Journal," the development of new nematicides has been hampered by a paucity of metabolic data on parasitic nematodes. Pinpointing biochemical aspects that differ between the parasite and host species is proving promising for finding effective new agents to fight nematodes in both agriculture and humans.

Identification

Recent studies suggest that the nematode species known as Caenorhabditis elegans is a model organism for studying nematode biology, says the "Biochemical Journal." Nematodes may use a plantlike pathway for phosphocholine synthesis. Phosphocholine is a key enzyme in metabolizing choline, which serves to turn an organism's fat into energy.

Effects

The "Biochemical Journal" maintains that if the physiological role of PMT-1--the gene for a key enzyme of protein in O-glycosylation--in C. elegans is conserved, then PMT-1 provides a biochemical target for the development of nematicidal molecules.

Potential

The identification of new protein targets in nematode metabolism will complement anthelmintic (destruction of parasitic worms) and nematicide discovery and development protocols. Eventually, the next generation of molecules directed toward parasitic nematodes will improve human, animal and plant health around the world.

References

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Plant and Insect Parasitic Nematodes
• IngentaConnect: Current Enzyme Inhibition; Inhibition of Metabolism in Parasitic Nematodes
• Biochemical Journal: Phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PMT-1) Catalyses the First Reaction of a New Pathway for Phosphocholine Biosynthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans