BIOSYNTHESIS OF ISOPRENOID COMPOUNDS IN CATTLE FILARIAL PARASITE SETARIA-DIGITATA

The biological significance of isoprenoid compounds such as ubiquinone s, prenols and sterols have been well established. The presence and bi ological function of the two quinones Q(6) and Q(8) in the cattle fila rial parasite Setaria digitata have already been reported. Inhibition of the function of quinone was already shown to be an effective means of controlling the filarial parasite. Detailed investigations of the n on-saponifiable lipids from S. digitata using column, thin layer, reve rse phase and high performance liquid chromatography showed the presen ce and formation of isoprenoid compounds such as prenols and sterols, in addition to the two quinones. Blocking the biosynthesis of these us eful compounds may prove to be an additional means of control of filar ial parasites. (C) 1994 Academic press, Inc.