SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION MECHANISMS IN TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is an adeq uate model for studies on the evolution of signal transduction pathway s. These pathways involve molecular entities such as membrane receptor s, transduction G proteins, protein kinases and second messengers (Ca2 +, cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, nitric oxide). In this article, Mirtha M. F lawia, Maria T. Tellez-Inon and Hector N. Torres describe the studies performed on T. cruzi transduction pathways and their role in the cont rol of metacyclogenesis and cell motility.