Transglutaminase-catalyzed reactions in the growth, maturation and development of parasitic nematodes

Parasitic nematodes cause several debilitating diseases in humans and anima ls. New drugs that are parasite specific and minimally toxic to the host av e needed to counter these infections effectively. The identification and in hibition of enzymes that are vital for the growth and survival of parasites offer new approaches for developing effective chemotherapeutic agents. Sev eral enzymes in nematodes fall into this category. Here, Ramaswamy Chandras hekar and Kapil Mehta examine in detail the role of transglutaminase, a pro tein-crosslinking enzyme, in the normal growth and development of nematodes , with an emphasis on filarial parasites.