Minicircular kinetoplast DNA of Trypanosomatidae

Analysis of primary structure and organization of mitochondrial (kinetoplas t) DNA of flagellates occupies a prominent place in the studies of eukaryot e mitochondrial genomes, owing to its unusual organization and functioning as well as to the epidemiological role of the Trypanosomatidae family. Acco rding to contemporary notions, living zooflagellates are direct descendants of the ancestral forms that gave rise to all eukaryotic kingdoms. Hence, c omparative mtDNA studies of recent Trypanosomatidae open broad prospects fo r phylogenetic reconstructions and analysis of presumable routes of eukaryo te evolution. The structure, characteristics, and functions of Trypanosomat idae minicircular kinetoplast DNA are discussed here.