The glutathione S-transferases of the human filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus

In previous studies, two glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of the human pat hogenic filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus have been identified. Apart f rom an intracellular cytosolic enzyme, a glycosylated enzyme with a signalp eptide and an N-terminal extension has been localised in the body wall of t he worm, directly at the host-parasite interface. Analysis of the immunogen ic N-glycans of OVGST1 by mass spectrometry identified high mannose-type ol igosaccharides. Recently we found evidence for the occurrence of a theta-cl ass like GST in O. volvulus. By stimuli that generate oxidative stress, fol lowed by differential display RT-PCR, we identified the OvGST3. Here, we de scribe three distinct transcripts of this stress responsive GST. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.