Abstract 2310 Characterization of Cytosolic Malate Dehydrogenase of Trypanosoma brucei

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) can be found in a multitude of living organisms. It is most known for its function in the last step of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, where catalyzes a two way reaction of malate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to form oxaloacetate (OAA) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and a hydrogen ion (1). In humans, there are two major isoforms, cytosolic (MDH1) and mitochondrial (MDH2). A deeper understanding of MDH for specific parasites can expand our therapeutic treatments for different parasitic diseases such as African Sleeping disease which is caused by Trypanosoma brucei (T.