BIOSYNTHESIS OF ISOPRENOID COMPOUNDS IN CATTLE FILARIAL PARASITE SETARIA-DIGITATA

The biological significance of isoprenoid compounds such as ubiquinones, prenols and sterols have been well established. The presence and biological function of the two quinones Q(6) and Q(8) in the cattle filarial parasite Setaria digitata have already been reported. Inhibition of the function of quinone was already shown to be an effective means of controlling the filarial parasite. Detailed investigations of the non-saponifiable lipids from S. digitata using column, thin layer, reverse phase and high performance liquid chromatography showed the presence and formation of isoprenoid compounds such as prenols and sterols, in addition to the two quinones. Blocking the biosynthesis of these useful compounds may prove to be an additional means of control of filarial parasites. (C) 1994 Academic press, Inc.