Fatty acid synthesis in African trypanosomes: A solution to the myristate mystery

The glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor of the trypanosome variant surface glycoprotein contains myristate as its sole fatty acid component. Surprisingly, there does not appear to be enough myristate in either the parasite or its host's bloodstream to sustain myristoylation of the enormous quantity of variant surface glycoprotein produced. Here, we discuss how the trypanosome solves its myristate dilemma. The parasite not only efficiently salvages and processes myristate from the bloodstream, but it also makes myristate de novo using a recently discovered specialized fatty acid synthesis system.