Minicircular Kinetoplast DNA of Trypanosomatidae

Analysis of primary structure and organization of mitochondrial (kinetoplast) DNA of flagellates occupies a prominent place in the studies of eukaryote mitochondrial genomes, owing to its unusual organization and functioning as well as to the epidemiological role of the Trypanosomatidae family. According to contemporary notions, living zooflagellates are direct descendants of the ancestral forms that gave rise to all eukaryotic kingdoms. Hence, comparative mtDNA studies of recent Trypanosomatidae open broad prospects for phylogenetic reconstructions and analysis of presumable routes of eukaryote evolution. The structure, characteristics, and functions of Trypanosomatidae minicircular kinetoplast DNA are discussed here.