ABSTRACT
Amino acids are required for protein synthesis but many are also involved in other aspects of cell metabolism. It has become increasingly apparent during recent years that several amino acids are catabolized in anaerobic protists including those species (trichomonads, giardias and entamoebae) that are causative agents of disease in man and domestic animals. The aim of this overview is to provide details of the pathways operating in these parasitic organisms and insights into their functional significance.
