This interesting enzyme was cloned from L. major using E. coli.  L. major, an intracellular parasite spread by the bite of sand flies in 90 different countries worldwide, is responsible for attacking components of the immune system, in particular macrophages and dendritic cells.  This enzyme is also found in other parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi.

This enzyme is known to localize in the cytosol.  Though not much is known about its metabolic or biological importance in organisms, it may be responsible for cyanide detoxification, cysteine degradation, and thiamine biosynthesis.  It has been shown that the enzyme plays an important role in the regulation of oxidative stress, and so is crucial to the life cycle of the organism.  This finding could potentially yield insight into new drug therapies focused on debilitating this key enzyme in order to more effectively combat the diseases caused by these types of organisms.