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Meshram RJ, Bagul KT, Aouti SU, Shirsath AM, Duggal H, Gacche RN. Modeling and simulation study to identify threonine synthase as possible drug target in Leishmania major. Mol Divers 2020; 25:1679-1700. [PMID: 32737682 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-020-10129-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases that demand immediate attention to the identification of new drug targets and effective drug candidates. The present study demonstrates the possibility of using threonine synthase (TS) as a putative drug target in leishmaniasis disease management. We report the construction of an effective homology model of the enzyme that appears to be structurally as well as functionally well conserved. The 200 nanosecond molecular dynamics data on TS with and without pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) shed light on mechanistic details of PLP-induced conformational changes. Moreover, we address some important structural and dynamic interactions in the PLP binding region of TS that are in good agreement with previously speculated crystallographic estimations. Additionally, after screening more than 44,000 compounds, we propose 10 putative inhibitor candidates for TS based on virtual screening data and refined Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area calculations. We expect that structural and functional dynamics data disclosed in this study will help initiate experimental endeavors toward establishing TS as an effective antileishmanial drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan J Meshram
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India.
| | - Kamini T Bagul
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Snehal U Aouti
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Akshay M Shirsath
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Harleen Duggal
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Rajesh N Gacche
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
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2
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Sayé M, Reigada C, Gauna L, Valera-Vera EA, Pereira CA, Miranda MR. Amino Acid and Polyamine Membrane Transporters in Trypanosoma cruzi: Biological Function and Evaluation as Drug Targets. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:6636-6651. [PMID: 31218951 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190620094710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids and polyamines are involved in relevant processes for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, like protein synthesis, stress resistance, life cycle progression, infection establishment and redox balance, among others. In addition to the biosynthetic routes of amino acids, T. cruzi possesses transport systems that allow the active uptake from the extracellular medium; and in the case of polyamines, the uptake is the unique way to obtain these compounds. The TcAAAP protein family is absent in mammals and its members are responsible for amino acid and derivative uptake, thus the TcAAAP permeases are not only interesting and promising therapeutic targets but could also be used to direct the entry of toxic compounds into the parasite. Although there is a treatment available for Chagas disease, its limited efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease, as well as the side effects reported, highlight the urgent need to develop new therapies. Discovery of new drugs is a slow and cost-consuming process, and even during clinical trials the drugs can fail. In this context, drug repositioning is an interesting and recommended strategy by the World Health Organization since costs and time are significantly reduced. In this article, amino acids and polyamines transport and their potential as therapeutic targets will be revised, including examples of synthetic drugs and drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Sayé
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Chantal Reigada
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia Gauna
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edward A Valera-Vera
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio A Pereira
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana R Miranda
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Tavares de Oliveira M, Taciana Santos Silva K, Xavier Neves L, de Ornelas Toledo MJ, Castro-Borges W, de Lana M. Differential expression of proteins in genetically distinct Trypanosoma cruzi samples (TcI and TcII DTUs) isolated from chronic Chagas disease cardiac patients. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:611. [PMID: 30497493 PMCID: PMC6267078 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3181-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite and the etiological agent of Chagas disease (CD), exhibits great genetic and biological diversity. Infected individuals may present clinical manifestations with different levels of severity. Several hypotheses have been proposed to attempt to correlate the diversity of clinical signs and symptoms to the genetic variability of T. cruzi. This work aimed to investigate the differential expression of proteins from two distinct genetic groups of T. cruzi (discrete typing units TcI and TcII), isolated from chronically infected individuals displaying the cardiac form of CD. For this purpose, epimastigote forms of the two isolates were cultured in vitro and the cells recovered for protein extraction. Comparative two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoreses were performed and differentially expressed spots selected for identification by mass spectrometry, followed by database searching and protein categorization. RESULTS The 2D electrophoretic profiles revealed the complex composition of the T. cruzi extracted proteome. Protein spots were distributed along the entire pH and molecular mass ranges attesting for the integrity of the protein preparations. In total, 46 differentially expressed proteins were identified present in 40 distinct spots found in the comparative gel analyses. Of these, 16 displayed upregulation in the gel from TcI-typed parasites and 24 appeared overexpressed in the gel from TcII-typed parasites. Functional characterization of differentially expressed proteins revealed major alterations associated with stress response, lipid and amino acid metabolism in parasites of the TcII isolate, whilst those proteins upregulated in the TcI sample were primarily linked to central metabolic pathways. CONCLUSIONS The comparative 2D-gel electrophoresis allowed detection of major differences in protein expression between two T. cruzi isolates, belonging to the TcI and TcII genotypes. Our findings suggest that patients displaying the cardiac form of the disease harbor parasites capable of exhibiting distinct proteomic profiles. This should be of relevance to disease prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maykon Tavares de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000 Brazil
| | - Karina Taciana Santos Silva
- Departamento de Farmácia, Escola de Farmácia, Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000 Brazil
| | - Leandro Xavier Neves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG Brazil
| | - Max Jean de Ornelas Toledo
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde – Parasitologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, CEP: 87020-900, Maringá, Paraná, PR Brazil
| | - William Castro-Borges
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG Brazil
| | - Marta de Lana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas (NUPEB), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000 Brazil
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG Brazil
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L-Glutamine uptake is developmentally regulated and is involved in metacyclogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 224:17-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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5
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The Uptake and Metabolism of Amino Acids, and Their Unique Role in the Biology of Pathogenic Trypanosomatids. Pathogens 2018; 7:pathogens7020036. [PMID: 29614775 PMCID: PMC6027508 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens7020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei, as well as Trypanosoma cruzi and more than 20 species of the genus Leishmania, form a group of flagellated protists that threaten human health. These organisms are transmitted by insects that, together with mammals, are their natural hosts. This implies that during their life cycles each of them faces environments with different physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological characteristics. In this work we review how amino acids are obtained from such environments, how they are metabolized, and how they and some of their intermediate metabolites are used as a survival toolbox to cope with the different conditions in which these parasites should establish the infections in the insects and mammalian hosts.
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6
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The active transport of histidine and its role in ATP production in Trypanosoma cruzi. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2016; 48:437-49. [PMID: 27222029 DOI: 10.1007/s10863-016-9665-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas's disease, metabolizes glucose, and after its exhaustion, degrades amino acids as energy source. Here, we investigate histidine uptake and its participation in energy metabolism. No putative genes for the histidine biosynthetic pathway have been identified in genome databases of T. cruzi, suggesting that its uptake from extracellular medium is a requirement for the viability of the parasite. From this assumption, we characterized the uptake of histidine in T. cruzi, showing that this amino acid is incorporated through a single and saturable active system. We also show that histidine can be completely oxidised to CO2. This finding, together with the fact that genes encoding the putative enzymes for the histidine - glutamate degradation pathway were annotated, led us to infer its participation in the energy metabolism of the parasite. Here, we show that His is capable of restoring cell viability after long-term starvation. We confirm that as an energy source, His provides electrons to the electron transport chain, maintaining mitochondrial inner membrane potential and O2 consumption in a very efficient manner. Additionally, ATP biosynthesis from oxidative phosphorylation was found when His was the only oxidisable metabolite present, showing that this amino acid is involved in bioenergetics and parasite persistence within its invertebrate host.
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7
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Sayé M, Miranda MR, Reigada C, Pereira CA. Trypanosoma cruzi Proline Transport Presents a Cell Density-dependent Regulation. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2016; 63:516-23. [PMID: 26750517 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, uses proline as its main carbon source, essential for parasite growth and stage differentiation in epimastigotes and amastigotes. Since proline is mainly obtained from extracellular medium by transport proteins, in this work we studied the regulation of the T. cruzi proline transporter TcAAAP069. Proline uptake and intracellular concentration presented oscillations during epimastigote growth phases, increasing during the early exponential phase (322 pmol/min) and decreasing to undetectable levels during the late exponential phase. Transporter expression rate correlated with proline uptake, and its subcellular localization alternated from both, the plasma membrane and close to the flagellar pocket, when the transport is higher, to only the flagellar pocket region, when the transport decreased until proline uptake and TcAAAP069 protein became undetectable at the end of the growth curve. Interestingly, when parasites were treated with conditioned medium or were concentrated to artificially increase the culture density, the proline transport was completely abolished resembling the effects observed in late exponential phase. These data highlight for the first time the existence of a density-associated regulation of relevant physiological processes such as proline metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Sayé
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana R Miranda
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Chantal Reigada
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio A Pereira
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Galvez Rojas RL, Ahn IY, Suárez Mantilla B, Sant'Anna C, Pral EMF, Silber AM. The Uptake of GABA in Trypanosoma cruzi. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2015; 62:629-36. [PMID: 25851259 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is widely known as a neurotransmitter and signal transduction molecule found in vertebrates, plants, and some protozoan organisms. However, the presence of GABA and its role in trypanosomatids is unknown. Here, we report the presence of intracellular GABA and the biochemical characterization of its uptake in Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Kinetic parameters indicated that GABA is taken up by a single transport system in pathogenic and nonpathogenic forms. Temperature dependence assays showed a profile similar to glutamate transport, but the effect of extracellular cations Na(+) , K(+) , and H(+) on GABA uptake differed, suggesting a different uptake mechanism. In contrast to reports for other amino acid transporters in T. cruzi, GABA uptake was Na(+) dependent and increased with pH, with a maximum activity at pH 8.5. The sensitivity to oligomycin showed that GABA uptake is dependent on ATP synthesis. These data point to a secondary active Na(+) /GABA symporter energized by Na(+) -exporting ATPase. Finally, we show that GABA occurs in the parasite's cytoplasm under normal culture conditions, indicating that it is regularly taken up from the culture medium or synthesized through an still undescribed metabolic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Galvez Rojas
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Il-Young Ahn
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Brian Suárez Mantilla
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Celso Sant'Anna
- Instituto Nacional de Metrologia (INMetro), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Ariel Mariano Silber
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Jimenez V. Dealing with environmental challenges: mechanisms of adaptation in Trypanosoma cruzi. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:155-65. [PMID: 24508488 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites have a significant impact upon global health, infecting millions of people around the world. With limited therapeutic options and no vaccines available, research efforts are focused upon unraveling cellular mechanisms essential for parasite survival. During its life cycle, Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, is exposed to multiple external conditions and different hosts. Environmental cues are linked to the differentiation process allowing the parasite to complete its life cycle. Successful transmission depends on the ability of the cells to trigger adaptive responses and cope with stressors while regulating proliferation and transition to different life stages. This review focuses upon different aspects of the stress response in T. cruzi, proposing new hypotheses regarding cross-talk and cross-tolerance with respect to environmental changes and discussing open questions and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Jimenez
- Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, 800 N State College Blvd, McCarthy Hall 307, 92831 Fullerton, CA, USA.
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10
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Elias CGR, Chagas MG, Souza-Gonçalves AL, Pascarelli BMO, d'Avila-Levy CM, Branquinha MH, Santos ALS. Differential expression of cruzipain- and gp63-like molecules in the phytoflagellate trypanosomatid Phytomonas serpens induced by exogenous proteins. Exp Parasitol 2011; 130:13-21. [PMID: 22033075 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2011] [Revised: 10/07/2011] [Accepted: 10/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Phytomonas serpens synthesizes metallo- and cysteine-proteases that are related to gp63 and cruzipain, respectively, two virulence factors produced by pathogenic trypanosomatids. Here, we described the cellular distribution of gp63- and cruzipain-like molecules in P. serpens through immunocytochemistry and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Both proteases were detected in distinct cellular compartments, presenting co-localization in membrane domains and intracellular regions. Subsequently, we showed that exogenous proteins modulated the production of both protease classes, but in different ways. Regarding the metalloprotease, only fetal bovine serum (FBS) influenced the gp63 expression, reducing its surface exposition (≈30%). Conversely, the cruzipain-like molecule was differentially modulated according to the proteins: human and bovine albumins reduced its expression around 50% and 35%, respectively; mucin and FBS did not alter its production, while IgG and hemoglobin drastically enhanced its surface exposition around 7- and 11-fold, respectively. Additionally, hemoglobin induced an augmentation in the cell-associated cruzipain-like activity in a dose-dependent manner. A twofold increase of the secreted cruzipain-like protein was detected after parasite incubation with 1% hemoglobin compared to the parasites incubated in PBS-glucose. The results showed the ability of P. serpens in modulating the expression and the activity of proteolytic enzymes after exposition to exogenous proteins, with emphasis in its cruzipain-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila G R Elias
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Bioquímica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Bloco E-subsolo, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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11
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Inbar E, Canepa GE, Carrillo C, Glaser F, Suter Grotemeyer M, Rentsch D, Zilberstein D, Pereira CA. Lysine transporters in human trypanosomatid pathogens. Amino Acids 2010; 42:347-60. [PMID: 21170560 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0812-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 11/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In previous studies we characterized arginine transporter genes from Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani, the etiological agents of chagas disease and kala azar, respectively, both fatal diseases in humans. Unlike arginine transporters in higher eukaryotes that transport also lysine, these parasite transporters translocate only arginine. This phenomenon prompted us to identify and characterize parasite lysine transporters. Here we demonstrate that LdAAP7 and TcAAP7 encode lysine-specific permeases in L. donovani and T. cruzi, respectively. These two lysine permeases are both members of the large amino acid/auxin permease family and share certain biochemical properties, such as specificity and Km. However, we evidence that LdAAP7 and TcAAP7 differ in their regulation and localization, such differences are likely a reflection of the dissimilar L. donovani and T. cruzi life cycles. Failed attempts to delete both alleles of LdAAP7 support the premise that this is an essential gene that encodes the only lysine permeases expressed in L. donovani promastigotes and T. cruzi epimastigotes, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehud Inbar
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
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12
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Alves-Ferreira M, Guimarães ACR, Capriles PVDSZ, Dardenne LE, Degrave WM. A new approach for potential drug target discovery through in silico metabolic pathway analysis using Trypanosoma cruzi genome information. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2009; 104:1100-10. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000800006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 10/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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13
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Glucose uptake in the mammalian stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 168:102-8. [PMID: 19631694 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2008] [Revised: 07/14/2009] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, alternates between different morphogenetic stages that face distinct physiological conditions in their invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, likely in the availability of glucose. While the glucose transport is well characterized in epimastigotes of T. cruzi, nothing is known about how the mammalian stages acquire this molecule. Herein glucose transport activity and expression were analyzed in the three developmental stages present in the vertebrate cycle of T. cruzi. The infective trypomastigotes showed the highest transport activity (V(max)=5.34+/-0.54 nmol/min per mg of protein; K(m)=0.38+/-0.01 mM) when compared to intracellular epimastigotes (V(max)=2.18+/-0.20 nmol/min per mg of protein; K(m)=0.39+/-0.01 mM). Under the conditions employed no transport activity could be detected in amastigotes. The gene of the glucose transporter is expressed at the mRNA level in trypomastigotes and in intracellular epimastigotes but not in amastigotes, as revealed by real-time PCR. In both trypomastigotes and intracellular epimastigotes protein expression could be detected by Western blot with an antibody raised against the glucose transporter correlating well with the transport activity measured experimentally. Interestingly, anti-glucose transporter antibodies showed a strong reactivity with glycosome and reservosome organelles. A comparison between proline and glucose transport among the intracellular differentiation forms is presented. The data suggest that the regulation of glucose transporter reflects different energy and carbon requirements along the intracellular life cycle of T. cruzi.
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14
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Roberts SB, Robichaux JL, Chavali AK, Manque PA, Lee V, Lara AM, Papin JA, Buck GA. Proteomic and network analysis characterize stage-specific metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2009; 3:52. [PMID: 19445715 PMCID: PMC2701929 DOI: 10.1186/1752-0509-3-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2008] [Accepted: 05/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is a Kinetoplastid parasite of humans and is the cause of Chagas disease, a potentially lethal condition affecting the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of the human host. Constraint-based modeling has emerged in the last decade as a useful approach to integrating genomic and other high-throughput data sets with more traditional, experimental data acquired through decades of research and published in the literature. RESULTS We present a validated, constraint-based model of the core metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzi strain CL Brener. The model includes four compartments (extracellular space, cytosol, mitochondrion, glycosome), 51 transport reactions, and 93 metabolic reactions covering carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism. In addition, we make use of several replicate high-throughput proteomic data sets to specifically examine metabolism of the morphological form of T. cruzi in the insect gut (epimastigote stage). CONCLUSION This work demonstrates the utility of constraint-based models for integrating various sources of data (e.g., genomics, primary biochemical literature, proteomics) to generate testable hypotheses. This model represents an approach for the systematic study of T. cruzi metabolism under a wide range of conditions and perturbations, and should eventually aid in the identification of urgently needed novel chemotherapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth B Roberts
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Jennifer L Robichaux
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Arvind K Chavali
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Patricio A Manque
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Vladimir Lee
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Ana M Lara
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Jason A Papin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Gregory A Buck
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
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15
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Canepa GE, Carrillo C, Armesto AR, Bouvier LA, Miranda MR, Pereira CA. Phytomonas: Transport of amino acids, hexoses and polyamines. Exp Parasitol 2007; 117:106-10. [PMID: 17462632 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2007] [Revised: 03/13/2007] [Accepted: 03/16/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Phytomonas cells (Phytomonas Jma) isolated from the latex of Jatropha macrantha were assayed for amino acid, hexose and polyamine transport. Results showed high transport rates for glucose and fructose (193 and 128 pmol min(-1) 10(-7) cells, respectively) and lower, but significant rates, for proline, arginine, cysteine and glutamate (between 1.7 and 5.8 pmol min(-1) 10(-7) cells). Minor transport activities were observed for serine, glycine and aspartate (<1 pmol min(-1) 10(-7) cells). Amino acid transport processes do not seem to be regulated by starvation or during the growth phases. Polyamine transport was also evaluated showing a clear preference for spermidine over putrescine (3.4 and 0.4 pmol min(-1) 10(-7) cells, respectively). This work represents the first report on metabolite transport in phytomonads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaspar E Canepa
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosoma cruzi (LBMTC), Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Combatientes de Malvinas 3150, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, 1427 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Silber AM, Rojas RLG, Urias U, Colli W, Alves MJM. Biochemical characterization of the glutamate transport in Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Parasitol 2006; 36:157-63. [PMID: 16373069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2005] [Revised: 10/24/2005] [Accepted: 10/28/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The role of amino acids in trypanosomatids goes beyond protein synthesis, involving processes such as differentiation, osmoregulation and energy metabolism. The availability of the amino acids involved in those functions depends, among other things, on their transport into the cell. Here we characterize a glutamate transporter from the human protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Kinetic data show a single saturable system with a Km of 0.30 mM and a maximum velocity of 98.34 pmoles min(-1) per 2 x 10(7) cells for epimastigotes and 20 pmoles min(-1) per 2 x 10(7) cells for trypomastigotes. Transport was not affected by parasite nutrient starvation for up to 3h. Aspartate, alanine, glutamine, asparagine, methionine, oxaloacetate and alpha-ketoglutarate competed with the substrate in 10-fold excess concentrations. Glutamate uptake was strongly dependent on pH, but not on Na+ or K+ concentrations in the extracellular medium. These data were consistent with the sensitivity of the system to the H+ ionophore carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, suggesting that transport is driven by H+ concentration gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane. The glutamate transport increased linearly with temperature in a range from 15 to 40 degrees C, allowing the calculation of an activation energy of 52.38 kJ/mol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel M Silber
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14 No 101, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
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