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Birocco F, Gonzalez LN, Guerrero SA, Iglesias AA, Arias DG. On the occurrence of a glutaredoxin-like small protein in the anaerobic protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130489. [PMID: 37827204 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Entamoeba histolytica, an intestinal parasitic protozoan that usually lives and multiplies within the human gut, is the causative agent of amoebiasis. To date, de novo glutathione biosynthesis and its associated enzymes have not been identified in the parasite. Cysteine has been proposed to be the main intracellular thiol. METHODS Using bioinformatics tools to search for glutaredoxin homologs in the E. histolytica genome database, we identified a coding sequence for a putative Grx-like small protein (EhGLSP) in the E. histolytica HM-1:IMSS genome. We produced the recombinant protein and performed its biochemical characterization. RESULTS Through in vitro experiments, we observed that recombinant EhGLSP could bind GSH and L-Cys as ligands. However, the protein exhibited very low GSH-dependent disulfide reductase activity. Interestingly, via UV-Vis spectroscopy and chemical analysis, we detected that recombinant EhGLSP (freshly purified from Escherichia coli cells by IMAC) was isolated together with a redox-labile [FeS] bio-inorganic complex, suggesting that this protein could have some function linked to the metabolism of this cofactor. Western blotting showed that EhGLSP protein levels were modulated in E. histolytica cells exposed to exogenous oxidative species and metronidazole, suggesting that this protein cooperates with the antioxidant mechanisms of this parasite. CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our findings support the existence of a new metabolic actor in this pathogen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on this protein class in E. histolytica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Birocco
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lihue N Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sergio A Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego G Arias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Barreiro-Costa O, Quiroga Lozano C, Muñoz E, Rojas-Silva P, Medeiros A, Comini MA, Heredia-Moya J. Evaluation of the Anti- Leishmania mexicana and - Trypanosoma brucei Activity and Mode of Action of 4,4'-(Arylmethylene)bis(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1 H-pyrazol-5-ol). Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081913. [PMID: 36009460 PMCID: PMC9405596 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis are neglected infections caused by trypanosomatid parasites. The first-line treatments have many adverse effects, high costs, and are prone to resistance development, hence the necessity for new chemotherapeutic options. In line with this, twenty five 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazol-5-ols) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anti-trypanosomatid activity. Ten and five compounds from this series showed IC50 ≤ 10 µM against the promastigote and the bloodstream stage of Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma brucei brucei, respectively. Overall, derivatives with pyrazole rings substituted with electron-withdrawing groups proved more active than those with electron-donating groups. The hits proved moderately selective towards L. mexicana and T. brucei (selectivity index, SI, compared to murine macrophages = 5−26). The exception was one derivative displaying an SI (>111−189) against T. brucei that surpassed, by >6-fold, the selectivity of the clinical drug nifurtimox (SI = 13−28.5). Despite sharing a common scaffold, the hits differed in their mechanism of action, with halogenated derivatives inducing a rapid and marked intracellular oxidative milieu in infective T. brucei. Notably, most of the hits presented better absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties than the reference drugs. Several of the bioactive molecules herein identified represent a promising starting point for further improvement of their trypanosomatid potency and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olalla Barreiro-Costa
- Center for Biomedical Research (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo College of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Cristina Quiroga Lozano
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Erika Muñoz
- Instituto de Microbiología y Programa de Maestría en Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | - Patricio Rojas-Silva
- Center for Biomedical Research (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo College of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
- Instituto de Microbiología y Programa de Maestría en Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | - Andrea Medeiros
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Marcelo A. Comini
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Correspondence: (M.A.C.); (J.H.-M.)
| | - Jorge Heredia-Moya
- Center for Biomedical Research (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo College of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
- Correspondence: (M.A.C.); (J.H.-M.)
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Xu H, Li Z, Jiang PF, Zhao L, Qu C, Van de Peer Y, Liu YJ, Zeng QY. Divergence of active site motifs among different classes of Populus glutaredoxins results in substrate switches. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 110:129-146. [PMID: 34981873 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Enzymes are essential components of all biological systems. The key characteristics of proteins functioning as enzymes are their substrate specificities and catalytic efficiencies. In plants, most genes encoding enzymes are members of large gene families. Within such families, the contributions of active site motifs to the functional divergence of duplicate genes have not been well elucidated. In this study, we identified 41 glutaredoxin (GRX) genes in the Populus trichocarpa genome. GRXs are ubiquitous enzymes in plants that play important roles in developmental and stress tolerance processes. In poplar, GRX genes were divided into four classes based on clear differences in gene structure and expression pattern, subcellular localization, enzymatic activity, and substrate specificity of the encoded proteins. Using site-directed mutagenesis, this study revealed that the divergence of the active site motif among different classes of GRX proteins resulted in substrate switches and thus provided new insights into the molecular evolution of these important plant enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peng-Fei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-90187, Sweden
| | - Chang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Yan-Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Qing-Yin Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
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Balatti GE, Barletta GP, Parisi G, Tosatto SCE, Bellanda M, Fernandez-Alberti S. Intrinsically Disordered Region Modulates Ligand Binding in Glutaredoxin 1 from Trypanosoma Brucei. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:13366-13375. [PMID: 34870419 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Glutaredoxins are small proteins that share a common well-conserved thioredoxin-fold and participate in a wide variety of biological processes. Among them, class II Grx are redox-inactive proteins involved in iron-sulfur (Fe-S) metabolism. In the present work, we report different structural and dynamics aspects of 1CGrx1 from the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei that differentiate it from other orthologues by the presence of a parasite-specific unstructured N-terminal extension whose role has not been fully elucidated yet. Previous nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies revealed significant differences with respect to the mutant lacking the disordered tail. Herein, we have performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that, complementary to NMR studies, confirm the intrinsically disordered nature of the N-terminal extension. Moreover, we confirm the main role of these residues in modulating the conformational dynamics of the glutathione-binding pocket. We observe that the N-terminal extension modifies the ligand cavity stiffening it by specific interactions that ultimately modulate its intrinsic flexibility, which may modify its role in the storage and/or transfer of preformed iron-sulfur clusters. These unique structural and dynamics aspects of Trypanosoma brucei 1CGrx1 differentiate it from other orthologues and could have functional relevance. In this way, our results encourage the study of other similar protein folding families with intrinsically disordered regions whose functional roles are still unrevealed and the screening of potential 1CGrx1 inhibitors as antitrypanosomal drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galo E Balatti
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - G Patricio Barletta
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Parisi
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Silvio C E Tosatto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Massimo Bellanda
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padua, Italy
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Ogata FT, Branco V, Vale FF, Coppo L. Glutaredoxin: Discovery, redox defense and much more. Redox Biol 2021; 43:101975. [PMID: 33932870 PMCID: PMC8102999 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutaredoxin, Grx, is a small protein containing an active site cysteine pair and was discovered in 1976 by Arne Holmgren. The Grx system, comprised of Grx, glutathione, glutathione reductase, and NADPH, was first described as an electron donor for Ribonucleotide Reductase but, from the first discovery in E.coli, the Grx family has impressively grown, particularly in the last two decades. Several isoforms have been described in different organisms (from bacteria to humans) and with different functions. The unique characteristic of Grxs is their ability to catalyse glutathione-dependent redox regulation via glutathionylation, the conjugation of glutathione to a substrate, and its reverse reaction, deglutathionylation. Grxs have also recently been enrolled in iron sulphur cluster formation. These functions have been implied in various physiological and pathological conditions, from immune defense to neurodegeneration and cancer development thus making Grx a possible drug target. This review aims to give an overview on Grxs, starting by a phylogenetic analysis of vertebrate Grxs, followed by an analysis of the mechanisms of action, the specific characteristics of the different human isoforms and a discussion on aspects related to human physiology and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando T Ogata
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, CTCMol, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Mirassol, 207. 04044-010, São Paulo - SP, Brazil
| | - Vasco Branco
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Filipa F Vale
- Host-Pathogen Interactions Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed-ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lucia Coppo
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Solnavägen 9, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Quantitative assessment of the determinant structural differences between redox-active and inactive glutaredoxins. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1725. [PMID: 32265442 PMCID: PMC7138851 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15441-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Class I glutaredoxins are enzymatically active, glutathione-dependent oxidoreductases, whilst class II glutaredoxins are typically enzymatically inactive, Fe-S cluster-binding proteins. Enzymatically active glutaredoxins harbor both a glutathione-scaffold site for reacting with glutathionylated disulfide substrates and a glutathione-activator site for reacting with reduced glutathione. Here, using yeast ScGrx7 as a model protein, we comprehensively identified and characterized key residues from four distinct protein regions, as well as the covalently bound glutathione moiety, and quantified their contribution to both interaction sites. Additionally, we developed a redox-sensitive GFP2-based assay, which allowed the real-time assessment of glutaredoxin structure-function relationships inside living cells. Finally, we employed this assay to rapidly screen multiple glutaredoxin mutants, ultimately enabling us to convert enzymatically active and inactive glutaredoxins into each other. In summary, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of glutaredoxin catalysis and have elucidated the determinant structural differences between the two main classes of glutaredoxins. Glutaredoxins play a central role in numerous biological processes including cellular redox homeostasis and Fe-S cluster biogenesis. Here the authors establish the molecular basis for glutaredoxin redox catalysis through comprehensive biochemical and structural analyses.
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Franco J, Scarone L, Comini MA. Novel distamycin analogues that block the cell cycle of African trypanosomes with high selectivity and potency. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 189:112043. [PMID: 31978782 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Polyamides-based compounds related to the Streptomycetal distamycin and netropsin are potent cytostatic molecules that bind to AT-rich regions of the minor groove of the DNA, hence interfering with DNA replication and transcription. Recently, derivatives belonging to this scaffold have been reported to halt the proliferation of deadly African trypanosomes by different and unrelated mechanisms. Here we describe the synthesis and preliminary characterization of the anti-trypanosomal mode of action of new potent and selective distamycin analogues. Two tri-heterocyclic derivatives containing a central N-methyl pyrrole ring (16 and 17) displayed high activity (EC50 < 20 nM) and selectivity (selectivity index >5000 with respect to mammalian macrophages) against the infective form of T. brucei. Both compounds caused cell cycle arrest by blocking the replication of the mitochondrial DNA but without affecting its integrity. This mode of action clearly differs from that reported for classical minor groove binder (MGB) drugs, which induce the degradation of the mitochondrial DNA. In line with this, in vitro assays suggest that 16 and 17 have a comparatively lower affinity for different template DNAs than the MGB drug diminazene. Therapeutic efficacy studies and stability assays suggest that the pharmacological properties of the hits should be optimized. The compounds can be rated as excellent scaffolds for the design of highly potent and selective anti-T. brucei agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Franco
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Group Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Laura Scarone
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Marcelo A Comini
- Group Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and tryparedoxin 1 exert high control on the antioxidant system in Trypanosoma cruzi contributing to drug resistance and infectivity. Redox Biol 2019; 26:101231. [PMID: 31203195 PMCID: PMC6581782 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanothione (T(SH)2) is the main antioxidant metabolite for peroxide reduction in Trypanosoma cruzi; therefore, its metabolism has attracted attention for therapeutic intervention against Chagas disease. To validate drug targets within the T(SH)2 metabolism, the strategies and methods of Metabolic Control Analysis and kinetic modeling of the metabolic pathway were used here, to identify the steps that mainly control the pathway fluxes and which could be appropriate sites for therapeutic intervention. For that purpose, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γECS), trypanothione synthetase (TryS), trypanothione reductase (TryR) and the tryparedoxin cytosolic isoform 1 (TXN1) were separately overexpressed to different levels in T. cruzi epimastigotes and their degrees of control on the pathway flux as well as their effect on drug resistance and infectivity determined. Both experimental in vivo as well as in silico analyses indicated that γECS and TryS control T(SH)2 synthesis by 60–74% and 15–31%, respectively. γECS overexpression prompted up to a 3.5-fold increase in T(SH)2 concentration, whereas TryS overexpression did not render an increase in T(SH)2 levels as a consequence of high T(SH)2 degradation. The peroxide reduction flux was controlled for 64–73% by TXN1, 17–20% by TXNPx and 11–16% by TryR. TXN1 and TryR overexpression increased H2O2 resistance, whereas TXN1 overexpression increased resistance to the benznidazole plus buthionine sulfoximine combination. γECS overexpression led to an increase in infectivity capacity whereas that of TXN increased trypomastigote bursting. The present data suggested that inhibition of high controlling enzymes such as γECS and TXN1 in the T(SH)2 antioxidant pathway may compromise the parasite's viability and infectivity. The trypanothione synthesis flux is primarily but not exclusively controlled by γECS. Tryparedoxin exerts high control on the peroxide reduction flux. Kinetic metabolic modeling may reliably predict the in vivo pathway behavior. TXN1 overexpression provides benznidazole resistance. γECS and TXN contribute to parasite infectivity.
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