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Lamba S, Roy A. DNA Topoisomerases in the Unicellular Protozoan Parasites: Unwinding the Mystery. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115158. [PMID: 35780829 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are a group of enzymes present ubiquitously in all organisms from unicellular protozoan parasites to humans. These enzymes control the topological problems caused by DNA double helix in the cell during nucleic acid metabolism. Certain types of topoisomerases present in unicellular parasites are quite different from human topoisomerases (hTop) concerning structure, expression, and function. Many protozoan parasites causing fatal diseases have DNA topoisomerases, which play vital roles in their survival. Given the fact that the structures of the protozoan parasite topoisomerases are different from humans, DNA topoisomerase acts as an essential target for potent drug development for parasitic diseases. Moreover, various studies revealed the therapeutic potential of these drugs targeting the parasitic topoisomerases. Therefore, the characterization of parasitic topoisomerases is pivotal for the development of future potential drug targets. Considering the importance of this ubiquitous enzyme as a potential drug target, we describe in detail all the reported protozoan topoisomerases in an organized manner including Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Giardia, Entamoeba, Babesia, Theileria, Crithidia, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, etc. This review highlights the unique attributes associated with the structure and function of different types of DNA topoisomerases from the unicellular protozoan parasites. So, it would be beneficial for researchers to obtain awareness about the currently characterized topoisomerases and the ones that need better characterization, understand the structure-function relationship of parasitic topoisomerases, to develop the potent anti-parasitic drugs, and also provides a future platform for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Lamba
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune-411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune-411007, India.
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Li J, Wang W, Yao J, Wang T, Li S, Qi W, Han S, Ren Y, Dang Z, Han X, Guo G, Guo B, Wang L, Duan L, Zhang W. Old drug repurposing for neglected disease: Pyronaridine as a promising candidate for the treatment of Echinococcus granulosus infections. EBioMedicine 2020; 54:102711. [PMID: 32279056 PMCID: PMC7152711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a condition caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto, is a globally distributed zoonotic disease. Current treatment options for CE are limited, and an effective and safe anti-echinococcal drug is urgently required. METHODS Drug repurposing strategy was employed to identify new therapeutic agents against echinococcal cysts. An in vitro protoscolicidal assay along with in vivo murine models was applied in the drug screening. A microinjection procedure was employed to mimic the clinical PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection and reaspiration) technique to evaluate the potential application of the candidate drug in clinical practice. FINDINGS We repurposed pyronaridine, an approved antimalarial drug, for the treatment of CE. Following a three-dose intraperitoneal regimen (57 mg/kg, q.d. for 3 days), pyronaridine caused 100% cyst mortality. Oral administration of pyronaridine at 57 mg/kg, q.d. for 30 days significantly reduced the parasitic burden in the pre-infected mice compared with albendazole group (p < 0.001). Using a microinjection of drug into cysts, pyronaridine (200 μM) showed highly effective in term of inhibition of cyst growth (p < 0.05, compared with saline group). Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that pyronaridine was highly distributed in the liver and lungs, the most affected organs of CE. Function analysis showed that pyronaridine inhibited the activity of topoisomerase I (IC50 = 209.7 ± 1.1 μM). In addition, classical apoptotic hallmarks, including DNA fragmentation and caspase activation, were triggered. INTERPRETATION Given its approved clinical safety, the repurposing of pyronaridine offers a rapidly translational option for treating CE including PAIR. FUND: National Natural Science Foundation of China and International Cooperation Project of the Qinghai Science and Technology Department.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Weisi Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Junmin Yao
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Tian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Shizhu Li
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wenjing Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Shuai Han
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Zhisheng Dang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiumin Han
- Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining 810007, China
| | - Gang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Baoping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Liqin Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi 830000, China
| | - Liping Duan
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China; Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining 810007, China.
| | - Wenbao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
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García-Estrada C, Prada CF, Fernández-Rubio C, Rojo-Vázquez F, Balaña-Fouce R. DNA topoisomerases in apicomplexan parasites: promising targets for drug discovery. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 277:1777-87. [PMID: 20200034 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The phylum Apicomplexa includes a large group of protozoan parasites responsible for a wide range of animal and human diseases. Destructive pathogens, such as Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, causative agents of human malaria, Cryptosporidium parvum, responsible of childhood diarrhoea, and Toxoplasma gondii, responsible for miscarriages and abortions in humans, are frequently associated with HIV immunosuppression in AIDS patients. The lack of effective vaccines, along with years of increasing pressure to eradicate outbreaks with the use of drugs, has favoured the formation of multi-drug resistant strains in endemic areas. Almost all apicomplexan of medical interest contain two endosymbiotic organelles that contain their own mitochondrial and apicoplast DNA. Apicoplast is an attractive target for drug testing because in addition to harbouring singular metabolic pathways absent in the host, it also has its own transcription and translation machinery of bacterial origin. Accordingly, apicomplexan protozoa contain an interesting mixture of enzymes to unwind DNA from eukaryotic and prokaryotic origins. On the one hand, the main mechanism of DNA unwinding includes the scission of one-type I-or both DNA strands-type II eukaryotic topoisomerases, establishing transient covalent bonds with the scissile end. These enzymes are targeted by camptothecin and etoposide, respectively, two natural drugs whose semisynthetic derivatives are currently used in cancer chemotherapy. On the other hand, DNA gyrase is a bacterial-borne type II DNA topoisomerase that operates within the apicoplast and is effectively targeted by bacterial antibiotics like fluoroquinolones and aminocoumarins. The present review is an update on the new findings concerning topoisomerases in apicomplexan parasites and the role of these enzymes as targets for therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas (INTOXCAL), Universidad de León, , Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, Spain
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