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Torini JR, de Freitas Fernandes A, Balasco Serrão VH, Romanello L, Bird LE, Nettleship JE, Owens RJ, Brandão-Neto J, Zeraik AE, DeMarco R, D'Muniz Pereira H. Characterization of a Schistosoma mansoni NDPK expressed in sexual and digestive organs. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 231:111187. [PMID: 31103556 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.111187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are crucial to keep the high triphosphate nucleotide levels in the biological process. The enzymatic mechanism has been extensively described; however, the structural characteristics and kinetic parameters have never been fully determined. In Schistosoma mansoni, NDPK (SmNDPK) is directly involved in the pyrimidine and purine salvage pathways, being essential for nucleotide metabolism. The SmNDPK enzymatic activity is the highest of the known purine metabolisms when compared to the mammalian NDPKs, suggesting the importance of this enzyme in the worm metabolism. Here, we report the recombinant expression of SmNDPK that resulted in 1.7 and 1.9 Å apo-form structure in different space-groups, as well as the 2.1 Å SmNDPK.ADP complex. The binding and kinetic assays reveal the ATP-dependence for enzyme activation. Moreover, in situ hybridization showed that SmNDPK transcripts are found in reproductive organs and in the esophagus gland of adult worms, which can be intrinsically related with the oviposition and digestive processes. These results will help us fully understand the crucial participation of this enzyme in Schistosoma mansoni and its importance for the pathology of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Roberta Torini
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano de Freitas Fernandes
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor Hugo Balasco Serrão
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Department of Medicine Pathobiology, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Larissa Romanello
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Louise E Bird
- OPPF-UK, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Joanne E Nettleship
- OPPF-UK, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Raymond J Owens
- OPPF-UK, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - José Brandão-Neto
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Ana Eliza Zeraik
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo DeMarco
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Humberto D'Muniz Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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In vitro and in vivo characterization of the multiple isoforms of Schistosoma mansoni hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferases. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 229:24-34. [PMID: 30772423 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.02.005] [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: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni, the parasite responsible for schistosomiasis, lacks the "de novo" purine biosynthetic pathway and depends entirely on the purine salvage pathway for the supply of purines. Numerous reports of praziquantel resistance have been described, as well as stimulated efforts to develop new drugs against schistosomiasis. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) is a key enzyme of the purine salvage pathway. Here, we describe a crystallographic structure of the S. mansoni HPGRT-1 (SmHGPRT), complexed with IMP at a resolution of 2.8 Ǻ. Four substitutions were identified in the region of the active site between SmHGPRT-1 and human HGPRT. We also present data from RNA-Seq and WISH, suggesting that some isoforms of HGPRT might be involved in the process related to sexual maturation and reproduction in worms; furthermore, its enzymatic assays show that the isoform SmHGPRT-3 does not present the same catalytic efficiency as other isoforms. Finally, although other studies have previously suggested this enzyme as a potential antischistosomal chemotherapy target, the kinetics parameters reveal the impossibility to use SmHGPRT as an efficient chemotherapeutic target.
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Rocha JA, Rego NCS, Carvalho BTS, Silva FI, Sousa JA, Ramos RM, Passos ING, de Moraes J, Leite JRSA, Lima FCA. Computational quantum chemistry, molecular docking, and ADMET predictions of imidazole alkaloids of Pilocarpus microphyllus with schistosomicidal properties. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198476. [PMID: 29944674 PMCID: PMC6019389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis affects million people and its control is widely dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. Computational chemistry has led to the development of new tools that predict molecular properties related to pharmacological potential. We conducted a theoretical study of the imizadole alkaloids of Pilocarpus microphyllus (Rutaceae) with schistosomicidal properties. The molecules of epiisopiloturine, epiisopilosine, isopilosine, pilosine, and macaubine were evaluated using theory models (B3lyp/SDD, B3lyp/6-31+G(d,p), B3lyp/6-311++G(d,p)). Absorption, distribution, metabolization, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions were used to determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the alkaloids. After optimization, the molecules were submitted to molecular docking calculations with the purine nucleoside phosphorylase, thioredoxin glutathione reductase, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, arginase, uridine phosphorylase, Cathepsin B1 and histone deacetylase 8 enzymes, which are possible targets of Schistosoma mansoni. The results showed that B3lyp/6-311++G(d,p) was the optimal model to describe the properties studied. Thermodynamic analysis showed that epiisopiloturine and epiisopilosine were the most stable isomers; however, the epiisopilosine ligand achieved a superior interaction with the enzymes studied in the molecular docking experiments, which corroborated the results of previous experimental studies on schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferson A. Rocha
- The Postgraduate Program of the Northeast Network of Biotechnology, RENORBIO, Focal Point UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Research Group in Natural Sciences and Biotechnology, Federal University of Maranhão, CIENATEC / UFMA, Grajaú, MA, Brazil
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Nayra C. S. Rego
- The Postgraduate Program of the Northeast Network of Biotechnology, RENORBIO, Focal Point UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Bruna T. S. Carvalho
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Francisco I. Silva
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Jose A. Sousa
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Ricardo M. Ramos
- Research Laboratory in Information Systems, Department of Information, Environment, Health and Food Production, Federal Institute of Piauí, LAPESI / IFPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Ionara N. G. Passos
- Research Group in Natural Sciences and Biotechnology, Federal University of Maranhão, CIENATEC / UFMA, Grajaú, MA, Brazil
| | - Josué de Moraes
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases, Guarulhos University, NPDN / UNG, Guarulhos, SP, Brazil
| | - Jose R. S. A. Leite
- Area Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, UnB, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Francisco C. A. Lima
- The Postgraduate Program of the Northeast Network of Biotechnology, RENORBIO, Focal Point UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
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Abid H, Harigua-Souiai E, Mejri T, Barhoumi M, Guizani I. Leishmania infantum 5'-Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase presents relevant structural divergence to constitute a potential drug target. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 17:9. [PMID: 29258562 PMCID: PMC5738077 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-017-0079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), an enzyme involved in purine and polyamine metabolism and in the methionine salvage pathway, is considered as a potential drug target against cancer and trypanosomiasis. In fact, Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites lack de novo purine pathways and rely on purine salvage pathways to meet their requirements. Herein, we propose the first comprehensive bioinformatic and structural characterization of the putative Leishmania infantum MTAP (LiMTAP), using a comparative computational approach. RESULTS Sequence analysis showed that LiMTAP shared higher identity rates with the Trypanosoma brucei (TbMTAP) and the human (huMTAP) homologs as compared to the human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (huPNP). Motifs search using MEME identified more common patterns and higher relatedness of the parasite proteins to the huMTAP than to the huPNP. The 3D structures of LiMTAP and TbMTAP were predicted by homology modeling and compared to the crystal structure of the huMTAP. These models presented conserved secondary structures compared to the huMTAP, with a similar topology corresponding to the Rossmann fold. This confirmed that both LiMTAP and TbMTAP are members of the NP-I family. In comparison to the huMTAP, the 3D model of LiMTAP showed an additional α-helix, at the C terminal extremity. One peptide located in this specific region was used to generate a specific antibody to LiMTAP. In comparison with the active site (AS) of huMTAP, the parasite ASs presented significant differences in the shape and the electrostatic potentials (EPs). Molecular docking of 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) and 5'-hydroxyethylthio-adenosine (HETA) on the ASs on the three proteins predicted differential binding modes and interactions when comparing the parasite proteins to the human orthologue. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted significant structural peculiarities, corresponding to functionally relevant sequence divergence in LiMTAP, making of it a potential drug target against Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hela Abid
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Emna Harigua-Souiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Thouraya Mejri
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ikram Guizani
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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El Kouni MH. Pyrimidine metabolism in schistosomes: A comparison with other parasites and the search for potential chemotherapeutic targets. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 213:55-80. [PMID: 28735972 PMCID: PMC5593796 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomes are responsible for the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, an acute and chronic parasitic ailment that affects >240 million people in 70 countries worldwide. It is the second most devastating parasitic disease after malaria. At least 200,000 deaths per year are associated with the disease. In the absence of the availability of vaccines, chemotherapy is the main stay for combating schistosomiasis. The antischistosomal arsenal is currently limited to a single drug, Praziquantel, which is quite effective with a single-day treatment and virtually no host-toxicity. Recently, however, the question of reduced activity of Praziquantel has been raised. Therefore, the search for alternative antischistosomal drugs merits the study of new approaches of chemotherapy. The rational design of a drug is usually based on biochemical and physiological differences between pathogens and host. Pyrimidine metabolism is an excellent target for such studies. Schistosomes, unlike most of the host tissues, require a very active pyrimidine metabolism for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. This is essential for the production of the enormous numbers of eggs deposited daily by the parasite to which the granulomas response precipitates the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. Furthermore, there are sufficient differences between corresponding enzymes of pyrimidine metabolism from the host and the parasite that can be exploited to design specific inhibitors or "subversive substrates" for the parasitic enzymes. Specificities of pyrimidine transport also diverge significantly between parasites and their mammalian host. This review deals with studies on pyrimidine metabolism in schistosomes and highlights the unique characteristic of this metabolism that could constitute excellent potential targets for the design of safe and effective antischistosomal drugs. In addition, pyrimidine metabolism in schistosomes is compared with that in other parasites where studies on pyrimidine metabolism have been more elaborate, in the hope of providing leads on how to identify likely chemotherapeutic targets which have not been looked at in schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud H El Kouni
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for AIDS Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, General Clinical Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Structural and kinetic analysis of Schistosoma mansoni Adenylosuccinate Lyase (SmADSL). Mol Biochem Parasitol 2017; 214:27-35. [PMID: 28347672 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni is the parasite responsible for schistosomiasis, a disease that affects about 218 million people worldwide. Currently, both direct treatment and disease control initiatives rely on chemotherapy using a single drug, praziquantel. Concerns over the possibility of resistance developing to praziquantel, have stimulated efforts to develop new drugs for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Schistosomes do not have the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway, and instead depend entirely on the purine salvage pathway to supply its need for purines. The purine salvage pathway has been reported as a potential target for developing new drugs against schistosomiasis. Adenylosuccinate lyase (SmADSL) is an enzyme in this pathway, which cleaves adenylosuccinate (ADS) into adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and fumarate. SmADSL kinetic characterization was performed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) using both ADS and SAICAR as substrates. Structures of SmADSL in Apo form and in complex with AMP were elucidated by x-ray crystallography revealing a highly conserved tetrameric structure required for their function since the active sites are formed from residues of three different subunits. The active sites are also highly conserved between species and it is difficult to identify a potent species-specific inhibitor for the development of new therapeutic agents. In contrast, several mutagenesis studies have demonstrated the importance of dimeric interface residues in the stability of the quaternary structure of the enzyme. The lower conservation of these residues between SmADSL and human ADSL could be used to lead the development of anti-schistosomiasis drugs based on disruption of subunit interfaces. These structures and kinetics data add another layer of information to Schistosoma mansoni purine salvage pathway.
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