Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcNMNAT): a cytosol protein target for serine kinases

In vitro and in silico study of an exclusive insertion in the nicotinamide/nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase from Leishmania braziliensis

The intracellular parasite Leishmania braziliensis is the causal agent of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a group of endemic diseases in tropical regions, including Latin America. New therapeutic targets are required to inhibit the pathogen without affecting the host. The enzyme nicotinamide/nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT; EC: 2.7.7.1/18) is a potential target, since it catalyzes the final step in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), which is an essential metabolite in multiple cellular processes. In this work, we produced and evaluated the catalytic activity of the recombinant protein 6HisΔ_241-249LbNMNAT to study the functional relevance of the exclusive insertion present in the enzyme of L. braziliensis (LbNMNAT), but absent in the primary structure of human NMNATs. Our results indicate that the 241-249 insertion constitutes a structural element that connects the protein structure Rossmann topology with the carboxyl-terminal domain of the enzyme. The removal of this region drastically decreases the solubility, and enzymatic activity of the recombinant, causing its inactivation. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out with the wild-type and truncated enzymes to verify additional changes in their stability, which indicated a better stability in the wild-type protein. These findings constitute an initial step to identify a new inhibition mechanism for the development of focused pharmacological strategies on exclusive insertions from the LbNMNAT protein.

Development of a Bioluminescent High-Throughput Screening Assay for Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Adenylyltransferase (NMNAT)

Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT; EC 2.7.7.1) catalyzes the reversible production of NAD⁺ from NMN⁺ and ATP and is a potential drug target for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. A sensitive bioluminescent assay format suitable to high-throughput screening (HTS) and mechanistic follow-up has not been reported and is of value to identify new modulators of NMNATs. To this end, we report the development of a bioluminescent assay using Photinus pyralis ATP-dependent luciferase and luciferin for NMNAT1 in a 384-well plate format. We also report a mechanistic follow-up paradigm using this format to determine time dependence and competition with substrates. The assay and follow-up paradigm were used to screen 912 compounds from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Mechanistic Diversity Set II and the Approved Oncology Set VI against NMNAT1. Twenty inhibitors with greater than 35% inhibition at 20 µM were identified. The follow-up studies showed that seven actives were time-dependent inhibitors of NMNAT1. 2,3-Dibromo-1,4-naphthoquinone was the most potent, time-dependent inhibitor with IC₅₀ values of 0.76 and 0.26 µM for inhibition of the forward and reverse reactions of the enzyme, respectively, and was shown to be NMN and ATP competitive. The bioluminescent NMNAT assay and mechanistic-follow-up will be of use to identify new modulators of NAD biosynthesis.

GlSir2.1 of Giardia lamblia is a NAD+-dependent cytoplasmic deacetylase

The sirtuins are a group of well-conserved proteins widely distributed across all domains of life. These proteins are clustered in the class III of histone deacetylases and are distinctly characterized by their dependence upon NAD⁺ to carry out the deacetylation of lysine residues in histone proteins (H3 and H4) and non-histones such as the transcription factor p53. The requirement of NAD⁺ for sirtuin activity makes this group of proteins metabolic sensors, which are favored during caloric stress. Currently, it is known that these proteins are involved in numerous cellular processes that are fundamental for the proper functioning of cells, including control of the cell cycle and cellular survival. In spite of the importance of sirtuins in cell functions, the role that these proteins play in protozoan parasites is not completely understood. In this study, bioinformatic modeling and experimental characterization of the candidate G1Sir2.1 present in the genome of Giardia lamblia were carried out. Consequently, cloning, expression, purification, and in vitro evaluation of the recombinant GlSir2.1 protein's capacity for deacetylation were performed. This allowed for the identification of the NAD⁺-dependent deacetylase activity of the identified candidate. Production of anti-rHis-GlSir2.1 polyclonal antibodies enabled the observation of a cytoplasmic localization for the endogenous protein in trophozoites, which exhibited a perinuclear aggregation and co-localization with acetylated cytoskeleton structures such as the flagella and median body. Currently, GlSir2.1 is the second sirtuin family member identified in G. lambia, with a demonstrated cytoplasmic localization in the parasite.

Localization and phosphorylation of Plasmodium falciparum nicotinamide/nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (PfNMNAT) in intraerythrocytic stages

Background

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential molecule in the energy metabolism of living beings, and it has various cellular functions. The main enzyme in the biosynthesis of this nucleotide is nicotinamide/nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT, EC 2.7.7.1/18) because it is the convergence point for all known biosynthetic pathways. NMNATs have divergences in both the number of isoforms detected and their distribution, depending on the organism.

Methods

In the laboratory of basic research in biochemistry (LIBBIQ: acronym in Spanish) the NMNATs of protozoan parasites (Leishmania braziliensis, Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Giardia duodenalis) have been studied, analysing their catalytic properties through the use of proteins. Recombinants and their cellular distribution essentially. In 2014, O’Hara et al. determined the cytoplasmic localization of NMNAT of P. falciparum, using a transgene coupled to GFP, however, the addition of labels to the study protein can modify several of its characteristics, including its sub-cellular localization.

Results

This study confirms the cytoplasmic localization of this protein in the parasite through recognition of the endogenous protein in the different stages of the asexual life cycle. Additionally, the study found that PfNMNAT could be a phosphorylation target at serine, tyrosine and threonine residues, and it shows variations during the asexual life cycle.

Conclusions

These experiments confirmed that the parasite is situated in the cytoplasm, fulfilling the required functions of NAD+ in this compartment, the PfNMNAT is regulated in post-transcription processes, and can be regulated by phosphorylation in its residues.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2307-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Protozoan Parasite Auxotrophies and Metabolic Dependencies

Diseases caused by protozoan parasites have a major impact on world health. These early branching eukaryotes cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock. During evolution, protozoan parasites have evolved toward complex life cycles in multiple host organisms with different nutritional resources. The conservation of functional metabolic pathways required for these successive environments is therefore a prerequisite for parasitic lifestyle. Nevertheless, parasitism drives genome evolution toward gene loss and metabolic dependencies (including strict auxotrophy), especially for obligatory intracellular parasites. In this chapter, we will compare and contrast how protozoan parasites have perfected this metabolic adaptation by focusing on specific auxotrophic pathways and scavenging strategies used by clinically relevant apicomplexan and trypanosomatid parasites to access host's nutritional resources. We will further see how these metabolic dependencies have in turn been exploited for therapeutic purposes against these human pathogens.