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Almugadam SH, Trentini A, Maritati M, Contini C, Manfrinato MC, Cervellati C, Bellini T, Hanau S. A Calcium- and GTP-Dependent Transglutaminase in Leishmania infantum. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10030234. [PMID: 36977273 PMCID: PMC10053793 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10030234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
While human and animal leishmaniasis affect several millions of people worldwide, L. infantum is the species responsible for visceral leishmaniasis in Europe, Middle East, and America. Antileishmanial drugs present issues associated with drug toxicity and increasing parasite resistance. Therefore, the study of this parasite with a focus on new potential drug targets is extremely useful. Accordingly, we purified and characterized a transglutaminase (TGase) from L. infantum promastigotes. While Tgases are known to be involved in cell death and autophagy, it appears that these functions are very important for parasites' virulence. For the first time, we showed a Ca2+- and GTP-dependent TGase in Leishmania corresponding to a 54 kDa protein, which was purified by two chromatographic steps: DEAE-Sepharose and Heparin-Sepharose. Using polyclonal antibodies against a 50-amino-acid conserved region of the catalytic core of human TGase 2, we revealed two other bands of 66 and 75 kDa. The 54 kDa band appears to be different from the previously reported TGase, which was shown to be Ca2+- independent. Future research should address the identification of the purified enzyme sequence and, subsequently, its cloning to more comprehensively investigate its pathophysiological function and possible differences from mammal enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawgi Hago Almugadam
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Nile Avenue, P.O. Box 321, Khartoum 51111, Sudan
| | - Alessandro Trentini
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Maritati
- Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlo Contini
- Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Manfrinato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlo Cervellati
- Department of Translational Medicine and for Romagna, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tiziana Bellini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefania Hanau
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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