1
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Lykins J, Moschitto MJ, Zhou Y, Filippova EV, Le HV, Tomita T, Fox BA, Bzik DJ, Su C, Rajagopala SV, Flores K, Spano F, Woods S, Roberts CW, Hua C, El Bissati K, Wheeler KM, Dovgin S, Muench SP, McPhillie M, Fishwick CW, Anderson WF, Lee PJ, Hickman M, Weiss LM, Dubey JP, Lorenzi HA, Silverman RB, McLeod RL. From TgO/GABA-AT, GABA, and T-263 Mutant to Conception of Toxoplasma. iScience 2024; 27:108477. [PMID: 38205261 PMCID: PMC10776954 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii causes morbidity, mortality, and disseminates widely via cat sexual stages. Here, we find T. gondii ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) is conserved across phyla. We solve TgO/GABA-AT structures with bound inactivators at 1.55 Å and identify an inactivator selective for TgO/GABA-AT over human OAT and GABA-AT. However, abrogating TgO/GABA-AT genetically does not diminish replication, virulence, cyst-formation, or eliminate cat's oocyst shedding. Increased sporozoite/merozoite TgO/GABA-AT expression led to our study of a mutagenized clone with oocyst formation blocked, arresting after forming male and female gametes, with "Rosetta stone"-like mutations in genes expressed in merozoites. Mutations are similar to those in organisms from plants to mammals, causing defects in conception and zygote formation, affecting merozoite capacitation, pH/ionicity/sodium-GABA concentrations, drawing attention to cyclic AMP/PKA, and genes enhancing energy or substrate formation in TgO/GABA-AT-related-pathways. These candidates potentially influence merozoite's capacity to make gametes that fuse to become zygotes, thereby contaminating environments and causing disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Lykins
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Matthew J. Moschitto
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, and Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3113, USA
| | - Ying Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ekaterina V. Filippova
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hoang V. Le
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, and Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3113, USA
| | - Tadakimi Tomita
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Barbara A. Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - David J. Bzik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Seesandra V. Rajagopala
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Kristin Flores
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Furio Spano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Stuart Woods
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Scotland, UK
| | - Craig W. Roberts
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Scotland, UK
| | - Cong Hua
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kamal El Bissati
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Wheeler
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sarah Dovgin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Stephen P. Muench
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, The University of Leeds, Leeds, West York LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Martin McPhillie
- School of Chemistry and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Colin W.G. Fishwick
- School of Chemistry and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Wayne F. Anderson
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Patricia J. Lee
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Military Malaria Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Mark Hickman
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Military Malaria Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Louis M. Weiss
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jitender P. Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Hernan A. Lorenzi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Richard B. Silverman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, and Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3113, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Rima L. McLeod
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases), Institute of Genomics, Genetics, and Systems Biology, Global Health Center, Toxoplasmosis Center, CHeSS, The College, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Rodriguez JB, Szajnman SH. An updated review of chemical compounds with anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 262:115885. [PMID: 37871407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115885] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The opportunistic apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the etiologic agent for toxoplasmosis, which can infect a widespread range of hosts, particularly humans and warm-blooded animals. The present chemotherapy to treat or prevent toxoplasmosis is deficient and is based on diverse drugs such as atovaquone, trimethoprim, spiramycine, which are effective in acute toxoplasmosis. Therefore, a safe chemotherapy is required for toxoplasmosis considering that its responsible agent, T. gondii, provokes severe illness and death in pregnant women and immunodeficient patients. A certain disadvantage of the available treatments is the lack of effectiveness against the tissue cyst of the parasite. A safe chemotherapy to combat toxoplasmosis should be based on the metabolic differences between the parasite and the mammalian host. This article covers different relevant molecular targets to combat this disease including the isoprenoid pathway (farnesyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase), dihydrofolate reductase, calcium-dependent protein kinases, histone deacetylase, mitochondrial electron transport chain, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan B Rodriguez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica (UMYMFOR), C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Sergio H Szajnman
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica (UMYMFOR), C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Zhan N, Huang L, Wang Z, Xie Y, Shang X, Liu G, Wu Z. Comparative transcriptomics and bioinformatics analysis of genes related to photosynthesis in Eucalyptus camaldulensis. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14351. [PMID: 36389400 PMCID: PMC9661968 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The timber species Eucalyptus camaldulensis is one of the most important in southern China. Therefore, it is essential to understand the photosynthetic pattern in eucalyptus leaves. In the present study, eighteen photosynthesis-related genes were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. The results indicated that there were ten differentially expressed ribose-5-phosphate isomerase genes (RPI), and six of them were up-regulated in the mature leaves compared to the young leaves, while others were down-regulated. The differential expression of four rubisco methyltransferase genes (RBCMT) were observed. Two of them were up-regulated, while two were down-regulated in mature leaves compared to young leaves. Furthermore, two ribulose-phosphate-3-epimerase genes (RPE) were up-regulated in the mature leaves compared to the young leaves. In contrast, two genes involved in triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) were down-regulated in mature leaves compared with young leaves. The current study provides basic information about the transcriptome of E. camaldulensis and lays a foundation for further research in developing and utilizing important photosynthetic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Zhan
- Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China,Langfang Normal University, Langfang, Hebei, China
| | - Liejian Huang
- Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Langfang Normal University, Langfang, Hebei, China
| | - Yaojian Xie
- Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiuhua Shang
- Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Guo Liu
- Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhihua Wu
- Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
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Xia N, Guo X, Guo Q, Gupta N, Ji N, Shen B, Xiao L, Feng Y. Metabolic flexibilities and vulnerabilities in the pentose phosphate pathway of the zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010864. [PMID: 36121870 PMCID: PMC9521846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic pathways underpin the growth and virulence of intracellular parasites and are therefore promising antiparasitic targets. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is vital in most organisms, providing a reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and ribose sugar for nucleotide synthesis; however, it has not yet been studied in Toxoplasma gondii, a widespread intracellular pathogen and a model protozoan organism. Herein, we show that T. gondii has a functional PPP distributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of its acutely-infectious tachyzoite stage. We produced eight parasite mutants disrupting seven enzymes of the PPP in T. gondii. Our data show that of the seven PPP proteins, the two glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases (TgG6PDH1, TgG6PDH2), one of the two 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases (Tg6PGDH1), ribulose-5-phosphate epimerase (TgRuPE) and transaldolase (TgTAL) are dispensable in vitro as well as in vivo, disclosing substantial metabolic plasticity in T. gondii. Among these, TgG6PDH2 plays a vital role in defense against oxidative stress by the pathogen. Further, we show that Tg6PGDH2 and ribulose-5-phosphate isomerase (TgRPI) are critical for tachyzoite growth. The depletion of TgRPI impairs the flux of glucose in central carbon pathways, and causes decreased expression of ribosomal, microneme and rhoptry proteins. In summary, our results demonstrate the physiological need of the PPP in T. gondii while unraveling metabolic flexibility and antiparasitic targets. Metabolic pathways are intimately associated with the survival and replication of parasitic Toxoplasma gondii and thus represent potential targets for antiparasitic strategies. Herein, we focused on the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in T. gondii and examined its roles in supporting the growth of this ubiquitous pathogen. We found that TgG6PDH1 and TgG6PDH2 were needed to defend oxidative stress but not for pentose synthesis. We revealed that inactivation of the Tg6PGDH2 and TgRPI severely impaired the asexual reproduction of tachyzoites. We also highlighted the remarkable metabolic plasticity in tachyzoites that enables them to acquire some of the PPP intermediates from multiple routes. This study provides significant insights into the carbon metabolism properties of Toxoplasma parasites, opening avenues for targeting this pathway to develop therapeutic interventions against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningbo Xia
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuefang Guo
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghong Guo
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (Hyderabad Campus), Hyderabad, India
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Nuo Ji
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail: (BS); (LX); (YF)
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (BS); (LX); (YF)
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (BS); (LX); (YF)
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5
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Abstract
Purpose of Review Review building of programs to eliminate Toxoplasma infections. Recent Findings
Morbidity and mortality from toxoplasmosis led to programs in USA, Panama, and Colombia to facilitate understanding, treatment, prevention, and regional resources, incorporating student work. Summary Studies foundational for building recent, regional approaches/programs are reviewed. Introduction provides an overview/review of programs in Panamá, the United States, and other countries. High prevalence/risk of exposure led to laws mandating testing in gestation, reporting, and development of broad-based teaching materials about Toxoplasma. These were tested for efficacy as learning tools for high-school students, pregnant women, medical students, physicians, scientists, public health officials and general public. Digitized, free, smart phone application effectively taught pregnant women about toxoplasmosis prevention. Perinatal infection care programs, identifying true regional risk factors, and point-of-care gestational screening facilitate prevention and care. When implemented fully across all demographics, such programs present opportunities to save lives, sight, and cognition with considerable spillover benefits for individuals and societies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40124-022-00269-w.
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Building Programs to Eradicate Toxoplasmosis Part IV: Understanding and Development of Public Health Strategies and Advances “Take a Village”. CURRENT PEDIATRICS REPORTS 2022; 10:125-154. [PMID: 35991908 PMCID: PMC9379243 DOI: 10.1007/s40124-022-00268-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Review international efforts to build a global public health initiative focused on toxoplasmosis with spillover benefits to save lives, sight, cognition and motor function benefiting maternal and child health. Recent Findings Multiple countries’ efforts to eliminate toxoplasmosis demonstrate progress and context for this review and new work. Summary Problems with potential solutions proposed include accessibility of accurate, inexpensive diagnostic testing, pre-natal screening and facilitating tools, missed and delayed neonatal diagnosis, restricted access, high costs, delays in obtaining medicines emergently, delayed insurance pre-approvals and high medicare copays taking considerable physician time and effort, harmful shortcuts being taken in methods to prepare medicines in settings where access is restricted, reluctance to perform ventriculoperitoneal shunts promptly when needed without recognition of potential benefit, access to resources for care, especially for marginalized populations, and limited use of recent advances in management of neurologic and retinal disease which can lead to good outcomes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40124-022-00268-x.
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Silvestre A, Shintre SS, Rachidi N. Released Parasite-Derived Kinases as Novel Targets for Antiparasitic Therapies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:825458. [PMID: 35252034 PMCID: PMC8893276 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.825458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficient manipulation of their host cell is an essential feature of intracellular parasites. Most molecular mechanisms governing the subversion of host cell by protozoan parasites involve the release of parasite-derived molecules into the host cell cytoplasm and direct interaction with host proteins. Among these released proteins, kinases are particularly important as they govern the subversion of important host pathways, such as signalling or metabolic pathways. These enzymes, which catalyse the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP onto serine, threonine, tyrosine or histidine residues to covalently modify proteins, are involved in numerous essential biological processes such as cell cycle or transport. Although little is known about the role of most of the released parasite-derived kinases in the host cell, they are examples of kinases hijacking host cellular pathways such as signal transduction or apoptosis, which are essential for immune response evasion as well as parasite survival and development. Here we present the current knowledge on released protozoan kinases and their involvement in host-pathogen interactions. We also highlight the knowledge gaps remaining before considering those kinases - involved in host signalling subversion - as antiparasitic drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Silvestre
- INRAE, Université de Tours, ISP, Nouzilly, France
- *Correspondence: Anne Silvestre, ; Najma Rachidi,
| | - Sharvani Shrinivas Shintre
- INRAE, Université de Tours, ISP, Nouzilly, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris and INSERM U1201, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, Paris, France
| | - Najma Rachidi
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris and INSERM U1201, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Anne Silvestre, ; Najma Rachidi,
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Narsimulu B, Qureshi R, Jakkula P, Are S, Qureshi IA. Biophysical and Structural Characterization of Ribulose-5-phosphate Epimerase from Leishmania donovani. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:548-564. [PMID: 35036723 PMCID: PMC8756792 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of NADPH/NADP+ homeostasis and provides protection against oxidative stress through detoxification of the reactive oxygen species. Ribulose-5-phosphate epimerase (RPE) participates in catalysis of the interconversion of ribulose-5-phosphate (Ru5P) to xylulose-5-phosphate (Xu5P) during PPP, however the structural attributes of this enzyme are still underexplored in many human pathogens including leishmanial parasites. The present study focuses upon cloning, purification and characterization of RPE of Leishmania donovani (LdRPE) using various biophysical and structural approaches. Sequence analysis has shown the presence of trypanosomatid-specific insertions at the N-terminus that are absent in humans and other eukaryotes. Gel filtration chromatography indicated recombinant LdRPE to exist as a dimer in the solution. Circular dichroism studies revealed a higher alpha helical content at physiological pH and temperature that comparatively varies with changing these parameters. Additionally, intrinsic fluorescence and quenching studies of LdRPE have depicted that tryptophan residues are mainly buried in the hydrophobic regions, and the recombinant enzyme is moderately tolerant to urea. Moreover, homology modeling was employed to generate the three-dimensional structure of LdRPE followed by molecular docking with the substrate, product, and substrate analogues. The modeled structure of LdRPE unravelled the presence of conserved active site residues as well as a single binding pocket for the substrate and product, while an in silico study suggested binding of substrate analogues into a similar pocket with more affinity than the substrate. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulation analysis has deciphered complexes of LdRPE with most of the ligands exhibiting more stability than its apo form and lesser fluctuations in active site residues in the presence of ligands. Altogether, our study presents structural insights into leishmanial RPE that could provide the basis for its implication to develop potent antileishmanials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bandigi Narsimulu
- Department
of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C. R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | | | - Pranay Jakkula
- Department
of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C. R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Sayanna Are
- Department
of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C. R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Insaf Ahmed Qureshi
- Department
of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C. R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
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Urán Landaburu L, Berenstein AJ, Videla S, Maru P, Shanmugam D, Chernomoretz A, Agüero F. TDR Targets 6: driving drug discovery for human pathogens through intensive chemogenomic data integration. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:D992-D1005. [PMID: 31680154 PMCID: PMC7145610 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The volume of biological, chemical and functional data deposited in the public domain is growing rapidly, thanks to next generation sequencing and highly-automated screening technologies. These datasets represent invaluable resources for drug discovery, particularly for less studied neglected disease pathogens. To leverage these datasets, smart and intensive data integration is required to guide computational inferences across diverse organisms. The TDR Targets chemogenomics resource integrates genomic data from human pathogens and model organisms along with information on bioactive compounds and their annotated activities. This report highlights the latest updates on the available data and functionality in TDR Targets 6. Based on chemogenomic network models providing links between inhibitors and targets, the database now incorporates network-driven target prioritizations, and novel visualizations of network subgraphs displaying chemical- and target-similarity neighborhoods along with associated target-compound bioactivity links. Available data can be browsed and queried through a new user interface, that allow users to perform prioritizations of protein targets and chemical inhibitors. As such, TDR Targets now facilitates the investigation of drug repurposing against pathogen targets, which can potentially help in identifying candidate targets for bioactive compounds with previously unknown targets. TDR Targets is available at https://tdrtargets.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Urán Landaburu
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB), Universidad de San Martín, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIBIO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, B1650HMP Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ariel J Berenstein
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Videla
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Parag Maru
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR- National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
- Faculty of Sciences, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Dhanasekaran Shanmugam
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR- National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
- Faculty of Sciences, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Ariel Chernomoretz
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB), Universidad de San Martín, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIBIO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, B1650HMP Buenos Aires, Argentina
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10
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Guo M, Zhang X, Li M, Li T, Duan X, Zhang D, Hu L, Huang R. Label-Free Proteomic Analysis of Molecular Effects of 2-Methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone on Penicillium italicum. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143459. [PMID: 31337149 PMCID: PMC6678512 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Penicillium italicum is the principal pathogen causing blue mold of citrus. Searching for novel antifungal agents is an important aspect of the post-harvest citrus industry because of the lack of higher effective and low toxic antifungal agents. Herein, the effects of 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (MNQ) on P. italicum and its mechanism were carried out by a series of methods. MNQ had a significant anti-P. italicum effect with an MIC value of 5.0 µg/mL. The label-free protein profiling under different MNQ conditions identified a total of 3037 proteins in the control group and the treatment group. Among them, there were 129 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs, up-regulated > 2.0-fold or down-regulated < 0.5-fold, p < 0.05), 19 up-regulated proteins, 26 down-regulated proteins, and 67 proteins that were specific for the treatment group and another 17 proteins that were specific for the control group. Of these, 83 proteins were sub-categorized into 23 hierarchically-structured GO classifications. Most of the identified DEPs were involved in molecular function (47%), meanwhile 27% DEPs were involved in the cellular component and 26% DEPs were involved in the biological process. Twenty-eight proteins identified for differential metabolic pathways by KEGG were sub-categorized into 60 classifications. Functional characterization by GO and KEGG enrichment results suggests that the DEPs are mainly related to energy generation (mitochondrial carrier protein, glycoside hydrolase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase), NADPH supply (enolase, pyruvate carboxylase), oxidative stress (catalase, glutathione synthetase), and pentose phosphate pathway (ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase and xylulose 5-phosphate). Three of the down-regulated proteins selected randomly the nitro-reductase family protein, mono-oxygenase, and cytochrome P450 were verified using parallel reaction monitoring. These findings illustrated that MNQ may inhibit P. italicum by disrupting the metabolic processes, especially in energy metabolism and stimulus response that are both critical for the growth of the fungus. In conclusion, based on the molecular mechanisms, MNQ can be developed as a potential anti-fungi agent against P. italicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixia Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Meiying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Taotao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Xuewu Duan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Lianmei Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Riming Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Konstantinovic N, Guegan H, Stäjner T, Belaz S, Robert-Gangneux F. Treatment of toxoplasmosis: Current options and future perspectives. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00036. [PMID: 32095610 PMCID: PMC7033996 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic disease infecting about one third of humans, with possible severe outcomes in neonates and immunocompromised patients. Despite continuous and successful efforts to improve diagnosis, therapeutic schemes have barely evolved since many years. This article aims at reviewing the main clinical trials and current treatment practices, and at addressing future perspectives in the light of ongoing researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Konstantinovic
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Hélène Guegan
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Tijana Stäjner
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sorya Belaz
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
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