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Aldfer MM, Hulpia F, van Calenbergh S, De Koning HP. Mapping the transporter-substrate interactions of the Trypanosoma cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter reveals the basis for its high affinity and selectivity for hypoxanthine and guanine and lack of nucleoside uptake. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 258:111616. [PMID: 38401850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111616] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite and the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that continues to spread to new areas. Yet, Chagas disease is still only treated with two related nitro compounds that are insufficiently effective and cause severe side effects. Nucleotide metabolism is one of the known vulnerabilities of T. cruzi, as they are auxotrophic for purines, and nucleoside analogues have been shown to have genuine promise against this parasite in vitro and in vivo. Since purine antimetabolites require efficient uptake through transporters, we here report a detailed characterisation of the T. cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter with the aim of elucidating the interactions between TcrNB1 and its substrates and finding the positions that can be altered in the design of novel antimetabolites without losing transportability. Systematically determining the inhibition constants (Ki) of purine analogues for TcrNB1 yielded their Gibbs free energy of interaction, ΔG0. Pairwise comparisons of substrate (hypoxanthine, guanine, adenine) and analogues allowed us to determine that optimal binding affinity by TcrNB1 requires interactions with all four nitrogen residues of the purine ring, with N1 and N9, in protonation state, functioning as presumed hydrogen bond donors and unprotonated N3 and N7 as hydrogen bond acceptors. This is the same interaction pattern as we previously described for the main nucleobase transporters of Trypanosoma brucei spp. and Leishmania major and makes it the first of the ENT-family genes that is functionally as well as genetically conserved between the three main kinetoplast pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M Aldfer
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK
| | - Fabian Hulpia
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Serge van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Harry P De Koning
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK.
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Thepmanee O, Munkongwongsiri N, Prachumwat A, Saksmerprome V, Jitrakorn S, Sritunyalucksana K, Vanichviriyakit R, Chanarat S, Jaroenlak P, Itsathitphaisarn O. Molecular and cellular characterization of four putative nucleotide transporters from the shrimp microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). Sci Rep 2023; 13:20008. [PMID: 37974017 PMCID: PMC10654386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that lost several enzymes required in energy production. The expansion of transporter families in these organisms enables them to hijack ATP from hosts. In this study, nucleotide transporters of the microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), which causes slow growth in economically valuable Penaeus shrimp, were characterized. Analysis of the EHP genome suggested the presence of four putative nucleotide transporter genes, namely EhNTT1, EhNTT2, EhNTT3, and EhNTT4. Sequence alignment revealed four charged amino acids that are conserved in previously characterized nucleotide transporters. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that EhNTT1, 3, and 4 were derived from one horizontal gene transfer event, which was independent from that of EhNTT2. Localization of EhNTT1 and EhNTT2 using immunofluorescence analysis revealed positive signals within the envelope of developing plasmodia and on mature spores. Knockdown of EhNTT2 by double administration of sequence specific double-stranded RNA resulted in a significant reduction in EHP copy numbers, suggesting that EhNTT2 is crucial for EHP replication in shrimp. Taken together, the insight into the roles of NTTs in microsporidian proliferation can provide the biological basis for the development of alternative control strategies for microsporidian infection in shrimp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orawan Thepmanee
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Natthinee Munkongwongsiri
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Anuphap Prachumwat
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Vanvimon Saksmerprome
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Pathum Thani, Klong Neung, Klong Luang, 12120, Thailand
| | - Sarocha Jitrakorn
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Pathum Thani, Klong Neung, Klong Luang, 12120, Thailand
| | - Kallaya Sritunyalucksana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sittinan Chanarat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Protein and Enzyme Technology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd. , Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Pattana Jaroenlak
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Rd., Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Ornchuma Itsathitphaisarn
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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Deveci G, Kamil M, Kina U, Temel BA, Aly ASI. Genetic disruption of nucleoside transporter 4 reveals its critical roles in malaria parasite sporozoite functions. Pathog Glob Health 2023; 117:284-292. [PMID: 36003062 PMCID: PMC10081079 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2112880] [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] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
Abstract
All protozoan parasites are lacking the pathway to synthesize purines de novo and therefore they depend on their host cells to provide purines. A number of highly conserved nucleoside transporter (NT) proteins are encoded in malaria parasite genomes, of which NT1 is characterized in Plasmodium falciparum and P. yoelii as a plasma membrane protein that is responsible for salvage of purines from the host, and NT2 is an endoplasmic membrane NT protein. Whereas NT3 is only present in primate malaria parasites, little is known about NT4, which is conserved in all malaria parasite species. Herein, we targeted NT4 gene for deletion in P. berghei. NT4 knockout parasites developed normally as blood stages, ookinetes and formed oocysts with sporozoites compared with wild-type (WT) P. berghei ANKA parasites. However, nt4(-) sporozoites showed significantly decreased egress from oocysts to hemolymph, significant reduction of colonization of the salivary glands, and complete abolishment of infection of the mammalian host by salivary gland and hemolymph sporozoites. Therefore, we identify NT4 as a NT that is important, not for replication and growth, but for sporozoite infectivity functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gozde Deveci
- Aly Lab, Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mohd Kamil
- Aly Lab, Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Umit Kina
- Aly Lab, Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Binnur Aydogan Temel
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmed S. I. Aly
- Aly Lab, Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
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