Projects per year
Abstract
Trypanosomatid parasites are the infectious agents causing Chagas’ disease, visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis and human African trypanosomiasis. Recent work of others has implicated an aldo-keto reductase (AKR) in susceptibility and resistance of Trypanosoma cruzi to benznidazole, a drug used to treat Chagas’ disease. Here we show that TcAKR and homologues in the related parasites T. brucei and Leishmania donovani do not reductively activate monocyclic (benznidazole, nifurtimox, fexinidazole) or bicyclic nitro-drugs such as PA824. Rather, these enzymes metabolise a variety of toxic ketoaldehydes, such as glyoxal and methylglyoxal, suggesting a role in cellular defence against chemical stress. UPLC-QToF/MS analysis of benznidazole bio-activation by T. cruzi cell lysates confirms previous reports identifying numerous drug metabolites, including a dihydro-dihydroxy intermediate that can dissociate to form N-benzyl-2-guanidinoacetamide and glyoxal, a toxic DNA glycating and cross-linking agent. Thus, we propose that TcAKR contributes to benznidazole resistance by removal of toxic glyoxal. In addition, three of the four enzymes studied here display activity as prostaglandin F2α synthases, despite the fact that there are no credible cyclooxygenases in these parasites to account for formation of the precursor PGH2 from arachidonic acid. Our studies suggest that arachidonic acid is first converted non-enzymatically in parasite lysates to (PGH2-like) regioisomers by free-radical-mediated peroxidation and that AKRs convert these lipid peroxides into isoprostanes, including prostaglandin F2α and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2593-2610 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Biochemical Journal |
Volume | 475 |
Issue number | 16 |
Early online date | 25 Jul 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 29 Aug 2018 |
Keywords
- Prostaglandin
- isoprostane
- parasite metabolism
- Trypanosoma brucei
- Trypanosoma cruzi
- Leishmania
- enzyme kinetics
- ketoaldehydes
- drug metabolism
- benznidazole
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
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Dive into the research topics of 'A role for trypanosomatid aldo-keto reductases in methylglyoxal, prostaglandin and isoprostane metabolism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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A Centre of Excellence for Lead Optimisation for Diseases of the Developing World (Joint funding by Wellcome & Gates)
Gilbert, I. (Investigator), Gray, D. (Investigator), Read, K. (Investigator) & Wyatt, P. (Investigator)
1/07/13 → 31/10/18
Project: Research
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Aref#d: 18185. Characterization and validation of drug targets in the Kinetoplastida (Principal Research Fellowship/Programme Grant)
Fairlamb, A. (Investigator)
1/10/06 → 30/09/17
Project: Research
Profiles
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Fairlamb, Alan
- Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery - Associate Staff of Biochemistry (Consulting)
Person: Associate Staff