Branched-chain amino acids modulate the proteomic profile of Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis induced by proline.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, has a complex life cycle that involves triatomine insects as vectors and mammals as hosts. The differentiation of epimastigote forms into metacyclic trypomastigotes within the insect vector is crucial for the parasite's life cycle progression. Factors influencing this process, including temperature, pH, and nutritional stress, along with specific metabolite availability, play a pivotal role. Amino acids like proline, histidine, and glutamine support cell differentiation, while branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) inhibit it. Interestingly, combining the pro-metacyclogenic amino acid proline with one of the anti-metacyclogenic BCAAs results in viable metacyclics with significantly reduced infectivity. To explore the characteristics of

SUBMITTER: Nascimento JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11493278 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature