Schistosoma mansoni Sirtuins: characterization and potential as chemotherapeutic targets.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The chemotherapy of schistosomiasis currently depends on the use of a single drug, praziquantel. In order to develop novel chemotherapeutic agents we are investigating enzymes involved in the epigenetic modification of chromatin. Sirtuins are NAD+ dependent lysine deacetylases that are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes including histone deacetylation, and have been demonstrated to be therapeutic targets in various pathologies, including cancer.

Methodology principal findings

In order to determine whether Schistosoma mansoni sirtuins are potential therapeutic targets we first identified and characterized their protein sequences. Five sirtuins (SmSirt) are encoded in the S. mansoni genome and phylogenetic analysis showed that they are orthologues of m

SUBMITTER: Lancelot J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3772001 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature