Trypanothione synthetase confers growth, survival advantage and resistance to anti-protozoal drugs in Trypanosoma cruzi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chagas cardiomyopathy, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, continues to be a neglected illness, and has a major impact on global health. The parasite undergoes several stages of morphological and biochemical changes during its life cycle, and utilizes an elaborated antioxidant network to overcome the oxidants barrier and establish infection in vector and mammalian hosts. Trypanothione synthetase (TryS) catalyzes the biosynthesis of glutathione-spermidine adduct trypanothione (T(SH)₂) that is the principal intracellular thiol-redox metabolite in trypanosomatids.

Methods and results

We utilized genetic overexpression (TryS^hi) and pharmacological inhibition approaches to examine the role of TryS in T. cruzi proliferation, tolerance to oxidati

SUBMITTER: Mesias AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6331241 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature