Comprehensive characterization of purine and pyrimidine transport activities in Trichomonas vaginalis and functional cloning of a trichomonad nucleoside transporter.

ABSTRACT: Trichomoniasis is a common and widespread sexually-transmitted infection, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. T. vaginalis lacks the biosynthetic pathways for purines and pyrimidines, making nucleoside metabolism a drug target. Here we report the first comprehensive investigation into purine and pyrimidine uptake by T. vaginalis. Multiple carriers were identified and characterized with regard to substrate selectivity and affinity. For nucleobases, a high-affinity adenine transporter, a possible guanine transporter and a low affinity uracil transporter were found. Nucleoside transporters included two high affinity adenosine/guanosine/uridine/cytidine transporters distinguished by different affinities to inosine, a lower affinity adenosine transporter, and a thymidine tra

SUBMITTER: Natto MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8688338 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature