Journal
MICROBES AND INFECTION
Volume 12, Issue 6, Pages 457-466Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2010.02.007
Keywords
Trypanosoma brucei; Prolyl oligopeptidase; Sleeping sickness; Peptide hormone; Collagen hydrolysis; Prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors
Categories
Funding
- FAPDF
- FINEP
- CNPq
- CAPES, Brazil
- French Ministry of Research
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Proteases play important roles in many biological processes of parasites, including their host interactions. In sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma brucei proteases released into the host bloodstream could hydrolyze host factors, such as hormones, contributing to the development of the disease's symptoms. In this study, we present the identification of the T. brucei prolyl oligopeptidase gene (poptb) and the characterization of its corresponding enzyme, POP Tb. Secondary structure predictions of POP Tb show a structural composition highly similar to other POPs. Recombinant POP Tb produced in E. coli was active and highly sensitive to inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi POP Tc80. These inhibitors, which prevent T. cruzi entry into non-phagocytic cells, arrested growth of the T. brucei bloodstream form in a dose-dependent manner. POP Tb hydrolyzes peptide hormones containing Pro or Ala at the PI position at a slightly alkaline pH, and also cleaves type I collagen in vitro and native collagen present in rat mesentery. Furthermore, POP Tb is released into the bloodstream of T. brucei infected mice where it remains active. These data suggest that POP Tb might contribute to the pathogenesis of sleeping sickness. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
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