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Nucleoside transport in Crithidia luciliae
S T Hall1, G A Odgers, A M Gero
1School of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
International Journal for Parasitology
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Crithidia luciliae has two nucleoside transporters: one for purines (adenosine) and thymidine, and another for guanosine/inosine. Unlike mammalian cells, these transporters are not inhibited by common drugs but are by p-chloromercuribenzoate sulphonate.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nucleoside transporters are crucial for cellular metabolism and drug development.
- Trypanosomatids like Crithidia luciliae are protozoan parasites with unique biochemical pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize nucleoside transport mechanisms in Crithidia luciliae.
- To identify specificities and inhibitors of C. luciliae nucleoside transporters.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a rapid sampling technique to study nucleoside uptake kinetics.
- Investigated substrate specificity and inhibition patterns of nucleoside transport.
Main Results:
- Identified two distinct nucleoside transporters in C. luciliae.
- One transporter accepts adenosine, deoxyadenosine, tubercidin, sangivamycin, and thymidine; the second accepts guanosine, inosine, and deoxyguanosine.
- Transport is facilitated, with apparent Km values of 9.34 µM for adenosine and 10.6 µM for guanosine.
- Thymidine transport is 50% slower than purine nucleosides; uridine, deoxyuridine, and deoxycytidine are not transported.
- L-adenosine enters via diffusion.
- Nitrobenzylthioinosine, dilazep, and dipyridamole do not inhibit transport, but p-chloromercuribenzoate sulphonate does.
Conclusions:
- C. luciliae possesses unique nucleoside transporters distinct from mammalian systems.
- These transporters represent potential targets for antiparasitic drug development.