title: Methylglyoxal-catabolizing enzymes of Leishmania donovani promastigotes.
abstract: Methylglyoxal is a toxic metabolite with growth inhibitory properties against Leishmania donovani promastigotes. We have shown in the present study that both log and stationary phase promastigotes of L. donovani can catabolize methylglyoxal to D-lactate as the major end product. The specific activity of methylglyoxal reductase was found to be the highest of all the catabolic enzymes. In contrast, the anabolic pathway for methylglyoxal could not be detected. Moreover, when control promastigotes or promastigotes in which the glycolytic pathway was inhibited were incubated with glucose, glycerol or dihydroxyacetone phosphate as energy source, neither methylglyoxal nor D-lactate could be detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghoshal
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004099:Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D007773:Lactates / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D014050:Toluene / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D014050:Toluene; D004099:Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; C021494:lactaldehyde reductase; C031416:D-lactaldehyde dehydrogenase; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; C021928:2-oxoaldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD+)