title: Inhibition of polyamine synthesis arrests trichomonad growth and induces destruction of hydrogenosomes.
abstract: Trichomonad parasites such as Tritrichomonas foetus produce large amounts of putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), which is transported out of the cell via an antiport mechanism which results in the uptake of a molecule of spermine. The importance of putrescine to the survival of the parasite and its role in the biology of T. foetus was investigated by use of the putrescine analogue 1, 4-diamino-2-butanone (DAB). Growth of T. foetus in vitro was significantly inhibited by 20 mM DAB, which was reversed by the addition of exogenous 40 mM putrescine. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of 20 mM DAB-treated T. foetus revealed that putrescine, spermidine, and spermine levels were reduced by 89, 52, and 43%, respectively, compared to those in control cells. The DAB treatment induced several ultrastructural alterations, which were primarily observed in the redox organelles termed hydrogenosomes. These organelles were progressively degraded, giving rise to large vesicles that displayed material immunoreactive with an antibody to beta-succinyl-coenzyme A synthetase, a hydrogenosomal enzyme. A protective role for polyamines as stabilizing agents in the trichomonad hydrogenosomal membrane is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia da Superfície Celular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yarlett
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Silva-Filho
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vannier-Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003470:Culture Media; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015388:Organelles / Q000187:drug effects*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013095:Spermidine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013096:Spermine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016835:Tritrichomonas foetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D003470:Culture Media; C014458:1,4-diaminobutanone; D013096:Spermine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine