title: Identification and characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii protein farnesyltransferase.
abstract: Prenylated proteins are involved in the regulation of DNA replication and cell cycling and have important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation. Protein farnesyltransferase and protein geranylgeranyltransferase are the two enzymes responsible for catalysing isoprene lipid modifications. Recently these enzymes have been targets for the development of cancer chemotherapeutics. Using metabolic labelling we identified isoprenylated proteins which suggests the presence of protein farnesyltransferase in Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii protein farnesyltransferase is heat-labile and requires Mg(2+) and Zn(2+) ions for full activity. Peptidomimetic analogues as well as short synthetic peptides were tested in vitro as possible competitors for farnesyltransferase substrates. We found that the synthetic peptide (KTSCVIA) specifically inhibited T. gondiiprotein farnesyltransferase but not mammalian (HeLa cells) farnesyltransferase. Therefore this study suggests the possible development of specific inhibitors of T. gondiiprotein farnesyltransferase as an approach to parasitic protozoa therapy.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 17, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azzouz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerold
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017368:Protein Prenylation; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000201:enzymology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009842:Oligopeptides; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C064911:p21(ras) farnesyl-protein transferase; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc