title: Biochemical characterization of serine acetyltransferase and cysteine desulfhydrase from Leishmania major.
abstract: Cysteine metabolism exhibits atypical features in Leishmania parasites. The nucleotide sequence annotated as LmjF32.2640 encodes a cysteine desulfhydrase, which specifically catalyzes the breakdown of cysteine into pyruvate, NH(3) and H(2)S. Like in other pathogens, this capacity might be associated with regulatory mechanisms to control the intracellular level of cysteine, a highly toxic albeit essential amino acid, in addition to generate pyruvate for energy production. Besides, our results provide the first insight into the biochemical properties of Leishmania major serine acetyltransferase (SAT), which is likely involved in the two routes for de novo synthesis of cysteine in this pathogen. When compared with other members of SAT family, the N-terminal region of L. major homologue is uniquely extended, and seems to be essential for proper protein folding. Furthermore, unlike plant and bacterial enzymes, the carboxy-terminal-C(10) sequence stretch of L. major SAT appears not to be implicated in forming a tight bi-enzyme complex with cysteine synthase.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológica IQUIFIB-CONICET, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C1113AAD, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marciano
authors.forename: Marianela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Brian Suárez
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Mantilla
authors.forename: Ariel Mariano
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silber
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marino-Buslje
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nowicki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D017385:Sequence Homology; D051050:Serine O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D051050:Serine O-Acetyltransferase; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase; D003545:Cysteine