title: Entamoeba histolytica: biochemical characterization of a protein disulfide isomerase.
abstract: Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) enzymes are eukaryotic oxidoreductases that catalyze oxidation, reduction and isomerization of disulfide bonds in polypeptide substrates. Here, we report the biochemical characterization of a PDI enzyme from the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica (EhPDI). Our results show that EhPDI behaves mainly as an oxidase/isomerase and can be inhibited by bacitracin, a known PDI inhibitor; moreover, it exhibits chaperone-like activity. Albeit its physiological role in the life style of the parasite (including virulence and survival) remains to be studied, EhPDI could represent a potential drug target for anti-amebic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Tecnológico, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. mramos@uabc.edu.mx
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Rosa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mares
authors.forename: Paloma D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Magaña
authors.forename: Israel D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Samuel G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Meléndez-López
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D019704:Protein Disulfide-Isomerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017510:Protein Folding; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007328:Insulin; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D001414:Bacitracin; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; D009113:Muramidase; D019704:Protein Disulfide-Isomerases