Abstract
The trypanosomatids Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are etiological agents of important neglected tropical diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide, and the drugs available for these diseases present several limitations. Novel efficient and nontoxic drugs are necessary as an alternative to the current chemotherapy. The unique mitochondrion of trypanosomatids and its peculiar features turn this organelle a potential drug target. Several phenotypic studies describe the damage in the parasite mitochondrial ultrastructure, but the molecular target is unknown. Few reports demonstrated the electron transport system (ETS) as a target due to the high similarities to mammalian orthologues, hence ETS is not a good candidate for drug intervention. On the other hand, antioxidant enzymes, such as trypanothione reductase, and an alternative oxidase (AOX) seem to be interesting targets; however no high active inhibitors were developed up to now. Finally, due to the remarkable differences to mammalian machinery, together with the high biological importance for the parasite survival, the mitochondrial import system stands out as a very promising target in trypanosomatids. Archaic translocase of the outer membrane (ATOM) and translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) complexes, which mediate both protein and tRNA import, composed by specific subunits of these parasites, could be excellent candidates, deserving studies focused on the development of specific drugs.
Highlights
The human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases caused by the protozoa parasites Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp respectively
A cytochrome-independent alternative oxidase (AOX) in trypanosomatids, mainly found in long slender bloodstream form of T. brucei, is a promising drug target since this molecule is absent in mammalian cells.[10]. This parasite form relies entirely on the catabolism of glucose, an abundant energy source in the bloodstream of mammalian host, using AOX as terminal oxidase enzyme in the aerobic respiratory pathway
2|9 Yasmin Pedra-Rezende et al Fig. 1: mitochondrial swelling is the most recurrent ultrastructural phenotype detected in trypanosomatids after the treatment with drugs. (A) Untreated parasite presenting typical elongated morphology of the mitochondrion (M). (B) Treated parasite showing a remarkable dilation of the organelle with loss of the cristae and electron density of the matrix
Summary
Several phenotypic studies describe the damage in the parasite mitochondrial ultrastructure, but the molecular target is unknown. Antioxidant enzymes, such as trypanothione reductase, and an alternative oxidase (AOX) seem to be interesting targets; no high active inhibitors were developed up to now. Due to the remarkable differences to mammalian machinery, together with the high biological importance for the parasite survival, the mitochondrial import system stands out as a very promising target in trypanosomatids. Archaic translocase of the outer membrane (ATOM) and translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) complexes, which mediate both protein and tRNA import, composed by specific subunits of these parasites, could be excellent candidates, deserving studies focused on the development of specific drugs
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