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Sustainable Development Goals
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- IOC - Artigos de Periódicos [12973]
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TRYPANOSOMATID ESSENTIAL METABOLIC PATHWAY: NEW APPROACHES ABOUT HEME FATE IN TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI
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Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, has a complex life cycle and depends on hosts for
its nutritional needs. Our group has investigated heme (Fe-protoporphyrin IX) internalization and the
effects on parasite growth, following the fate of this porphyrin in the parasite. Here, we show that epimastigotes
cultivated with heme yielded the compounds a-meso-hydroxyheme, verdoheme and biliverdin
(as determined by HPLC), suggesting an active heme degradation pathway in this parasite. Furthermore,
through immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting assays of epimastigote extracts, we observed recognition
by an antibody against mammalian HO-1. We also detected the localization of the HO-1-like protein
in the parasite using immunocytochemistry, with antibody staining primarily in the cytoplasm.
Although HO has not been described in the parasite’s genome, our results offer new insights into heme
metabolism in T. cruzi, revealing potential future therapeutic targets.
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