A. Debrabant et al., A unique surface membrane anchored purine-salvage enzyme is conserved among a group of primitive eukaryotic human pathogens, MOL C BIOCH, 220(1-2), 2001, pp. 109-116
Previously, we isolated and characterized the gene encoding the 3'-Nucleoti
dase/Nuclease (Ld3'NT/NU) from the human pathogen, Leishmania donovani. Thi
s unique cell surface enzyme has been shown to be involved in the salvage o
f host-derived purines, which are essential for the survival of this import
ant protozoan parasite. In this report, we assessed whether the 3'-Nucleoti
dase/Nuclease was conserved amongst other pathogenic Leishmania and related
trypanosomatid parasites. Results of pulsed field gel electrophoresis and
Southern blotting showed that a Ld3'NT/NU gene homolog was present in each
of the visceral and cutaneous Leishmania species tested (i.e. isolates of L
. donovani, L. infantum, L. tropica, L. major and L. mexicana, respectively
). Further, results of colorimetric assays using 3'-adenosine monophosphate
as substrate demonstrated that each of these organisms also expressed sign
ificant levels of 3'-nucleotidase enzyme activity. In addition, we showed t
hat a Ld3'NT/NU gene homolog was expressed in each of these Leishmania spec
ies as a > 40 kDa 3'-nucleotidase enzyme activity. A Ld3'NT/NU gene homolog
was also identified in two Crithidia species (C. fasciculata and C. lucili
ae) and Leptomonas seymouri but was only marginally detectable in Trypanoso
ma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Phytomonas serpens. Cumulatively, results
of this study showed that an Ld3'NT/NU homolog was conserved amongst pathog
enic Leishmania sp. which suggests that this enzyme must play an critical r
ole in purine salvage for all members of this group of human pathogens.