Effects of Sterol Biosynthesis Inhibitors on Endosymbiont-bearing Trypanosomatids.
From: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
FEMS microbiology letters
- Publish Date: Feb 2006
- ISSN: 0378-1097
- Volume: 255
- Issue: 1
- Pages: 33-42
- Medium: Print
- Language: English
- Citation (JAMA): Palmié-Peixoto Isabella Vieira, Rocha Marcia Rosa, Urbina Julio A, et al. Effects of Sterol Biosynthesis Inhibitors on Endosymbiont-bearing Trypanosomatids.. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. Feb 2006;255:33-42
Abstract
Some protozoa of the Trypanosomatidae family have a close relationship with an endosymbiotic bacterium. As the prokaryote envelope has a controversial origin, a sterol 24-methyltransferase inhibitor (20-piperidin-2-yl-5alpha-pregnan-3beta,20-diol; 22,26-azasterol) was used as a tool to investigate lipid biosynthetic pathways in Crithidia deanei, an endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatid. Apart from antiproliferative effects, this drug induced ultrastructural alterations, consisting of myelin-like figures in the cytoplasm and endosymbiont envelope vesiculation. Concurrently, a dramatic reduction of 24-alkyl sterols was observed after 22,26-azasterol treatment, both in whole cell homogenates, as well as in isolated mitochondria. These effects were associated with changes of phospholipid composition, in particular a reduction of the phosphatidylcholine content and a concomitant increase in phosphatidylethanolamine levels. Lipid analyses of purified endosymbionts indicated a complete absence of sterols, and their phospholipid composition was different from that of mitochondria or whole protozoa, being similar to eubacteria closely associated with eukaryotes.
Mesh Headings (Keywords): Animals, Bacteria, Cholestanol, Enzyme Inhibitors, Sterols, Symbiosis, Trypanosomatina
Check for Full Text / PubMed Unique Identifier (PMID): 16436059
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