Abstract
Extracts of Babesia divergens were examined for the enzymes which catalyse purine salvage. Adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4), guanine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.3), inosine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1), purine phosphoribosyltransferases (EC 2.4.2.7, EC 2.4.2.8, EC 2.4.2.22) and nucleoside kinases (EC 2.7.1.15, EC 2.7.1.20, EC 2.7.1.73) were all detected at relatively high activities, whereas nucleotide interconverting enzymes were not detected. Coformycin and 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide were found to be potent inhibitors of adenosine deaminase and guanine deaminase, respectively. The results suggest that B. divergens is capable of synthesizing purine nucleotides via two routes, one involving purine phosphoribosyltransferases and the other employing nucleoside kinases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Daddona PE, Wiesmann WP, Lambros C, Kelley WN, Webster HK (1984) Human malaria parasite adenosine deaminase. J Biol Chem 259:1472–1475
Gutteridge WE, Coombs GH (1977) Biochemistry of Parasitic Protozoa. MacMillan Press, London
Hassan HF, Coombs GH (1985a) Purine phosphoribosyltransferases of Leishmania mexicana mexicana and other flagellate protozoa. Comp Biochem Physiol [B] 82:773–779
Hassan HF, Coombs GH (1985b) Leishmania mexicana: Purine-metabolizing enzymes of amastigotes and promastigotes. Exp Parasitol 59:139–150
Hassan HF, Coombs GH (1986a) Purine-metabolising enzymes in Entamoeba histolytica. Mol Biochem Parasitol 19:19–25
Hassan HF, Coombs GH (1986b) De novo synthesis of purines by Acanthamoeba castellanii and A. astronyxis. IRCS Med Sci 14:559–560
Heyworth PG, Gutteridge WE, Ginger CD (1982) Purine metabolism in Trichomonas vaginalis. FEBS Lett 141:106–110
Irvin AD, Young ER (1977) Possible in vitro test for screening drugs for activity against Babesia and other blood protozoa. Nature 269:407–409
Irvin AD, Young ER (1979) Further studies on the uptake of tritiated nucleic acid precursors by Babesia spp. of cattle and mice. Int J Parasitol 9:109–114
Irvin AD, Young ER, Purnell RE (1978) The in vitro uptake of tritiated nucleic acid precursors by Babesia spp. of cattle and mice. Int J Parasitol 8:19–24
Kidder GW, Nolan LL (1981) The in vivo and in vitro action of 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide in trypanosomid flagellates. Mol Biochem Parasitol 3:265–269
Lineweaver H, Burk D (1934) The determination of enzyme dissociation constants. J Am Chem Soc 56:658–666
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Lukow I, Schmidt G, Walter RD, Konigk E (1973) Adenosin-monophosphatsalvage-synthese bei Plasmodium chabaudi. Z Tropenmed Parasitol 24:500–504
Marr JJ, Berens RL (1983) Pyrazolopyrimidine metabolism in the pathogenic Trypanosomatidae. Mol Biochem Parasitol 7:339–356
Nolan LL (1984) Partial purification and characterization of guanine aminohydrolase from Trypanosoma cruzi. Curr Microbiol 11:217–220
Phillips RS (1984) Babesia divergens in splenectomised rats. Res Vet Sci 36:251–255
Reyes P, Rathod PK, Sanchez DJ, Mrema J, Rieckman KH, Heinrich H (1982) Enzymes of purine and pyrimidine metabolism from the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol 5:275–290
Richards WH, Williams SG (1973) The removal of leucocytes from malaria infected blood. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 67:249–250
Schimandle CM, Sherman IW (1983) Characterization of adenosine deaminase from the malarial parasite, Plasmodium lophurae and its host cell, the duckling erythrocyte. Biochem Pharmacol 32:115–122
Schimandle CM, Tanigoshi L, Mole LA, Sherman IW (1985) Purine nucleoside phosphorylase of the malarial parasite, Plasmodium lophurae. J Biol Chem 260:4455–4460
Walsh CJ, Sherman IW (1968) Purine and pyrimidine synthesis by the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium lophurae. J Protozool 15:763–770
Walter RD, Konigk E (1974) Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase from Plasmodium chabaudi, purification and properties. Z Tropenmed Parasitol 25:227–235
Wang CC (1984a) Parasite enzymes as potential targets for antiparasitic chemotherapy. J Med Chem 27:1–9
Wang CC (1984b) Purine and pyrimidine metabolism in Trichomonadidae and Giardia: Potential targets for chemotherapy. In: Singer TP, Mansour T, Ondarza R (eds) Biochemical basis of drug action. Academic Press, New York, pp 133–145
Yamada KA, Sherman IW (1981) Purine metabolizing enzymes of Plasmodium lophurae and its host cell, the duckling (Anas domesticus) erythrocyte. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2:349–358
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hassan, H.F., Phillips, R.S. & Coombs, G.H. Purine-metabolizing enzymes in Babesia divergens . Parasitol Res 73, 121–125 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00536467
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00536467