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Trichomonas vaginalis: cytochemical localization of a NTPDase1 and an ecto-5′-nucleotidase and effects of adenine nucleotides on cellular viability

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Abstract

Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (NTPDase1), which hydrolyzes extracellular ATP and ADP, and ecto-5′-nucleotidase, which hydrolyzes AMP, are characterized for Trichomonas vaginalis. Ultrastructural cytochemical microscopy showed NTPDase1 and ecto-5′-nucleotidase activities on the surface of the parasites. High levels of extracellular adenine nucleotides and adenosine did not exert cytolytic effects in intact cells of T. vaginalis. Our results suggest that these enzymes are relevant for the survival of the parasite during exposure to extracellular nucleotides. Since the ecto-localization of these enzymes is essential for the maintenance of adenosine extracellular levels, this nucleoside could be important for the purine salvage pathway in the parasite.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica (CME), UFRGS, Faculdade de Farmácia (PUCRS), CNPq and FAPERGS. T.T. is recipient of a CNPq fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600-Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Tiana Tasca & João J. F. Sarkis

  2. Laboratório de Parasitologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Caixa Postal 1429, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Tiana Tasca & Geraldo A. De Carli

  3. Laboratório de Pesquisa Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Caixa Postal 1429, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Carla D. Bonan

  4. Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, MC7758, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA

    Tiana Tasca

Authors
  1. Tiana Tasca
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  2. Carla D. Bonan
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  3. Geraldo A. De Carli
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  4. João J. F. Sarkis
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Correspondence to João J. F. Sarkis.

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Tasca, T., Bonan, C.D., De Carli, G.A. et al. Trichomonas vaginalis: cytochemical localization of a NTPDase1 and an ecto-5′-nucleotidase and effects of adenine nucleotides on cellular viability. Parasitol Res 93, 300–303 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1126-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1126-4

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