Functional genetic identification of PRP1, an ABC transporter superfamily member conferring pentamidine resistance in Leishmania major

Autor(es)

Coelho, A. C. ; Beverley, S. M. ; Cotrim, P. C. ^[3]

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology; v. 130, n. 2, p. 83-90, ago. 2003.
• Área do conhecimento: Ciências Biológicas - Parasitologia
• Assunto(s): Leishmania Genes

Resumo

Pentamidine (PEN) is a second-line agent in the treatment of leishmaniasis whose mode of action and resistance is not well understood. Here, we used a genetic strategy to search for loci able to mediate PEN resistance (PENr) when overexpressed in Leishmania major. A shuttle cosmid library containing genomic DNA inserts was transfected into wild-type promastigotes and screened for PEN-resistant transfectants. Two different cosmids identifying the same locus were found, which differed from other known Leishmania drug resistance genes. The PENr gene was mapped by deletion and transposon mutagenesis to an open reading frame (ORF) belonging to the P-glycoprotein (PGP)/MRP ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily that we named pentamidine resistance protein 1 (PRP1). The predicted PRP1 protein encodes 1807 amino acids with the typical dimeric structure involving 10 transmembrane domains and two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). PRP1-mediated PENr could be reversed by verapamil and PRP1 overexpressors showed cross-resistance to trivalent antimony but not to pentavalent antimony (glucantime). Although the degree of PENr was modest (1.7- to 3.7-fold), this may be significant in clinical drug resistance given the marginal efficacy of PEN against Leishmania. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 95/09305-9 - Identificacao de genes de leishmania que conferem resistencia a inibidores da sintese do ergosterol, utilizando tecnicas de transfeccao genica.
• Beneficiário: Paulo Cesar Cotrim
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 97/00541-7 - Sequência e polimorfismo de DNA em microbiologia aplicada
• Beneficiário: Claudio Sergio Pannuti
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa Infra-estrutura - Equipamentos