Faculty Opinions recommendation of Molecular modeling of wild-type and antifolate resistant mutant Plasmodium falciparum DHFR.

ABSTRACT A sulfonamide-resistant mutant of pneumococcus, sulr-c, displays a genetic instability, regularly segregating to wild type. DNA extracts of derivatives of the strain possess transforming activities for both the mutant and wild-type alleles, establishing that the strain is a partial diploid. The linkage of sulr-c to strr-61, a stable chromosomal marker, was established, thus defining a chromosomal locus for sulr-c. DNA isolated from sulr-c cells transforms two mutant recipient strains at the same low efficiency as it does a wild-type recipient, although the mutant property of these strains makes them capable of integrating classical "low-efficiency" donor markers equally as efficiently as "high efficiency" markers. Hence sulr-c must have a different basis for its low efficiency than do classical low efficiency point mutations. We suggest that the DNA in the region of the sulr-c mutation has a structural abnormality which leads both to its frequent segregation during growth and its difficulty in efficiently mediating genetic transformation.

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Control of glycoprotein synthesis. Lectin-resistant mutant containing only one of two distinct N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activities present in wild type Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(17)40339-5 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 252 (11) ◽

pp. 3926-3933 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

S Narasimhan ◽

P Stanley ◽

H Schachter

Keyword(s):

Chinese Hamster Ovary ◽

Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells ◽

Chinese Hamster ◽

Resistant Mutant ◽

Wild Type ◽

Glycoprotein Synthesis ◽

Ovary Cells

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Kenyan Plasmodium falciparum Field Isolates: Correlation between Pyrimethamine and Chlorcycloguanil Activity In Vitro and Point Mutations in the Dihydrofolate Reductase Domain

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.42.1.164 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 164-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

A. Nzila-Mounda ◽

E. K. Mberu ◽

C. H. Sibley ◽

C. V. Plowe ◽

P. A. Winstanley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Dihydrofolate Reductase ◽

Drug Response ◽

Point Mutations ◽

Distinct Group ◽

Wild Type ◽

Field Isolates ◽

Vitro Data ◽

In Vitro Data

ABSTRACT Sixty-nine Kenyan Plasmodium falciparum field isolates were tested in vitro against pyrimethamine (PM), chlorcycloguanil (CCG), sulfadoxine (SD), and dapsone (DDS), and their dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genotypes were determined. The in vitro data show that CCG is more potent than PM and that DDS is more potent than SD. DHFR genotype is correlated with PM and CCG drug response. Isolates can be classified into three distinct groups based on their 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) for PM and CCG (P< 0.01) and their DHFR genotypes. The first group consists of wild-type isolates with mean PM and CCG IC50s of 3.71 ± 6.94 and 0.24 ± 0.21 nM, respectively. The second group includes parasites which all have mutations at codon 108 alone or also at codons 51 or 59 and represents one homogeneous group for which 25- and 6-fold increases in PM and CCG IC50s, respectively, are observed. Parasites with mutations at codons 108, 51, and 59 (triple mutants) form a third distinct group for which nine- and eightfold increases in IC50s, respectively, of PM and CCG compared to the second group are observed. Surprisingly, there is a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of SD and DDS susceptibility in these triple mutants. Our data show that more than 92% of Kenyan field isolates have undergone at least one point mutation associated with a decrease in PM activity. These findings are of great concern because they may indicate imminent PM-SD failure, and there is no affordable antimalarial drug to replace PM-SD (Fansidar).

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Molecular Characterization of the CytochromebGene andIn VitroAtovaquone Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Kenya

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.03956-14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 1818-1821 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Luicer A. Ingasia ◽

Hoseah M. Akala ◽

Mabel O. Imbuga ◽

Benjamin H. Opot ◽

Fredrick L. Eyase ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Genetic Polymorphism ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Mutant Allele ◽

Inhibitory Concentration ◽

Wild Type Allele ◽

Wild Type ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Content Type

ABSTRACTThe prevalence of a genetic polymorphism(s) at codon 268 in the cytochromebgene, which is associated with failure of atovaquone-proguanil treatment, was analyzed in 227Plasmodium falciparumparasites from western Kenya. The prevalence of the wild-type allele was 63%, and that of the Y268S (denoting a Y-to-S change at position 268) mutant allele was 2%. There were no pure Y268C or Y268N mutant alleles, only mixtures of a mutant allele(s) with the wild type. There was a correlation between parasite 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and parasite genetic polymorphism; mutant alleles had higher IC50s than the wild type.

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Associations between varied susceptibilities of PfATP4 inhibitors and genotypes in Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum isolates

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00771-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Oriana Kreutzfeld ◽

Stephanie A. Rasmussen ◽

Aarti A. Ramanathan ◽

Patrick K. Tumwebaze ◽

Oswald Byaruhanga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Wild Type ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Field Isolates ◽

Frequent Mutations ◽

Mixed Field ◽

P Type

Among novel compounds under recent investigation as potential new antimalarial drugs are three independently developed inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum P-type ATPase (PfATP4): KAE609 (cipargamin), PA92, and SJ733. We assessed ex vivo susceptibilities to these compounds of 374 fresh P. falciparum isolates collected in Tororo and Busia districts, Uganda from 2016-2019. Median IC 50 s were 65 nM for SJ733, 9.1 nM for PA92, and 0.5 nM for KAE609. Sequencing of pfatp4 for 218 of these isolates demonstrated many non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms; the most frequent mutations were G1128R (69% of isolates mixed or mutant), Q1081K/R (68%), G223S (25%), N1045K (16%) and D1116G/N/Y (16%). The G223S mutation was associated with decreased susceptibility to SJ733, PA92 and KAE609. The D1116G/N/Y mutations were associated with decreased susceptibility to SJ733, and the presence of mutations at both codons 223 and 1116 was associated with decreased susceptibility to PA92 and SJ733. In all of these cases, absolute differences in susceptibilities of wild type (WT) and mutant parasites were modest. Analysis of clones separated from mixed field isolates consistently identified mutant clones as less susceptible than WT. Analysis of isolates from other sites demonstrated presence of the G223S and D1116G/N/Y mutations across Uganda. Our results indicate that malaria parasites circulating in Uganda have a number of polymorphisms in PfATP4 and that modestly decreased susceptibility to PfATP4 inhibitors is associated with some mutations now present in Ugandan parasites.

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Combining mutations that modulate inter-subunit interactions and proteolytic inactivation enhance the stability of factor VIIIa

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th13-10-0918 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 112 (07) ◽

pp. 43-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hironao Wakabayashi ◽

Jennifer M. Wintermute ◽

Philip J. Fay

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stability ◽

Thrombin Generation ◽

Resistant Mutant ◽

Decay Rates ◽

Single Type ◽

Wild Type ◽

Subunit Interactions ◽

Factor Viiia ◽

The Stability ◽

A3 Subunit

SummaryFVIIIa is labile due to the dissociation of A2 subunit. Previously, we introduced hydrophobic mutations at select A1/A2/A3 subunit interfaces yielding more stable FVIII(a) variants. Separately we showed that altering the sequence flanking the primary FXa cleavage site in FVIIIa (Arg336) yielded reduced rates of proteolytic inactivation of FVIIIa. In this study we prepared the FXa-cleavage resistant mutant (336(P4-P3’)562) combined with mutations of Ala108Ile, Asp519Val/ Glu665Val or Ala108Ile/Asp519Val/Glu665Val and examined the effects of these combinations relative to FVIII thermal stability, rates of FVIIIa decay and proteolytic inactivation of FVIIIa by FXa. Thermal decay rates for 336(P4-P3’)562/Ala108Ile, 336(P4-P3’)562/Asp519Val/ Glu665Val, and 336(P4-P3’)562/Ala108Ile/Asp519Val/Glu665Val variants were reduced by ∼2– to 5-fold as compared with wild-type (WT) primarily reflecting the effects of the A domain interface mutations. FVIIIa decay rates for 336(P4-P3’)562/Asp519Val/Glu665Val and 336(P4-P3’)562/Ala108Ile/Asp519Val/Glu665Val variants were reduced by ∼25 fold, indicating greater stability than the control Asp519Val/Glu665Val variant (∼14-fold). Interestingly, 336(P4-P3’)562/Asp519Val/Glu665Val and 336(P4-P3’)562/Ala108Ile/ Asp519Val/Glu665Val variants showed reduced FXa-inactivation rates compared with the 336(P4-P3’)562 control (∼4-fold), suggesting A2 subunit destabilisation is a component of proteolytic inactivation. Thrombin generation assays using the combination variants were similar to the Asp519Val/Glu665Val control. These results indicate that combining multiple gain-of-function FVIII mutations yields FVIII variants with increased stability relative to a single type of mutation.

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Overexpression of Plasmodium falciparum M1 Aminopeptidase Promotes an Increase in Intracellular Proteolysis and Modifies the Asexual Erythrocytic Cycle Development

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111452 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1452

Author(s):

Carolina C. Hoff ◽

Mauro F. Azevedo ◽

Adriana B. Thurler ◽

Sarah El Chamy Maluf ◽

Pollyana M. S. Melo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Antimalarial Activity ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Cysteine Proteases ◽

Aminopeptidase Activity ◽

Lower Sensitivity ◽

Wild Type ◽

Erythrocytic Cycle ◽

Transgenic Parasite

Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent of the human malaria parasite, is responsible for high mortality rates worldwide. We studied the M1 alanyl-aminopeptidase of this protozoan (PfA-M1), which is involved in the final stages of hemoglobin cleavage, an essential process for parasite survival. Aiming to help in the rational development of drugs against this target, we developed a new strain of P. falciparum overexpressing PfA-M1 without the signal peptide (overPfA-M1). The overPfA-M1 parasites showed a 2.5-fold increase in proteolytic activity toward the fluorogenic substrate alanyl-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin, in relation to the wild-type group. Inhibition studies showed that overPfA-M1 presented a lower sensitivity against the metalloaminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin and to other recombinant PfA-M1 inhibitors, in comparison with the wild-type strain, indicating that PfA-M1 is a target for the in vitro antimalarial activity of these compounds. Moreover, overPfA-M1 parasites present a decreased in vitro growth, showing a reduced number of merozoites per schizont, and also a decrease in the iRBC area occupied by the parasite in trophozoite and schizont forms when compared to the controls. Interestingly, the transgenic parasite displays an increase in the aminopeptidase activity toward Met-, Ala-, Leu- and Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin. We also investigated the potential role of calmodulin and cysteine proteases in PfA-M1 activity. Taken together, our data show that the overexpression of PfA-M1 in the parasite cytosol can be a suitable tool for the screening of antimalarials in specific high-throughput assays and may be used for the identification of intracellular molecular partners that modulate their activity in P. falciparum.

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