Structural, functional and unfolding characteristics of glutathione S-transferase of Plasmodium vivax

Arch Biochem Biophys. 2009 Jul 15;487(2):115-22. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2009.05.011. Epub 2009 May 23.

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of Plasmodium parasites are potential targets for antimalarial drug and vaccine development. We investigated the equilibrium unfolding, functional activity regulation and stability characteristics of the unique GST of Plasmodium vivax (PvGST). Despite high sequence, structural, functional, and evolutionary similarity, the unfolding behavior of PvGST was significantly different from Plasmodium falciparum GST (PfGST). The unfolding pathway of PvGST was non-cooperative with stabilization of an inactive dimeric intermediate. The absence of any compact, folded monomeric intermediate during the unfolding transition suggests that inter-subunit interactions play an important role in stabilizing the protein. Presence of salts effectively inhibited PvGST enzymatic activity by quenching the nucleophilicity of the thiolate anion of GSH. Based on the present findings, together with our previous studies on PfGST, we propose that the regulation of GST enzymatic activity through a dimer-tetramer transition via GSH binding is an exclusive feature of Plasmodium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme Stability / drug effects
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione Transferase / chemistry*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism*
  • Guanidine / pharmacology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Plasmodium vivax / enzymology*
  • Protein Denaturation* / drug effects
  • Protein Multimerization / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Salts / pharmacology
  • Solvents / pharmacology
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Urea / pharmacology

Substances

  • Salts
  • Solvents
  • Urea
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Glutathione
  • Guanidine