Leishmania infantum trypanothione reductase is a promiscuous enzyme carrying an NADPH:O-2 oxidoreductase activity shared by glutathione reductase

摘要

Background: Leishmania infantum is a protozoan of the trypanosomatid family causing visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmania parasites are transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies to the human host and are phagocyted by macrophages. The parasites synthesize N1-N8-bis(glutationyl)-spermidine (trypanothione, TS2), which furnishes electrons to the tryparedoxin-typaredoxin peroxidase couple to reduce the reactive oxygen species produced by macrophages. Trypanothione is kept reduced by typanothione reductase (TR), a FAD-containing enzyme essential for parasite survival.