INIBIOLP   05426
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES BIOQUIMICAS DE LA PLATA "PROF. DR. RODOLFO R. BRENNER"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
“Structural and biophysical analysis of novel lipid binding proteins from parasitic helminths.”
Autor/es:
MARINA IBÁÑEZ SHIMABUKURO; FLORENCIA REY; JORGE PÓRFIDO; VALERIA SILVA; MALCOLM W. KENNEDY; ALAN COOPER; BRIAN O. SMITH; BETINA CÓRSICO
Lugar:
Bilbao
Reunión:
Conferencia; 51st International Conference on the Bioscience of Lipids; 2010
Resumen:
Parasitic helminths express lipid-binding proteins (LBPs) that are structurally distinct fromhost LBPs. These proteins bind a wide range of lipid classes such as fatty acids,retinoids,eicosanoids, triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol. Due to helminth’slimited lipid metabolism, LBP’s have been proposed to participatein parasitesdevelopment and in the interaction with the host. To understand the mechanismsinvolved, we have selected three important types of LBPs from highly pathogenic helminthparasites: a) a novel class of fatty acid and retinol binding proteins with a structure thathas no known counterpart, b) relatives of the fatty acid binding protein family, includingmembers that are structurally modified in ways that are unique to nematodes, and c)Antigen B, a member of a new family of ligand binding proteins present in cestodes. Theiratomic structures are under analysis employing NMR spectroscopy, for which we alreadyhave obtained high quality data and full structure determination is in progress. Protein´sinteractions with ligands employing NMR spectra show the changes registered during thebinding process when stripped and reloaded samples are compared. We are also analyzingtheir ligand-binding parameters (n, K, ΔH and ΔS) employing fluorescence-based systemsand ITC. The studies confirm these LBPs bind natural ligands and fluorescent analogues inthe sub-micromolar range. Structural and functional studies will enhance ourunderstanding of the unique features of helminth LBPs that may be related to the survivalof the organisms and could be used as potential drug targets.