Optimization of a Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer-based assay for screening of Trypanosoma cruzi protein/protein interaction inhibitors

JESICA G MILD; LUCIA R FERNANDEZ; ODILE GAYET; JUAN IOVANNA; NELSON DUSETTI; MARTIN M EDREIRA

MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY

HUMANA PRESS INC

Lugar: Oregon; Año: 2018 vol. 60 p. 369 - 379

1073-6085

Chagas disease, a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health burden inpoor rural populations of Central and South America and a serious emerging threat outside the endemicregion, since the number of infections in non-endemic countries continues to rise. In order to developmore efficient anti-trypanosomal treatments to replace the outdated therapies, new molecular targetsneed to be explored and new drugs discovered. Trypanosoma cruzi has distinctive structural andfunctional characteristics with respect to the human host. These exclusive features could emerge asinteresting drug targets. In this work, essential and differential protein-protein interactions for theparasite, including the ribosomal P proteins and proteins involved in mRNA processing, were evaluatedin a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based assay as a starting point for drug screening.Suitable conditions to consider using this simple and robust methodology to screening compounds andnatural extracts able to inhibit protein-protein interactions were set in living cells and lysates.