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H N Torres

Publications and source records attributed to H N Torres.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Arginine kinase of the flagellate protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi. Regulation of its expression and catalytic activity.

In epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, arginine kinase activity increased continuously during the exponential phase of growth. A correlation between growth rate, enzyme-specific activity and enzyme protein was observed. Arginine kinase-specific activity, expressed as a function of enzyme protein, remains roughly constant up to 18 days of culture. In the whole range of the culture time mRNA levels showed minor changes indicating that the enzyme activity is post-transcriptionally regulated. Arginine kinase could be proposed as a modulator of energetic reserves under starvation stress condition.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Trypanosoma cruzi arginine kinase characterization and cloning. A novel energetic pathway in protozoan parasites.

This work contains the first description of a guanidino kinase in a flagellar unicellular parasite. The enzyme phosphorylates L-arginine and was characterized in preparations from Trypanosoma cruzi, the ethiological agent of Chagas' disease. The activity requires ATP and a divalent cation. Under standard assay conditions (1 mM L-arginine), the presence of 5-fold higher concentrations of canavanine or histidine produced a greater than 50% enzyme inhibition. The base sequence of this enzyme revealed an open reading frame of 357 amino acids and a molecular weight of 40,201. The amino acid sequence shows all of the characteristic consensus blocks of the ATP:guanidino phosphotransferase family and a putative "actinin-type" actin-binding domain. The highest amino acid identities of the T. cruzi sequence, about 70%, were with arginine kinases from Arthropoda. Southern and chromosome blots revealed that the kinase is encoded by a single-copy gene. Moreover, Northern blot analysis showed an mRNA subpopulation of about 2.0 kilobases, and Western blotting of T. cruzi-soluble polypeptides revealed a 40-kDa band. The finding in the parasite of a phosphagen and its biosynthetic pathway, which are totally different from those in mammalian host tissues, points out this arginine kinase as a possible chemotherapy target for Chagas' disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Immuno and cytochemical localization of Trypanosoma cruzi nitric oxide synthase.

The localization and subcellular distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi nitric oxide synthase was investigated in epimastigote cells by immunocytochemistry at electron and light microscope level, using a polyclonal antibody to neuronal nitric oxide synthase, and also, at light microscope level, by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemical reaction. The immunoreactivity was ultrastructurally localized by electron microscopy in the inner surface of cell membranes and in free cytosolic clusters in the body, flagellum and apical extreme. Light microscopy showed that immunoprecipitates, specific for the Trypanosoma cruzi nitric oxide synthase, co-localized with the formazan precipitates generated by the diaphorase reaction in the same areas identified by electron microscopy. These results, taken together with previous finding from our laboratory could help to explain the involvement of the nitric oxide transduction pathway in T. cruzi epimastigote motility.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Entamoeba histolytica: signaling through G proteins.

The intracellular signaling pathways of Entamoeba histolytica are largely unknown. Although the expression of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) is expected from functional studies, their biochemical characterization remains elusive in this protozoan. Using a combination of biochemical and immunological studies, we provide strong evidence for the presence of a Gs protein in amoeba. Our results strengthen our understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms in E. histolytica as potential sites of a new therapeutic strategy.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1999

Biochemical and immunological studies of protein kinase C from Trypanosoma cruzi.

Phorbol ester binding was studied in protein kinase C-containing extracts obtained from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. Specific 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate, [3H]PMA, or 12,13-O-dibutyryl phorbol, [3H]PDBu, binding activities, determined in T. cruzi epimastigote membranes, were dependent on ester concentration with a Kd of 9x10(-8) M and 11.3x10(-8) M, respectively. The soluble form of T. cruzi protein kinase C was purified through DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Both protein kinase C and phorbol ester binding activities co-eluted in a single peak. The DEAE-cellulose fraction was further purified into three subtypes by hydroxylapatite chromatography. These kinase activity peaks were dependent on Ca2+ and phospholipids and eluted at 40 mM (PKC I), 90 mM (PKC II) and 150 mM (PKC III) phosphate buffer, respectively. Western blot analysis of the DEAE-cellulose fractions, using antibodies against different isoforms of mammalian protein kinase C enzymes, revealed that the parasite expresses high levels of the alpha-PKC isoform. Immunoaffinity purified T. cruzi protein kinase C, isolated with an anti-protein kinase C antibody-sepharose column, were subjected to phosphorylation in the absence of exogenous phosphate acceptor. A phosphorylated 80 kDa band was observed in the presence of Ca2+, phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Accurate spatial and temporal transgene expression driven by a 3.8-kilobase promoter of the bovine beta-casein gene in the lactating mouse mammary gland.

The spatial, temporal, and hormonal pattern of expression of the beta-casein gene is highly regulated and confined to the epithelial cells of the lactating mammary gland. Previous studies have shown that 1.7 kb of the bovine beta-casein promoter were able to drive cell-specific and hormone-dependent expression to a mouse mammary cell line but failed to induce accurate expression to the mammary gland of transgenic mice. We investigated here the ability of 3.8 kb of the bovine beta-casein gene promoter to drive the expression of the human growth hormone (hGH) gene in transgenic mice. A Northern blot analysis using total RNA obtained from different tissues of lactating and nonlactating females revealed the presence of hGH mRNA only in the mammary gland of lactating females. hGH mRNA was not detectable in the mammary gland of virgin females or males. A developmental analysis showed that hGH mRNA only peaked on parturition, resembling more closely the bovine beta-casein temporal expression pattern rather than the murine. In situ hibridization studies performed on mammary gland sections showed that the cellular pattern of hGH expression was homogeneous in all lobules from heterozygous and homozygous transgenic mice. Silver grain counts on the tissue sections highly correlated with the hGH contents in the milk determined by radioimmunoassay (r = 0.996). Thus 3.8 kb of the bovine beta-casein promoter direct a high-level expression of a reporter gene to the lactating mammary gland of transgenic mice in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Signal transduction mechanisms in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is an adequate model for studies on the evolution of signal transduction pathways. These pathways involve molecular entities such as membrane receptors, transduction G proteins, protein kinases and second messengers (Ca(2+), cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, nitric oxide). In this article, Mirtha M. Flawiá, María T. Téllez-Iñón and Héctor N. Torres describe the studies performed on T. cruzi transduction pathways and their role in the control of metacyclogenesis and cell motility.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

The nitric oxide transduction pathway in Trypanosoma cruzi.

A nitric oxide synthase was partially purified from soluble extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. The conversion of L-arginine to citrulline by this enzyme activity required NADPH and was blocked by EGTA. The reaction was activated by Ca2+, calmodulin, tetrahydrobiopterin, and FAD, and inhibited by N omega-methyl-L-arginine. L-Glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate stimulated in vivo conversion of L-arginine to citrulline by epimastigote cells. These stimulations could be blocked by EGTA, MK-801, and ketamine and enhanced by glycine. A sodium nitroprusside-activated guanylyl cyclase activity was detected in cell-free, soluble preparations of T. cruzi epimastigotes. L-Glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and sodium nitroprusside increased epimastigote cyclic GMP levels. MK-801 bound specifically to T. cruzi epimastigote cells. This binding was competed by ketamine and enhanced by glycine or L-serine. Evidence thus indicates that in T. cruzi epimastigotes, L-glutamate controls cyclic GMP levels through a pathway mediated by nitric oxide.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1995

Induction of Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis in the gut of the hematophagous insect vector, Rhodnius prolixus, by hemoglobin and peptides carrying alpha D-globin sequences.

Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan responsible for the American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), multiplies and differentiates in the gut of triatomine insect vectors. The effects of hemoglobin and synthetic peptides carrying alpha D-globin fragments on both the growth and the transformation of T. cruzi epimastigotes (noninfective) into metacyclic trypmastigotes (infective forms) were studied. This differentiation in the insect's gut is expressed when hemoglobin and synthetic peptides corresponding to residues 30-49 and 35-73 of the alpha D-globin were added to the plasma diet. However, synthetic peptide 41-73 does not induce differentiation of epimastigotes even in the presence of the two former synthetic peptides. Thus, these data delineate an unusual molecular mechanism which modulates the dynamics of transformation of epimastigotes into metacyclic trypomastigotes in the triatomine vector's gut.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Purification and characterization of a soluble nucleoside diphosphate kinase in Trypanosoma cruzi.

A soluble nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) was purified and characterized in epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. The enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography on Blue-agarose and Q-Sepharose columns and by FPLC on a Superose 12 column. A membrane-associated NDP kinase was identified which accounts for 30% of total enzymatic activity. Western blot analysis of the soluble NDP kinase revealed a 16.5-kDa monomer recognized by polyclonal antibodies to NDP kinase from Dictyostelium discoideum, Candida albicans or human. Most of the T. cruzi NDP kinase is found in the cell as a hexamer composed of 16.5-kDa monomers. The Km values of the enzyme for ATP, GDP and dTDP were 0.2 +/- 0.008 mM, 0.125 +/- 0.012 mM and 0.4 +/- 0.009 mM, respectively. The parasite enzyme was stable, remained active at 65 degrees C and was found to tolerate up to 2.5 M urea. The 16.5-kDa subunit was phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP or thiophosphorylated with [35S]GTP gamma S. The incubation of the 32P-labelled phosphoenzyme with unlabelled nucleoside 5'-diphosphates resulted in the formation of 32P-labelled nucleoside 5'-triphosphates without strict base specificity, indicating that the reaction mechanism of the T. cruzi enzyme is the same as reported for other NDP kinases. When the phosphoenzyme was incubated with a mixture of nucleoside 5'-diphosphates, GTP was preferentially formed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Stimulation of Trypanosoma cruzi adenylyl cyclase by an alpha D-globin fragment from Triatoma hindgut: effect on differentiation of epimastigote to trypomastigote forms.

A peptide from hindguts of the Triatoma hematophagous Chagas insect vector activates adenylyl cyclase activity in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote membranes and stimulates the in vitro differentiation of epimastigotes to metacyclic trypomastigotes. Hindguts were obtained from insects fed 2 days earlier with chicken blood. Purification was performed by gel filtration and HPLC on C18 and C4 columns. SDS/PAGE of the purified peptide showed a single band of about 10 kDa. The following sequence was determined for the 20 amino-terminal residues of this peptide: H2N-Met-Leu-Thr-Ala-Glu-Asp-Lys-Lys-Leu-Ile-Gln- Gln-Ala-Trp-Glu-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ser-His. This sequence is identical to the amino terminus of chicken alpha D-globin. On a Western blot, the peptide immunoreacted with a polyclonal antibody against chicken globin D. A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1-40 of the alpha D-globin amino terminus also stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity and promoted differentiation. This 125I-labeled synthetic peptide bound specifically to T. cruzi epimastigote cells. Activation of epimastigote adenylyl cyclase by the hemoglobin-derived peptide may play an important role in T. cruzi differentiation and consequently in the transmission of Chagas disease.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1993

G-protein from Medicago sativa: functional association to photoreceptors.

G-protein subunits were characterized from Medicago sativa (alfalfa) seedlings. Crude membranes and GTP-Sepharose-purified fractions were electrophoresed on SDS/polyacrylamide gels and analysed by Western blotting with 9193 (anti-alpha common) and AS/7 (anti-alpha t, anti-alpha i1 and anti-alpha i2) polyclonal antibodies. These procedures led to the identification of a specific polypeptide band of about 43 kDa. Another polypeptide reacting with the SW/1 (anti-beta) antibody, of about 37 kDa, was also detected. The 43 kDa polypeptide bound specifically [alpha-32P]GTP by a photoaffinity reaction and was ADP-ribosylated by activated cholera toxin, but not by pertussis toxin. Irradiation of etiolated Medicago sativa protoplast preparations at 660 nm for 1 min produced a maximal increase in the guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[35S])-binding rate. After this period of irradiation, the binding rate tended to decrease. The effect of a red-light (660 nm) pulse on the binding rate was reversed when it was immediately followed by a period of far-red (> 730 nm) illumination. These results may suggest that activation of GTP[S]-binding rate was a consequence of conversion of phytochrome Pr into the Ptr form.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of the catalytic subunit of Trypanosoma cruzi cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

The catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms was purified by ionic-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, the purified preparations showed a main polypeptide band with a mobility of about 40 kDa. In Western blots this band immunoreacted with a polyclonal antibody specific for the catalytic subunit of bovine heart protein kinase A. Hydrodynamic and molecular parameters of this subunit are as follows: molecular weight, 40,000 +/- 3000; sedimentation constant, 2.8 +/- 0.3 S; Stokes' radius, 2.8 +/- 0.2 nm; frictional ratio, 1.28 +/- 0.05. Purified preparations of T. cruzi catalytic and regulatory subunits reconstitute a holoenzyme with a sedimentation constant. 8.6 +/- 1.17 S. This data together with those previously reported by Ulloa et al. [8] indicate that the T. cruzi cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme is a tetramer with the structure R2C2 of about 200 kDa. The apparent Km of the catalytic subunit for ATP and histone IIA or kemptide as phosphate donor and acceptor, respectively, were 40 microM, 48.6 microM and 26 microM, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

An alpha D-globin fragment from Triatoma infestans hindgut stimulates Trypanosoma cruzi adenylyl cyclase and promotes metacyclogenesis.

A peptide from hindguts of the Triatoma infestans, the hematophagous Chagas' insect vector, activates adenylyl cyclase activity in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote membranes and stimulates the in vitro differentiation of epimastigotes (proliferative and non-infectious forms) to metacyclic trypomastigotes (non-proliferative and infectious forms). The peptide was purified from hindguts of insects fed two days before with chicken blood. After purification, the peptide showed upon SDS-PAGE a single band of about 10 kDa. The sequence for 20 residues of the amino terminus of this peptide was: H2N-Met-Leu-Thr-Ala-Glu-Asp-Lys-Lys-Leu-Ile-Gln-Gln-Ala-Trp-Glu-Lys-Ala- Ala-Ser-His. This sequence corresponds to the amino terminus of chicken alpha D-globin. A synthetic peptide with the sequence of the 40 amino acids corresponding to the amino terminus of alpha D-globin, also stimulated T. cruzi adenylyl cyclase activity and promoted metacyclogenesis.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of a Gi-protein from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote membranes.

A guanosine 5'-[gamma-[35S]thio]triphosphate-binding activity was detergent-extracted from Trypanosoma cruzi membranes. This binding activity was co-eluted from gel-filtration columns with a factor which, in a heterologous reconstitution system, blocks glucagon stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in liver membranes. ADP-ribosylation of these membranes by pertussis toxin eliminated this blocking capacity. Incubation of T. cruzi membranes with activated pertussis toxin and [adenylate-32P]NAD+ led to the incorporation of radioactivity into a labelled product with an apparent M(r) of approx. 43,000. Crude membranes were electrophoresed on SDS/polyacrylamide gels and analysed, by Western blotting, with GA/1 anti-alpha common, AS/7 anti-alpha t, anti-alpha i1 and anti-alpha i2 polyclonal antibodies. These procedures led to the identification of a specific polypeptide band of about 43 kDa. Another polypeptide reacting with the SW/1 anti-beta antibody, of about 30 kDa, was also detected in the membrane fraction.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity in the ascomycetes Neurospora crassa.

DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of Neurospora crassa soluble mycelial extracts leads to the resolution of three major protein kinase activity peaks designated PKI, PKII, and PKIII. PKII activity is stimulated by Ca2+ and Neurospora or brain calmodulin. Maximal stimulation was observed at 2 microM-free Ca2+ and 1 microgram/ml of the modulator. The stimulatory effect of the Ca(2+)-calmodulin complex was blocked by EGTA and by some calmodulin antagonists such as phenothiazine drugs or compound 48/80. PKII phosphorylates different proteins, among which histone II-A at a low concentration and CDPKS, the synthetic peptide specific for Ca(2+-)-calmodulin dependent protein kinase, are the best substrates. Some phosphorylation can be detected in the absence of any exogenous acceptor. PKII activity assayed in the presence of histone II-A or in the absence of exogenous phosphate acceptor (autophosphorylation) co-elute in a DEAE-cellulose column at 0.28 NaCl. As result of the autophosphorylation reaction of the purified enzyme a main phosphorylated component of 70 kDa was resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is possible that this component is an active part of this enzyme.

Calcium↗