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- Title
The Architecture of Thiol Antioxidant Systems among Invertebrate Parasites.
- Authors
Guevara-Flores, Alberto; de Jesús Martínez-González, José; Rendón, Juan Luis; del Arenal, Irene Patricia
- Abstract
The use of oxygen as the final electron acceptor in aerobic organisms results in an improvement in the energymetabolism. However, as a byproduct of the aerobic metabolism, reactive oxygen species are produced, leaving to the potential risk of an oxidative stress. To contend with such harmful compounds, living organisms have evolved antioxidant strategies. In this sense, the thiol-dependent antioxidant defense systems play a central role. In all cases, cysteine constitutes the major building block on which such systems are constructed, being present in redox substrates such as glutathione, thioredoxin, and trypanothione, as well as at the catalytic site of a variety of reductases and peroxidases. In some cases, the related selenocysteine was incorporated at selected proteins. In invertebrate parasites, antioxidant systems have evolved in a diversity of both substrates and enzymes, representing a potential area in the design of anti-parasite strategies. The present review focus on the organization of the thiol-based antioxidant systems in invertebrate parasites. Differences between these taxa and its final mammal host is stressed. An understanding of the antioxidant defense mechanisms in this kind of parasites, as well as their interactions with the specific host is crucial in the design of drugs targeting these organisms.
- Subjects
THIOL synthesis; ENERGY metabolism; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of antioxidants; ELECTROPHILES; DRUG design; TARGETED drug delivery; MOLECULAR parasitology
- Publication
Molecules, 2017, Vol 22, Issue 2, p259
- ISSN
1420-3049
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/molecules22020259