Molecular interaction of Siglecs (sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectins) with sialylated ligands on Trypanosoma cruzi. 2010

Thomas Jacobs, and Hanna Erdmann, and Bernhard Fleischer
Department of Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. tjacobs@bni.uni-hamburg.de

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is transmitted by blood-sucking insect vectors. After transmission, parasites circulate in the blood as trypomastigotes and invade a variety of cells to multiply intracellularly as amastigotes. The acute phase triggers an immune response that restricts the dissemination and proliferation of parasites. However, parasites are able to persist in different tissues for decades causing the pathology of Chagas' disease. T. cruzi expresses a trans-sialidase (TS). This unique enzyme transfers sialic acid from host glycoconjugates to mucin-like molecules on the parasite and is supposed to be a major virulence factor. TS and sialylated structures were implicated in the persistence of parasites. We discuss here the recent findings on the function of sialylated structures on the surface of T. cruzi with a special emphasis on their property to interact with sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectins, which may allow the parasite to modulate the immune system of the host.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008024 Ligands A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Ligand
D009439 Neuraminidase An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of alpha-2,3, alpha-2,6-, and alpha-2,8-glycosidic linkages (at a decreasing rate, respectively) of terminal sialic residues in oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, colominic acid, and synthetic substrate. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) Sialidase,Exo-alpha-Sialidase,N-Acylneuraminate Glycohydrolases,Oligosaccharide Sialidase,Exo alpha Sialidase,Glycohydrolases, N-Acylneuraminate,N Acylneuraminate Glycohydrolases,Sialidase, Oligosaccharide
D010271 Parasites Invertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic BACTERIA; FUNGI; VIRUSES; and PLANTS; though they may live parasitically. Parasite
D006001 Glycoconjugates Carbohydrates covalently linked to a nonsugar moiety (lipids or proteins). The major glycoconjugates are glycoproteins, glycopeptides, peptidoglycans, glycolipids, and lipopolysaccharides. (From Biochemical Nomenclature and Related Documents, 2d ed; From Principles of Biochemistry, 2d ed) Glycoconjugate
D006023 Glycoproteins Conjugated protein-carbohydrate compounds including MUCINS; mucoid, and AMYLOID glycoproteins. C-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycosylated Protein,Glycosylated Proteins,N-Glycosylated Proteins,O-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycoprotein,Neoglycoproteins,Protein, Glycosylated,Proteins, C-Glycosylated,Proteins, Glycosylated,Proteins, N-Glycosylated,Proteins, O-Glycosylated
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014349 Trypanosoma cruzi The agent of South American trypanosomiasis or CHAGAS DISEASE. Its vertebrate hosts are man and various domestic and wild animals. Insects of several species are vectors. Trypanosoma cruzus,cruzi, Trypanosoma
D019158 N-Acetylneuraminic Acid An N-acyl derivative of neuraminic acid. N-acetylneuraminic acid occurs in many polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids in animals and bacteria. (From Dorland, 28th ed, p1518) Sialic Acid,Acid, N-Acetylneuraminic,Acid, Sialic,N Acetylneuraminic Acid
D037102 Lectins Proteins that share the common characteristic of binding to carbohydrates. Some ANTIBODIES and carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. PLANT LECTINS are carbohydrate-binding proteins that have been primarily identified by their hemagglutinating activity (HEMAGGLUTININS). However, a variety of lectins occur in animal species where they serve diverse array of functions through specific carbohydrate recognition. Animal Lectin,Animal Lectins,Isolectins,Lectin,Isolectin,Lectin, Animal,Lectins, Animal

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