Fumarate hydratases (FHs, fumarases) catalyze the reversible conversion of fumarate into l‐malate. FHs are distributed over all organisms and play important roles in energy production, DNA repair and as tumor suppressors. They are very important targets both in the study of human metabolic disorders and as potential therapeutic targets in neglected tropical diseases and tuberculosis. In this study, human FH (HsFH) was characterized by using enzyme kinetics, differential scanning fluorimetry and X‐ray crystallography. For the first time, the contribution of both substrates was analyzed simultaneously in a single kinetics assay allowing to quantify the contribution of the reversible reaction for kinetics. The protein was crystallized in the spacegroup C2221, with unit‐cell parameters a = 125.43, b = 148.01, c = 129.76. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined at 1.8 Å resolution. In our study, a HEPES molecule was found to interact with HsFH at the C‐terminal domain (Domain 3), previously described as involved in allosteric regulation, through a set of interactions that includes Lys 467. HsFH catalytic efficiency is higher when in the presence of HEPES. Mutations at residue 467 have already been implicated in genetic disorders caused by FH deficiency, suggesting that the HEPES‐binding site may be important for enzyme kinetics. This study contributes to the understanding of the HsFH structure and how it correlates with mutation, enzymatic deficiency and pathology.
Nifurtimox and benznidazole represent the only treatments options available targeting Chagas disease, the most important parasitic infection in the Americas. However, use of these is problematic as they are toxic and ineffective against the more severe stages of the disease. In this work, we used a multidisciplinary approach to characterise the fumarases from Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. We showed this trypanosome expresses cytosolic and mitochondrial fumarases that via an iron-sulfur cluster mediate the reversible conversion of fumarate to S-malate. Based on sequence, biochemical properties and co-factor binding, both T. cruzi proteins share characteristics with class I fumarases, enzymes found in bacteria and some other protozoa but absent from humans, that possess class II isoforms instead. Gene disruption suggested that although the cytosolic or mitochondrial fumarase activities are individually dispensable their combined activity is essential for parasite viability. Finally, based on the mechanistic differences with the human (host) fumarase, we designed and validated a selective inhibitor targeting the parasite enzyme. This study showed that T. cruzi fumarases should be exploited as targets for the development of new chemotherapeutic interventions against Chagas disease.
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