Transplasma Membrane Electron Transport in Leishmania donovani Promastigotes

Abstract

Leishmania donovani promastigotes are capable of reducing certain electron acceptors with redox potential at pH 7 down to -125 mV; outside the plasma membrane promastigotes can reduce ferricyanide. Ferricyanide has been used as an artificial electron acceptor probe for studying the mechanism of transplasma membrane electron transport. Transmembrane ferricyanide reduction by L. donovani promastigotes was not inhibited by such mitochondrial inhibitors as antimycin A or cyanide, but it responded to inhibitors of glycolysis. Transmembrane ferricyanide reduction by Leishmania appears to involve a plasma membrane electron transport chain dissimilar to that of hepatocyte cells. As with other cells, transmembrane electron transport is associated with proton release, which may be involved in internal pH regulation. The Leishmania transmembrane redox system differs from that of mammalian cells in being 4-fold less sensitive to chloroquine and 12-fold more sensitive to niclosamide. Sensitivities to these drugs suggest that transplasma membrane electron transport and associated proton pumping may be targets for the drugs used against leishmaniasis.

Emerging therapeutic targets for treatment of leishmaniasis

“…Amphotericin B results in membrane permeability and rapid decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, likewise, pentamidine also destroys membrane potential [56], miltefosine inhibits cytochrome C oxidase [57]. On the other hand, Leishmania transmembrane redox system differs from mammalian cells in being less sensitive to cholroquine and more sensitive towards niclosamide [58] therefore, suggesting the possibility of membrane electron transport and proton pumping to act as an attractive therapeutic target.…”