Molecular bases for the anti-parasitic effect of NO (Review)

Int J Mol Med. 2002 Feb;9(2):131-4.

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important cytotoxic and cytostatic effector for a number of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. When the microbicidal effect of NO occurs, the NO-mediated S-nitrosylation of cysteine containing proteins (e.g., cysteine proteases) appears to be a common and widespread mechanism. This overview concerns parasitic cysteine proteases as NO targets, providing molecular bases for the parasiticidal effect of NO.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparasitic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiparasitic Agents / metabolism*
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nitric Oxide / chemistry*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Donors / metabolism
  • Parasites / enzymology
  • Parasites / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protozoan Proteins

Substances

  • Antiparasitic Agents
  • Nitric Oxide Donors
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • cruzipain
  • Cysteine