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Changes in adenosine transport associated with melaminophenyl arsenical (Mel CY) resistance in Trypanosoma evansi: down-regulation and affinity changes of the P2 transporter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2003

E. A. SUSWAM ,
C. A. ROSS  and
R. J. MARTIN
E. A. SUSWAM
Affiliation:
Center for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK Present address: Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1066 THT, 1900 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
C. A. ROSS
Affiliation:
Center for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
R. J. MARTIN
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa, IA 50011, USA
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Abstract

Studies of the kinetics of adenosine transport were carried out on the P1 and P2 transporters of drug-sensitive Trypanosoma evansi and its cloned derivative, resistant to the melaminophenyl arsenical Mel CY. Characterization of adenosine uptake was made by estimation of the maximum concentration taken up at time infinity (Amax). Amax on the P2 transporter of sensitive T. evansi was greater than Amax on the P1 transporter. Amax of the P2 transporter was significantly decreased in drug-resistant trypanosomes. The effect of adenosine concentration and inhibitors, on the rate of adenosine uptake, was described by Michaelis-Menten equations. In sensitive T. evansi, the maximum velocity of adenosine uptake (Vmax) of the P2 transporter was 2-fold greater than Vmax of the P1 transporter. The Vmax of the P2 transporter in resistant parasites was reduced 9-fold. The binding constants Km and Ki on the P2 transporter of resistant T. evansi, showed that resistance was associated with an increased affinity for adenosine, and a decreased affinity for adenine and Berenil. We suggest that resistance to melaminophenyl arsenicals in T. evansi, occurs via 2 mechanisms: (1) a reduction in the number of expressed P2 transporter molecules resulting in decreased uptake of melaminophenyl arsenicals; (2) a change in the binding properties of the P2 transporter.

Keywords

P2 transportersdown-regulationaffinity changesTrypanosoma evansi
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 127 , Issue 6 , December 2003 , pp. 543 - 549
Copyright
2003 Cambridge University Press

INTRODUCTION

Recent studies on purine transport in trypanosomes have identified at least 2 different nucleoside transporter systems in drug-sensitive trypanosomes (Carter & Fairlamb, 1993; Carter, Berger & Fairlamb, 1995; Barrett et al. 1995; Ross & Barns, 1996; Scott, Tait & Turner, 1997; Suswam et al. 2001). The P1 transporter system mediates uptake of adenosine, inosine and guanosine, and has been shown to be present in the bloodstream forms as well as the procyclic stages of T. brucei (Sanchez et al. 2002). The P2 transporter system mediates uptake of adenosine, adenine and several anti-trypanocidal drugs, including the melaminophenyl arsenicals (Carter & Fairlamb, 1993; de Koning, Watson & Jarvis, 1998) and has been detected only in the bloodstream forms (Sanchez et al. 2002). In addition, 4 nucleobase transport activities have also been identified. The H1, H2, H3 mediate transport of hypoxanthine, guanine and adenine (de Koning & Jarvis, 1997). H1 is present in the procyclics, and H2 and H3 is present in both bloodstream forms and procyclic stages. A U1 transporter mediates transport of uracil in procyclic T. brucei (de Koning & Jarvis, 1998).

Increased interest in purine transport activities in trypanosomatids led to the cloning and characterization of the TbAT1, a P2-type nucleoside transporter (Maser et al. 1999) and the nucleoside transporter-2 gene, TbNT2 (which encodes a P1-type transporter) (Sanchez et al. 1999) in T. brucei. Sanchez and co-workers (Sanchez et al. 2002) later showed that the TbNT2 is indeed a member of a multigene family encoding 6 similar transporters with distinct biochemical properties (TbNT2/927 to TbNT7). These authors demonstrated that these transporters are differentially regulated in the life-cycle stages of T. brucei, and mediate uptake of purine nucleosides and in some cases the nucleobase, hypoxanthine.

These complexities in purine transport in trypanosomes highlight the need for more detailed biochemical characterizations of purine transporters in order to provide useful information for improved drug delivery as well as a better understanding of drug resistance phenotypes associated with purine transporters.

Carter & Fairlamb (1993) earlier showed that a loss or modification of P2 transporter is associated with resistance to the melaminophenyl arsenical group of trypanocides. Our studies using the monomorphic species, T. evansi, have shown that the P2 transporter was retained but the activity of the P2 was greatly decreased in several lines of arsenical-resistant T. evansi selected either in vivo or in vitro (Suswam et al. 2001). We show in this paper that the changes associated with resistance are a reduction in numbers of the transporter and modification of the affinity of the P2 transporter.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Trypanosomes

We used a mouse-maintained drug-sensitive T. evansi clone (TREU 1840), and its in vivo derived Mel CY drug-resistant clone (CR3.1).

Adenosine uptake after addition of 5 μM adenosine

Uptake of adenosine over time was observed for 120 sec after immersion in 5 μM tritiated adenosine, in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant trypanosomes. Uptake on the P1 transporter was determined while the P2 transporter was inhibited with 1 mM adenine; uptake on the P2 transporter was measured while the P1 transporter was inhibited with 1 mM inosine. The total uptake over time by the P1 and P2 transporters together was also measured in the absence of inhibitors.

Trypanosomes, at a density of 2·5×108 cells/ml, were separated from mouse blood, washed and re-suspended in transport buffer consisting of 25 mM HEPES, 120 mM NaCl, 5·4 mM KCl, 0·55 mM CaCl2, 0·4 mM MgSO4, 5·6 mM Na2HPO4, 11·1 mM glucose, pH 7·4; and containing 1% bovine serum albumin (Fairlamb et al. 1992). Two×107 pre-warmed cells were incubated at 37 °C in a total volume of 100 μl, in the presence or absence of inhibitors. At the start of the assay tritiated adenosine ([2-3H], specific activity 185 Bq/mmol or 12·5 mCi/mmol) was added to produce a concentration of 5 μM for the experiments, and the reaction was stopped at different times by the addition of 100 μl of 5 mM ice-cold non-radio-isotope labelled adenosine in PBS. The reaction mixture was immediately filtered by centrifugation through a 0·45 μM acetate filter (SPIN-X, COSTAR), at 1000 g for 40 sec, and the filters were rinsed once with 0·5 ml of ice-cold adenosine solution at 1000 g for 1 min. The filters were dried overnight at 50 °C. Incorporated radioactivity was counted in 1 ml of scintillation cocktail (Packard, UK) using a Scintillation Counter. Background readings of radioactivity were determined by incubation of transport buffer and tritiated adenosine with no trypanosomes. Reactions were carried out in triplicate and experiments were repeated 3–4 separate times. Transport of adenosine was calculated from counts of decompositions of incorporated radioactivity, and expressed as ρmoles/108 cells.

The uptake of adenosine by our trypanosomes was not linear over the 120 sec period of the experiment, (Fig. 1) and showed an exponential increase over time. Our observations differed from other authors (e.g. de Koning & Jarvis, 1999) where the early uptake appeared linear. Since we observed an exponential uptake rate we used Equation 1 (a one-compartment open model with constant infusion and a single rate of adenosine removal from within the trypanosome, e.g. Gibaldi (1991)). The equation allows for metabolism and efflux of adenosine and describes the adenosine concentration uptake–time relationship:

where At=adenosine concentration (ρmoles/108 cells) at time, t (seconds); T=metabolism and efflux time-constant (seconds), it is equal to the reciprocal of the elimination rate; Amax=maximum adenosine concentration at time infinity (ρmoles/108 cells); t0 is the correction (5–10 sec) for a non-zero start-time.

Fig. 1. Representative experiments showing adenosine uptake in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Trypanosoma evansi. 2×107 trypanosomes were incubated with 5 μM tritiated adenosine either in the absence of inhibitor (A); or presence of 1 mM inosine, the P2 transporter (B), 1 mM adenine, the P1 transporter (C), or 1 mM of both adenine and inosine (D); at 37 °C. Incorporated radioactivity was measured at time-points between 10 and 120 sec. Trypanosomes were separated from transport medium by filtration and centrifugation through 0·45 μM cellulose filter. Transport was calculated from counts of decompositions of radioactivity recorded from a scintillation counter; and expressed as ρmoles/108 cells. Data were fitted to exponential plots using non-linear regression analysis. Note the non-zero start position. From these fittings transport rates were estimated as described in the text. Each experiment was repeated 4 times and similar results were obtained.

Fig. 2. Uptake of adenosine in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Trypanosoma evansi: Effect of substrate concentration on uptake. 107 trypanosomes were incubated at 37 °C with varying concentrations of tritiated adenosine, in the absence of inhibitor (A); or presence of 1 mM inosine (B), 1 mM adenine (C), or 1 mM of both adenine and inosine (D). Uptake, V, was calculated from incorporated radioactivity and expressed as pmoles/108 cells. Data were fitted to rectangular hyperbolic plots and analysed using a non-linear regression analysis programme. Kinetic parameters were determined from these plots using Michaelis-Menten equations. Each experiment was repeated 3 times and similar results obtained.

Effects of bath concentration of adenosine on the rate of uptake of adenosine

Trypanosomes separated from mice blood were washed and suspended in transport buffer at a density of 1·25×108 trypanosomes/ml. Uptake of adenosine on the P1, P2, or both P1 and P2 transporters was measured in 1×107 trypanosomes essentially as described above, with few modifications. Tritiated adenosine was included at concentrations of 0·1, 0·25, 0·5, 0·75, 1·0, 2·5, 5·0, or 10·0 μM. Reactions were carried out in duplicate. The total uptake of adenosine was calculated from counts of decompositions of incorporated radioactivity, and expressed as ρmoles/108 cells.

Control experiments were performed in the absence of trypanosomes to correct for non-specific binding of radioactivity. The data were corrected for this value in each case. Each experiment was repeated 3 or 4 separate times.

The initial uptake rates (V=Amax/T from Equation 1) were determined at different concentrations of adenosine in the bath and fitted to a modified form of the Michaelis-Menten:

where V=initial rate of uptake (ρmoles/108 cells/sec); Vmax=maximum rate of uptake (ρmoles/108 cells/sec); [A]=bath concentration of adenosine; Km=concentration of adenosine, yielding 50% Vmax and KL, is the linear uptake (passive diffusion). The data obtained from each experiment by this method were corrected for the passive diffusion.

Each experiment was repeated 3 or 4 times and the data of single experiments fitted to determine the means±S.E. of the constants of Equation 2.

Inhibition of adenosine uptake at the P1 and P2 transporters

The inhibition of adenosine uptake by inosine, adenine and Berenil® was studied in both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant trypanosomes. The effect of concentration of the inhibitors, inosine, adenine and Berenil® on adenosine uptake on the P1 transporters or P2 transporters was determined by measuring the uptake of tritiated adenosine by 107 trypanosomes in the presence of increasing concentrations of each inhibitor. The concentrations used were 0·01, 0·1, 1·0, 10, 50, 100, 1000 μM inosine; 0·01, 0·1, 1·0, 10, 50, 100 μM adenine; and, 0·01, 0·1, 1·0, 10, 50, 100, 500 μM Berenil®. The inhibition data were fitted to Equation 3:

where, V=initial velocity of uptake of adenosine (ρmoles/108 cells/sec); Vmax=maximum initial velocity of uptake of adenosine (ρmoles/108 cells/sec); [S]=concentration of substrate (adenosine, μM); Km=dissociation constant (μM) for adenosine at the P1 or P2 transporter; I=concentration of inhibitor (μM); Ki=dissociation constant for inhibitor (μM). Km was fixed as 0·07 μM for P1 and 0·74 μM for P2, respectively, in drug-sensitive trypanosomes; and 0·06 μM for P1, 0·1 μM for P2 in drug-resistant trypanosomes. These values were determined from the earlier rate of uptake studies.

Fitting and statistics

Equations 1, 2, and 3 were fitted to the data using non-linear regression (Microcal Origin). Means±S.E. of the estimated parameters were calculated from 3 or 4 separate experiments and the data were analysed using an unpaired t-test.

RESULTS

Adenosine uptake, Amax by the P1 and P2 transporters

Fig. 1A shows a representative experiment in which the time-course of the total uptake of adenosine via the combined P1 and P2 transporter systems in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant trypanosomes was measured. The uptake was non-linear and had a non-zero start time (5–10 sec) that was described by Equation 1. Fig. 1B shows representative experiments of the uptake via the P2 transporter systems with the P1 transporters blocked with 1 mM inosine. Fig. 1C shows a representative experiment of the uptake via the P1 transporter system with the P2 transporters blocked with adenine. The overall uptake of adenosine in the drug-sensitive parasites appeared to be greater than that of the drug-resistant trypanosomes. Comparison of Fig. 1B (P2 transporters) and Fig. 1C (P1 transporters) shows that the P2 transporter of the drug-sensitive T. evansi has a bigger capacity compared to P1, and that the P2 capacity was significantly reduced in the drug-resistant clone. There was little or no transport of adenosine in the presence of saturating concentrations of both adenine and inosine, in either the drug-sensitive or drug-resistant T. evansi (Fig. 1D).

The mean±S.E. values for the maximum concentration at time infinity (Amax), were estimated for the P1 and P2 transporters of the drug-sensitive trypanosomes from 4 similar experiments (Table 1). Amax of the P1 transporter in these parasites, was 67·7±9·7 ρmol/108 cells and that is significantly (P<0·01) less than the P2 transporter 112·5±17·8 ρmol/108 cells and has 60% of its efficacy.

When we looked at the Amax, of the P2 transporter in the drug-resistant parasites (Fig. 1 and Table 1). It turned out that the Amax, 33·6±8·5 ρmol/108 cells, was significantly smaller (P=0·016) than Amax for drug-sensitive parasites and this represents only 30% of the P2 uptake capacity in drug-sensitive trypanosomes. Changes in the drug-resistant clone values (Table 1), for Amax of the P1 transporter did not reach statistical significance when the drug-sensitive trypanosomes and drug-resistant results were compared.

Effect of adenosine concentration on the rate of its uptake

The plots representing the effect of concentration of adenosine on the initial rate of uptake, V, in the drug-sensitive T. evansi are shown in Fig. 2. A summary of the kinetic parameters, Vmax and Km, estimated from plots like those of Fig. 2B and C is given in Table 2. Table 2 shows that the P1 transporter saturates at a 10-fold lower concentration of adenosine with a Km of 0·07±0·03 μM compared to the P2 transporter Km of 0·74±0·3 μM; this is significantly different, P<0·01. The maximum rate of uptake, Vmax, on the P2 transporter (28·9±5·1 ρmol/108 cell/sec) was double that of the P1 transporter (12·4±2·3 ρmol/108 cell/sec). The effect of substrate concentration on adenosine uptake in the drug-resistant T. evansi is also illustrated in Fig. 2 and a summary of the estimated parameters shown in Table 2. Vmax and Km values of the P1 transporter did not change significantly when compared to the drug-sensitive parasites. In contrast, P2 in the drug-resistant clone was significantly changed with Vmax (3·3±1·1 pmol/108 cells/sec) reduced 9-fold (P<0·05) and the Km (0·1±0·02 μM) reduced 7-fold (P<0·05). So the P2 transport rate was reduced and the affinity for adenosine was increased with resistance.

Kinetics of inhibition of adenosine uptake in T. evansi

Ki values were determined for inhibition by inosine, adenine, and Berenil on the P1 or P2 transporters (Table 2). The Ki for inosine on the P1 transporter was 0·03±0·004 μM; the Ki for adenine on the P2 transporter was 0·3±0·1 μM; and the Ki for Berenil on the P2 transporter was 0·01±0·01 μM. There appeared to be a moderate increase in the mean estimate for inosine Ki on the P1 transporter for drug-resistant parasites (0·063±0·03 μM), but this did not reach significance. The increase in adenine Ki on the P2 transporter was much bigger, 7-fold, to 1·94±0·3 μM, and was statistically significant (P=0·03). We were not able to detect significant inhibition by Berenil on the P2 transporter in the resistant parasites showing that the Berenil Ki increased greatly (>10 μM, Table 2), and that there was a major modification of the binding properties of the P2 transporter in the drug-resistant parasites. The changes in the Ki values of adenosine and Berenil highlight the significant changes in the binding affinities of P2 associated with the development of resistance.

DISCUSSION

Transport of 5 μM adenosine was followed for 120 sec in a drug-sensitive T. evansi clone and in its Mel CY-resistant clone. The striking changes we observed were in the P2 transporter where there was a decreased maximum uptake capacity (Amax) from 112·5±17·8 ρmol/108 cells to 33·6±8·5 ρmol/108 cells, a decrease in maximum uptake rate (Vmax) from 28·9±5·1 ρmol/108 cells/sec to 3·3±1·1 ρmol/108 cells/sec, an increase in the affinity of the P2 transporter for adenosine, but a decrease in the affinity for adenine and Berenil.

Changes in Amax associated with resistance

The Amax of a transporter defines its maximum uptake capacity of adenosine and is a function of (i) the number (concentration) of the transporter molecules available; (ii) the concentration of the substrate and affinity of the substrate for the transporter; and (iii) the rate of removal and metabolism of adenosine. In our experiments on the P2 transporter, 5 μM adenosine was found to provide saturable conditions for maximum uptake by these trypanosomes; thus Amax was not limited by substrate concentration. We measured the time constant (T: see Materials and Methods section) that estimates the reciprocal of the combined rate of metabolism and elimination and found that in the drug-sensitive trypanosomes (WT) that the time-constant was 57·7±10·3 sec and was not significantly changed in the drug-resistant clone, CR3.1 (72·8±9·2 sec). We found no evidence of a change in the combined estimate of the rate of removal and metabolism. The change in Amax we observed can be explained by a decrease in the numbers of individual transporter molecules. We show in the next paragraph that the maximum rate of adenosine uptake (Vmax), a more direct measure of the number of transporter molecules, is reduced for the P2 transporter. Since Mel CY is taken up on the P2, a reduced number of P2 transporter molecules, reduces substrate accumulation via the P2 transporter and provides a mechanism for resistance to Mel CY.

Vmax, P1 and P2

The Vmax that we obtained for the P1 transporter in drug-sensitive T. evansi (12·4 ρmol/108 cells/sec) is comparable to the Vmax reported for T. brucei (10·6 ρmol/108 cells/sec; Carter & Fairlamb, 1993) and T. equiperdum (8·4 ρmol/108 cells/sec; Barrett et al. 1995). Similarly, the Km for P1 transport in T. evansi (0·07 μM) was similar to that reported for the P1 transporter in T. brucei (0·15 μM; Carter & Fairlamb, 1993). A higher Km (0·60 μM) was reported for T. equiperdum (Barrett et al. 1995).

Our Vmax for the P2 transporter (28·9 ρmol/108 cells/sec) in the drug-sensitive T. evansi was higher than reported values for either T. brucei (9·5 ρmol/108 cells/sec) or T. equiperdum (6·9 ρmol/108 cells/sec). The higher values of Vmax and Amax at the P2 are consistent with our earlier report (Suswam et al. 2001) that the P2 of T. evansi is the larger of the two transporter systems. Hence the relative P2[ratio ]P1 capacity of T. evansi is different from that of T. brucei and T. equiperdum. This greater significance of the P2 of T. evansi provides an advantage for effective exploitation as a chemotherapeutic target.

In contrast, the value for Vmax at the P2 in the drug-resistant trypanosomes was decreased 10-fold. In related studies on purine transport in other trypanosomatids (de Koning et al. 2000), observed increased Vmax of adenosine in Crithidia luciliae, which was abolished by treatment with cyclohexidine (inhibits protein synthesis). These authors suggested that increased Vmax was due to increased numbers of transporters. In our study the decreased Vmax coupled with the marked decrease in Amax and Ki seen in the drug-resistant parasites is confirmation that the reduced uptake at the P2 is a result of reduced numbers of P2 transporter molecules. The Km for adenosine at the P2 transporter in drug sensitive T. evansi (0·74 μM) determined in this study was also very similar to those reported for T. brucei (0·59 μM) and T. equiperdum (0·7 μM).

Change in affinities of the P2 transporter and reduction of adenosine uptake in drug-sensitive T. evansi

An earlier report (Barrett et al. 1995) suggested that reduced adenosine uptake at the P2 transporter may be a result of decreased affinity for substrate. Unfortunately, in that report the Km of adenosine on the P2 transporter of the drug-resistant T. equiperdum could not be determined. The data presented here show that the Km for adenosine on the P2 was decreased in the resistant clone showing, interestingly, that there was an increase in affinity for adenosine on the P2 transporter. The decrease in the maximum rate of uptake (Vmax) of adenosine uptake that we observe is therefore explained by a down-regulation of the P2 transporter molecules, not a decrease in affinity. The inhibition profiles for adenine and Berenil showed that the P2 transporter did change its binding characteristics: a significant increase in inhibition constant (Ki) for adenine was found on this transporter; and Berenil failed to interact with the P2 transporter. These observations suggest conformational changes at the P2 binding site. The apparent changes in the residual P2 transporter activity may indicate a selection of a new transporter isotype of the P2 system that has increased affinity for adenosine but has low affinity for adenine and does not recognize Berenil as substrate. The presence of purine transporter isotypes with similar but distinct activities has been documented in T. brucei (Sanchez et al. 2002).

In conclusion, our study confirms the existence of 2 distinct adenosine transport systems in T. evansi, consistent with our earlier report (Suswam et al. 2001), and with the general trend in other trypanosomatids (Carter & Fairlamb, 1993; Barrett et al. 1995; Scott et al. 1997). We also observed evidence that there is a change in binding of the P2 transporter associated with the development of resistance to Mel CY and this change is seen in addition to the down-regulation of the P2 transporter. Our observations also establish the basis for resistance to Berenil, and lend weight to earlier observations of Barrett et al. (1995) on Berenil-resistant T. equiperdum.

We are pleased to acknowledge the support of the NIH to RJM: RO1 A147194-02.

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Figure 0

Fig. 1. Representative experiments showing adenosine uptake in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Trypanosoma evansi. 2×107 trypanosomes were incubated with 5 μM tritiated adenosine either in the absence of inhibitor (A); or presence of 1 mM inosine, the P2 transporter (B), 1 mM adenine, the P1 transporter (C), or 1 mM of both adenine and inosine (D); at 37 °C. Incorporated radioactivity was measured at time-points between 10 and 120 sec. Trypanosomes were separated from transport medium by filtration and centrifugation through 0·45 μM cellulose filter. Transport was calculated from counts of decompositions of radioactivity recorded from a scintillation counter; and expressed as ρmoles/108 cells. Data were fitted to exponential plots using non-linear regression analysis. Note the non-zero start position. From these fittings transport rates were estimated as described in the text. Each experiment was repeated 4 times and similar results were obtained.

Figure 1

Fig. 2. Uptake of adenosine in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Trypanosoma evansi: Effect of substrate concentration on uptake. 107 trypanosomes were incubated at 37 °C with varying concentrations of tritiated adenosine, in the absence of inhibitor (A); or presence of 1 mM inosine (B), 1 mM adenine (C), or 1 mM of both adenine and inosine (D). Uptake, V, was calculated from incorporated radioactivity and expressed as pmoles/108 cells. Data were fitted to rectangular hyperbolic plots and analysed using a non-linear regression analysis programme. Kinetic parameters were determined from these plots using Michaelis-Menten equations. Each experiment was repeated 3 times and similar results obtained.

Figure 2

Table 1. Amax of adenosine transport on the P1 and P2 transporters in Trypanosoma evansi: transport rates

Figure 3

Table 2. Effect of substrate concentration on adenosine uptake, and kinetics of inhibition of adenosine uptake in Trypanosoma evansi: Michaelis-Menten kinetics