@article{DortaySchmoeckelFettkeetal.2011, author = {Dortay, Hakan and Schm{\"o}ckel, Sandra M. and Fettke, J{\"o}rg and M{\"u}ller-R{\"o}ber, Bernd}, title = {Expression of human c-reactive protein in different systems and its purification from Leishmania tarentolae}, series = {Protein expression and purification}, volume = {78}, journal = {Protein expression and purification}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {San Diego}, issn = {1046-5928}, doi = {10.1016/j.pep.2011.03.010}, pages = {55 -- 60}, year = {2011}, abstract = {With its homo-pentameric structure and calcium-dependent specificity for phosphocholine (PCh), human c-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver and secreted in elevated quantities in response to inflammation. CRP is widely accepted as a cardiac marker, e.g. in point-of-care diagnostics, however, its heterologous expression has proven difficult. Here, we demonstrate the expression of CRP in different Escherichia coli strains as well as by in vitro transcription/translation. Although expression in these systems was straightforward, most of the protein that accumulated was insoluble. We therefore expanded our study to include the expression of CRP in two eukaryotic hosts, namely the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis and the protozoon Leishmania tarentolae. Both expression systems are optimized for secretion of recombinant proteins and here allowed successful expression of soluble CRP. We also demonstrate the purification of recombinant CRP from Leishmania growth medium; the purification of protein expressed from K. lactis was not successful. Functional and intact CRP pentamer is known to interact with PCh in Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In this report we verify the binding specificity of recombinant CRP from L tarentolae (2 mu g/mL culture medium) for PCh.}, language = {en} } @article{GeroldingerTonnerFudickaretal.2018, author = {Geroldinger, Gerald and Tonner, Matthias and Fudickar, Werner and De Sarkar, Sritama and Dighal, Aishwarya and Monzote, Lianet and Staniek, Katrin and Linker, Torsten and Chatterjee, Mitali and Gille, Lars}, title = {Activation of anthracene endoperoxides in leishmania and impairment of mitochondrial functions}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {23}, journal = {Molecules}, number = {7}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules23071680}, pages = {22}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoal Leishmania. Because of resistance development against current drugs, new antileishmanial compounds are urgently needed. Endoperoxides (EPs) are successfully used in malaria therapy, and experimental evidence of their potential against leishmaniasis exists. Anthracene endoperoxides (AcEPs) have so far been only technically used and not explored for their leishmanicidal potential. This study verified the in vitro efficiency and mechanism of AcEPs against both Leishmania promastigotes and axenic amastigotes (L. tarentolae and L. donovani) as well as their toxicity in J774 macrophages. Additionally, the kinetics and radical products of AcEPs' reaction with iron, the formation of radicals by AcEPs in Leishmania, as well as the resulting impairment of parasite mitochondrial functions were studied. Using electron paramagnetic resonance combined with spin trapping, photometry, and fluorescence-based oximetry, AcEPs were demonstrated to (i) show antileishmanial activity in vitro at IC50 values in a low micromolar range, (ii) exhibit host cell toxicity in J774 macrophages, (iii) react rapidly with iron (II) resulting in the formation of oxygen- and carbon-centered radicals, (iv) produce carbon-centered radicals which could secondarily trigger superoxide radical formation in Leishmania, and (v) impair mitochondrial functions in Leishmania during parasite killing. Overall, the data of different AcEPs demonstrate that their structures besides the peroxo bridge strongly influence their activity and mechanism of their antileishmanial action.}, language = {en} }