Mapping the metabolism of five amino acids in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei using U-13C-labelled substrates and LC–MS

Johnston, Katharina; Kim, Dong-Hyun; Kerkhoven, Eduard�J.; Burchmore, Richard; Barrett, Michael�P.; Achcar, Fiona

Abstract

The metabolism of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei has been the focus of numerous studies since the 1940s. Recently it was shown, using metabolomics coupled with heavy-atom isotope labelled glucose, that the metabolism of the bloodstream form parasite is more complex than previously thought. The present study also raised a number of questions regarding the origin of several metabolites, for example succinate, only a proportion of which derives from glucose. In order to answer some of these questions and explore the metabolism of bloodstream form T. brucei in more depth we followed the fate of five heavy labelled amino acids – glutamine, proline, methionine, cysteine and arginine – using an LC–MS based metabolomics approach. We found that some of these amino acids have roles beyond those previously thought and we have tentatively identified some unexpected metabolites which need to be confirmed and their function determined.

Citation

Johnston, K., Kim, D.-H., Kerkhoven, E., Burchmore, R., Barrett, M., & Achcar, F. (2019). Mapping the metabolism of five amino acids in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei using U-13C-labelled substrates and LC–MS. Bioscience Reports, 39(5), Article BSR20181601. https://doi.org/10.1042/bsr20181601

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 24, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2019
• Publication Date: May 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Aug 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 14, 2019
• Journal: Bioscience Reports
• Print ISSN: 0144-8463
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-4935
• Publisher: Portland Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 5
• Article Number: BSR20181601
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bsr20181601
• Keywords: Biophysics; Cell Biology; Biochemistry; Molecular Biology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2429140
• Publisher URL: http://www.bioscirep.org/content/39/5/BSR20181601
• Contract Date: Aug 14, 2019