Pentamidine transport and sensitivity in brucei-group trypanosomes.

Sensitivity to pentamidine of bloodstream forms and culture forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei, strains of this subspecies, and strains of T. brucei rhodesiense characteristically differs in vitro. Analyses of transport parameters for pentamidine uptake in these organisms show differences that correspond with drug sensitivity. Long slender bloodstream forms of T. b. brucei have a high affinity for the drug and high rates of uptake at indicated by Km and Vmax values for [3H]pentamidine transport. Although pentamidine and stilbamidine resistance is associated with dyskinetoplasty, this condition does not itself confer resistance to pentamidine nor does it affect pentamidine transport. However, drug-resistant strains show lower rates for pentamidine transport as does T. b. rhodesiense, which is characteristically less sensitive to the drug. Of all the forms and strains studied, procyclic trypomastigotes were least sensitive to pentamidine and had a remarkable ability to exclude the drug.     

Active membrane transport and bacterial multiple antibiotic resistance

Multiple drug resistance can form in bacteria by functioning the membrane transport systems, responsible for release of antibacterial compounds from the cell into the environment. These transport mechanisms activated in the majority of cases by energy of proton transmembrane gradient are presented by solitary membrane transporting proteins and by functionally related transporter groups, periplasma proteins, and external membrane porines. Many bacterial drug transporters can bind and transfer a number of structurally heterogeneous substrates. Drug transporters known today have different origin and primary physiological functions. The genetic system of transporter type drug resistance is as a rule characterized by a cluster structure and related to mobile genetic elements. Transport mechanisms of drug resistance create an extra adaptation potential of microorganisms under conditions of selective pressure.     

Cloning and characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes that confer L-methionine sulfoximine and tabtoxin resistance.

Pseudomonas tabaci produces a toxin, tabtoxin, that causes wildfire disease in tobacco. The primary target of tabtoxin is presumed to be glutamine synthetase. Some effects of tabtoxin in tobacco can be mimicked by methionine sulfoximine (MSO), a compound that is known to inactivate glutamine synthetase. To understand how organisms can be made resistant to tabtoxin and MSO, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that yeast strains carrying the glutamine synthetase gene, GLN1, on a multicopy plasmid overproduced glutamine synthetase and showed increased drug resistance. These and other data indicate that glutamine synthetase is the primary target of tabtoxin and MSO in S. cerevisiae. We also isolated three S. cerevisiae DNA inserts of 2.1, 2.3, and 2.8 kilobases that conferred tabtoxin and MSO resistance when the inserts were present on a multicopy plasmid. These plasmids conferred resistance to MSO by blocking intracellular transport of the drug. Transport appeared to occur by one or more methionine permeases. Resistance to tabtoxin could also occur by blockage of intracellular transport, but the drug was transported by some permease other than a methionine permease. These drug resistance plasmids did not block transport of citrulline, indicating that they did not affect the general amino acid permease.     

The homodimeric ATP-binding cassette transporter LmrA mediates multidrug transport by an alternating two-site (two-cylinder engine) mechanism

The bacterial LmrA protein and the mammalian multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein are closely related ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that confer multidrug resistance on cells by mediating the extrusion of drugs at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. The mechanisms by which transport is mediated, and by which ATP hydrolysis is coupled to drug transport, are not known. Based on equilibrium binding experiments, photoaffinity labeling and drug transport assays, we conclude that homodimeric LmrA mediates drug transport by an alternating two-site transport (two-cylinder engine) mechanism. The transporter possesses two drug-binding sites: a transport-competent site on the inner membrane surface and a drug-release site on the outer membrane surface. The interconversion of these two sites, driven by the hydrolysis of ATP, occurs via a catalytic transition state intermediate in which the drug transport site is occluded. The mechanism proposed for LmrA may also be relevant for P-glycoprotein and other ABC transporters.     

A novel transporter,Pfcrt, confers antimalarial drug resistance

The elucidation of the molecular details of drug resistance phenomena is a very active area of research that crosses many disciplinary boundaries. Drug resistance is due to altered drug-target interaction, and/or dysregulated signaling related to cell growth and death. Since many drugs need to rapidly diffuse into and within cells in order to find their targets, and since transmembrane ion transport is an important facet of cellular signaling, it is not surprising that membrane transport phenomena have been implicated in the evolution of drug resistance in tumor cells, bacteria, and intracellular parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most lethal form of human malaria. The most infamous membrane transport protein involved in drug resistance is "MDR protein" or "P-glycoprotein" (Pgp),1 which was found to be overexpressed in drug-resistant tumor cells over 15 years ago, and which is representative of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily that also includes the important cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and sulfonyl urea receptor (SUR) ion channels. Availability of mouse and human Pgp cDNA rather quickly led to the identification of homologues in many species, including P. falciparum, and these were de facto assumed to be the ultimate determinants of drug resistance in these systems as well. However, research over the past 10 years has taught us that this assumption likely is wrong and that the situation is more complex. We now know that human Pgp plays a relatively minor role in clinically relevant tumor drug resistance, and that an integral membrane protein with no homology to the ABC superfamily, Pfcrt, ultimately confers chloroquine resistance in P. falciparum. Thus, the general hypothesis that membrane transport and membrane transport proteins are important in drug resistance phenomena remains correct, but at a genetic, biochemical, and physiological level we have recently witnessed a few very interesting surprises.     

Role of mycobacterial efflux transporters in drug resistance: an unresolved question

Two mechanisms are thought to be involved in the natural drug resistance of mycobacteria: the mycobacterial cell wall permeability barrier and active multidrug efflux pumps. Genes encoding drug efflux transporters have been isolated from several mycobacterial species. These proteins transport tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides and other compounds. Recent reports have suggested that efflux pumps may also be involved in transporting isoniazid, one of the main drugs used to treat tuberculosis. This review highlights recent advances in our understanding of efflux-mediated drug resistance in mycobacteria, including the distribution of efflux systems in these organisms, their substrate profiles and their contribution to drug resistance. The balance between the drug transport into the cell and drug efflux is not yet clearly understood, and further studies are required in mycobacteria.     

PfCRT-mediated drug transport in malarial parasites

A wide range of drug transport studies using intact infected red blood cells, isolated malarial parasites, heterologous expression systems, and purified protein, combined with elegant genetic experiments, have suggested that chloroquine transport by the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) is a key aspect of the molecular mechanism of quinoline antimalarial drug resistance. However, many questions remain. This short review summarizes data that have led to drug channel versus drug pump hypotheses for PfCRT and suggests ways in which recent contrasting interpretations might be reconciled.     

Functional expression of P-glycoprotein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confers cellular resistance to the immunosuppressive and antifungal agent FK520.

We have recently reported that expression in yeast cells of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the mouse multidrug resistance mdr3 gene (Mdr3) can complement a null ste6 mutation (M. Raymond, P. Gros, M. Whiteway, and D. Y. Thomas, Science 256:232-234, 1992). Here we show that Mdr3 behaves as a fully functional drug transporter in this heterologous expression system. Photolabelling experiments indicate that Mdr3 synthesized in yeast cells binds the drug analog [125I]iodoaryl azidoprazosin, this binding being competed for by vinblastine and tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, two known multidrug resistance drugs. Spheroplasts expressing wild-type Mdr3 (Ser-939) exhibit an ATP-dependent and verapamil-sensitive decreased accumulation of [3H]vinblastine as compared with spheroplasts expressing a mutant form of Mdr3 with impaired transport activity (Phe-939). Expression of Mdr3 in yeast cells can confer resistance to growth inhibition by the antifungal and immunosuppressive agent FK520, suggesting that this compound is a substrate for P-gp in yeast cells. Replacement of Ser-939 in Mdr3 by a series of amino acid substitutions is shown to modulate both the level of cellular resistance to FK520 and the mating efficiency of yeast mdr3 transformants. The effects of these mutations on the function of Mdr3 in yeast cells are similar to those observed in mammalian cells with respect to drug resistance and transport, indicating that transport of a-factor and FK520 in yeast cells is mechanistically similar to drug transport in mammalian cells. The ability of P-gp to confer cellular resistance to FK520 in yeast cells establishes a dominant phenotype that can be assayed for the positive selection of intragenic revertants of P-gp inactive mutants, an important tool for the structure-function analysis of mammalian P-gp in yeast cells.     

Antimony transport mechanisms in resistant leishmania parasites

Antimonial compounds have been used for more than a century in the treatment of the parasitic disease leishmaniasis. Although pentavalent antimonials are still first-line drugs in several developing countries, this class of drugs is no longer recommended in the Indian sub-continent because of the emergence of drug resistance. The precise mechanisms involved in the resistance of leishmania parasites to antimony are still subject to debate. It is now well documented that drug resistance in leishmania parasites is a multifactorial phenomenon involving multiple genes whose expression pattern synergistically leads to the resistance phenotype. The reduction of intracellular antimony accumulation is a frequent change observed in resistant leishmania cells; however, no comprehensive transport model has been presented so far to explain this change and its contribution to Leishmania resistance. The present review firstly covers the actual knowledge on the metabolism of antimonial drugs, the mechanisms of their transmembrane transport and intracellular processing in Leishmania. It further describes both the functional and molecular changes associated with Sb resistance in this organism. Possible transport models based on the actual knowledge are then presented, as well as their functional implications. Biophysical and pharmacological strategies are finally proposed for the precise identification of the transport pathways.     

Multiple Drugs Compete for Transport via the Plasmodium falciparum Chloroquine Resistance Transporter at Distinct but Interdependent Sites

Mutations in the “chloroquine resistance transporter” (PfCRT) are a major determinant of drug resistance in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We have previously shown that mutant PfCRT transports the antimalarial drug chloroquine away from its target, whereas the wild-type form of PfCRT does not. However, little is understood about the transport of other drugs via PfCRT or the mechanism by which PfCRT recognizes different substrates. Here we show that mutant PfCRT also transports quinine, quinidine, and verapamil, indicating that the protein behaves as a multidrug resistance carrier. Detailed kinetic analyses revealed that chloroquine and quinine compete for transport via PfCRT in a manner that is consistent with mixed-type inhibition. Moreover, our analyses suggest that PfCRT accepts chloroquine and quinine at distinct but antagonistically interacting sites. We also found verapamil to be a partial mixed-type inhibitor of chloroquine transport via PfCRT, further supporting the idea that PfCRT possesses multiple substrate-binding sites. Our findings provide new mechanistic insights into the workings of PfCRT, which could be exploited to design potent inhibitors of this key mediator of drug resistance.     

Pentamidine Transport and Sensitivity in brucei-Group Trypanosomes*

SYNOPSIS. Sensitivity to pentamidine of bloodstream forms and culture forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei, strains of this subspecies, and strains of T. brucei rhodesiense characteristically differs in vitro. Analyses of transport parameters for pentamidine uptake in these organisms show differences that correspond with drug sensitivity. Long slender bloodstream forms of T. b. brucei have a high affinity for the drug and high rates of uptake as indicated by K_m and V_max values for [³H]pentamidine transport. Although pentamidine and stilbamidine resistance is associated with dyskinetoplasty. this condition does not itself confer resistance to pentamidine nor does it affect pentamidine transport. However, drug-resistant strains show lower rates for pentamidine transport as does T. b. rhodesiense, which is characteristically less sensitive to the drug. Of all the forms and strains studied, procyclic trypomastigotes were least sensitive to pentamidine and had a remarkable ability to exclude the drug.     

Cisplatin resistance: Preclinical findings and clinical implications

Cisplatin is used for the treatment of many types of solid cancers. While testicular cancers respond remarkably well to cisplatin, the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin for other solid cancers is limited because of intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Our understanding about the mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance has largely arisen from studies carried out with cancer cell lines in vitro. The process of cisplatin resistance appears to be multifactorial and includes changes in drug transport leading to decreased drug accumulation, increased drug detoxification, changes in DNA repair and damage bypass and/or alterations in the apoptotic cell death pathways. Translation of these preclinical findings to the clinic is emerging, but still scarce. The present review describes and discusses the clinical relevance of in vitro models by comparing the preclinical findings to data obtained in clinical studies.     

ABC proteins in yeast and fungal pathogens

All fungal genomes harbour numerous ABC (ATP-binding cassette) proteins located in various cellular compartments such as the plasma membrane, vacuoles, peroxisomes and mitochondria. Most of them have initially been discovered through their ability to confer resistance to a multitude of drugs, a phenomenon called PDR (pleiotropic drug resistance) or MDR (multidrug resistance). Studying the mechanisms underlying PDR/MDR in yeast is of importance in two ways: first, ABC proteins can confer drug resistance on pathogenic fungi such as Candida spp., Aspergillus spp. or Cryptococcus neoformans; secondly, the well-established genetic, biochemical and cell biological tractability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae makes it an ideal tool to study basic mechanisms of drug transport by ABC proteins. In the past, knowledge from yeast has complemented work on human ABC transporters involved in anticancer drug resistance or genetic diseases. Interestingly, increasing evidence available from yeast and other organisms suggests that ABC proteins play a physiological role in membrane homoeostasis and lipid distribution, although this is being intensely debated in the literature.     

Lem3p is essential for the uptake and potency of alkylphosphocholine drugs,edelfosine and miltefosine

The alkylphosphocholine class of drugs, including edelfosine and miltefosine, has recently shown promise in the treatment of protozoal and fungal diseases, most notably, leishmaniasis. One of the major barriers to successful treatment of these infections is the development of drug resistance. To understand better the mechanisms underlying the development of drug resistance, we performed a combined mutant selection and screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, designed to identify genes that confer resistance to the alkylphosphocholine drugs by inhibiting their transport across the plasma membrane. Mutagenized cells were first selected for resistance to edelfosine, and the initial collection of mutants was screened a second time for defects in internalization of a short chain, fluorescent (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD))-labeled phosphatidylcholine reporter. This approach identified mutations in a single gene, YNL323W/LEM3, that conferred resistance to alkylphosphocholine drugs and inhibited internalization of NBD-labeled phosphatidylcholine. Loss of YNL323W/LEM3 does not confer resistance to N-nitroquinilone N-oxide or ketoconazole and actually increases sensitivity to cycloheximide. The defect in internalization is specific to NBD-labeled phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Labeled phosphatidylserine is internalized at normal levels in lem3 strains. LEM3 is a member of an evolutionarily conserved family and has two homologues in S. cerevisiae. Single point mutations that produce resistance to alkylphosphocholine drugs and inhibition of NBD-labeled phosphatidylcholine internalization were identified in several highly conserved domains. These data demonstrate a requirement for Lem3p expression for normal phosphatidylcholine and alkylphosphocholine drug transport across the plasma membrane of yeast.     

Nitroxide radicals. Controlled release from and transport through biomimetic and hollow fibre membranes

Stable nitroxide radicals have found wide applications in chemistry and biology and they have some potential applications in medicine due to their antioxidant properties. Nitrocellulose filters impregnated with lipid-like substances are used as an imitation of biomembranes and could be used as a controlled drug release vehicle, while experiments with hollow fibres can be useful in the modelling of a drug delivery via blood vessels. This paper describes mechanisms of the nitroxide transport in four different model systems, i.e. a) exit of nitroxide into aqueous solution from porous nitrocellulose filters, impregnated with organic solvents, b) transport of nitroxides through the impregnated membrane from one into another aqueous solution, c) transport of nitroxides from bulk phase of organic solvents through the impregnated membrane into aqueous phase with ascorbic acid, and d) transport of nitroxides from liquid organic phase into aqueous solution through porous hollow fibres. The results are analysed in terms of mass transfer resistance of a membrane, organic and aqueous phase, based on nitroxide diffusion and distribution coefficients. Ascorbic acid reduced nitroxides in water and enhanced the rate of their transfer due to the decrease of transport resistance of unstirred aqueous layers. It is demonstrated that in the case of biomembranes the rate limiting step could be the transport through unstirred aqueous layers and membrane/water interface.     

Nitroxide radicals. Controlled release from and transport through biomimetic and hollow fibre membranes

Stable nitroxide radicals have found wide applications in chemistry and biology and they have some potential applications in medicine due to their antioxidant properties. Nitrocellulose filters impregnated with lipid-like substances are used as an imitation of biomembranes and could be used as a controlled drug release vehicle, while experiments with hollow fibres can be useful in the modelling of a drug delivery via blood vessels. This paper describes mechanisms of the nitroxide transport in four different model systems, i.e. a) exit of nitroxide into aqueous solution from porous nitrocellulose filters, impregnated with organic solvents, b) transport of nitroxides through the impregnated membrane from one into another aqueous solution, c) transport of nitroxides from bulk phase of organic solvents through the impregnated membrane into aqueous phase with ascorbic acid, and d) transport of nitroxides from liquid organic phase into aqueous solution through porous hollow fibres. The results are analysed in terms of mass transfer resistance of a membrane, organic and aqueous phase, based on nitroxide diffusion and distribution coefficients. Ascorbic acid reduced nitroxides in water and enhanced the rate of their transfer due to the decrease of transport resistance of unstirred aqueous layers. It is demonstrated that in the case of biomembranes the rate limiting step could be the transport through unstirred aqueous layers and membrane/water interface.     

Hypoxic Tumor Environments Exhibit Disrupted Collagen I Fibers and Low Macromolecular Transport

Hypoxic tumor microenvironments result in an aggressive phenotype and resistance to therapy that lead to tumor progression, recurrence, and metastasis. While poor vascularization and the resultant inadequate drug delivery are known to contribute to drug resistance, the effect of hypoxia on molecular transport through the interstitium, and the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in mediating this transport are unexplored. The dense mesh of fibers present in the ECM can especially influence the movement of macromolecules. Collagen 1 (Col1) fibers form a key component of the ECM in breast cancers. Here we characterized the influence of hypoxia on macromolecular transport in tumors, and the role of Col1 fibers in mediating this transport using an MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenograft model engineered to express red fluorescent protein under hypoxia. Magnetic resonance imaging of macromolecular transport was combined with second harmonic generation microscopy of Col1 fibers. Hypoxic tumor regions displayed significantly decreased Col1 fiber density and volume, as well as significantly lower macromolecular draining and pooling rates, than normoxic regions. Regions adjacent to severely hypoxic areas revealed higher deposition of Col1 fibers and increased macromolecular transport. These data suggest that Col1 fibers may facilitate macromolecular transport in tumors, and their reduction in hypoxic regions may reduce this transport. Decreased macromolecular transport in hypoxic regions may also contribute to poor drug delivery and tumor recurrence in hypoxic regions. High Col1 fiber density observed around hypoxic regions may facilitate the escape of aggressive cancer cells from hypoxic regions.     

ABC细胞膜转运蛋白及其介导的细胞多药耐药研究进展

ABC细胞膜转运蛋白是一个能转运多种底物的蛋白质家族,其在宿主对异物的防御机制和肿瘤细胞对抗癌药物的耐药性中发挥重要作用。ABC转运蛋白能将已进人细胞的外源性物质从胞内泵出胞外,是造成肿瘤细胞多药耐药的主要原因,其基因表达水平与细胞内药物浓度和耐药程度密切相关。近年来,肿瘤细胞多药耐药性研究炙手可热。我们简要综述ABC细胞膜转运蛋白的特点、分布、表达及其介导的细胞多药耐药方面的研究进展。     

Characterization of the role of polar amino acid residues within predicted transmembrane helix 17 in determining the substrate specificity of multidrug resistance protein 3

Human multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 3 is the most closely related homologue of MRP1. Like MRP1, MRP3 confers resistance to etoposide (VP-16) and actively transports 17 beta-estradiol 17-(beta-D-glucuronide) (E(2)17 beta G), cysteinyl leukotriene 4 (LTC(4)), and methotrexate, although with generally lower affinity. Unlike MRP1, MRP3 also transports monovalent bile salts. We have previously demonstrated that hydrogen-bonding residues predicted to be in the inner-leaflet spanning segment of transmembrane (TM) 17 of MRP1 are important for drug resistance and E(2)17 beta G transport. We have now examined the importance of the hydrogen-bonding potential of residues in TM17 of MRP3 on both substrate specificity and overall activity. Mutation S1229A reduced only methotrexate transport. Mutations S1231A and N1241A decreased resistance to VP-16 and transport of E(2)17 beta G and methotrexate but not taurocholate. Mutation Q1235A also reduced resistance to VP-16 and transport of E(2)17beta G but increased taurocholate transport without affecting transport of methotrexate. Mutations Y1232F and S1233A reduced resistance to VP-16 and the transport of all three substrates tested. In contrast, mutation T1237A markedly increased VP-16 resistance and transport of all substrates. On the basis of the substrates analyzed, residues Ser(1229), Ser(1231), Gln(1235), and Asn(1241) play an important role in determining the specificity of MRP3, while mutation of Tyr(1232), Ser(1233), and Thr(1237) affects overall activity. Unlike MRP1, the involvement of polar residues in determining substrate specificity extends throughout the TM helix. Furthermore, elimination of the hydrogen-bonding potential of a single amino acid, Thr(1237), markedly enhanced the ability of the protein to confer drug resistance and to transport all substrates examined.