Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization of Leishmania donovani serine hydroxymethyltransferase

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) catalyzes the inter conversion of serine and tetrahydrofolate (H4-folate) to form glycine and 5,10-methylene H4-folate and generates one-carbon fragments for the synthesis of nucleotides, methionine, thymidylate, choline, etc. In spite of being an indispensable enzyme of the thymidylate cycle, SHMT in Leishmania donovani remains uncharacterized. The study of L. donovani SHMT (ldSHMT) becomes important as this gene is preferentially expressed in the amastigote stage of parasite, which resides in human macrophages. Here we report cloning, expression and purification of a catalytically active ldSHMT. The homogeneity of recombinant protein was analyzed by denaturing gel electrophoresis and protein was found to be 95% pure having yield of 1 mg/l. The recombinant protein is a tetramer of 216 kDa as evidenced by gel filtration chromatography and uses serine and tetrahydrofolate as substrates with Km of 1.6 and 2.4 mM, respectively. Further biochemical studies revealed that pH optimum of ldSHMT is 7.8 and enzyme is thermally stable up to 45 °C. ldSHMT was found sensitive towards denaturants as manifested by loss of enzyme activity at the concentration of 1 M urea or 0.25 M guanidine hydrochloride. This is the first report of purification and characterization of recombinant SHMT from any protozoan source. Studies on recombinant ldSHMT will help in evaluating this enzyme as potential drug target.