Schistosoma mansoni: Biochemical characterization of lactate transporters or similar proteins

While in medium containing glucose, schistosomes exhibit homolactic fermentation. Accumulation of lactate acid in tissue fluid causes lowering of pH and a resultant inhibition of metabolic pathways. This requires lactate transporter protein in homolactic fermentors to facilitate the translocation of lactate− and [H+] across their plasma membrane. The ex-vivo experiment assessed lactic acid secretion by adult worms in absence and the presence of lactic acid transporter protein inhibitors. Phloretin and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate caused a combined 25–35% inhibition of lactic acid secretion and probenecid increased this inhibition to 65% of control values. The removal of inhibitors resulted in 80% recovery of lactic acid secretion. In the in-vitro studies using vesicles isolated from adult worms and from schistosomula, the effects of phloretin and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate were greater, each causing approximately 80% inhibition independently. The data obtained in this study demonstrate the presence of lactic acid transporters or similar proteins in Schistosoma mansoni.