BACKGROUND:The 26kDa glutathione transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) from Schistosoma japonicum (SjGST) is recognized as the major detoxification enzyme of S. japonicum, a pathogenic helminth causing schistosomiasis.

OBJECTIVE:In the present study, the interaction of the chlorotriazine dye Cibacron blue 3GA (CB3GA) and its structural analogues with SjGST was investigated. The work aimed to shine light on the non-substrate ligand-binding properties of the enzyme.

METHODS:Kinetic inhibition analysis, affinity labelling experiments and molecular modelling studies were employed.

RESULTS:The results showed that CB3GA is a potent inhibitor (IC50 0.057 ± 0.003μM) towards SjGST. The enzyme was specifically and irreversibly inactivated by the dichlorotriazine-analogue of CB3GA (IC50 0.190 ± 0.024 μM), following a biphasic pseudo-first-order saturation kinetics with approximately 1 mol of inhibitor per mol of dimeric enzyme being incorporated. All other monochlorotriazine analogues behave as reversible inhibitors with lower inhibition potency (IC50 5.2-82.3 μM). Kinetic inhibition studies together with molecular modelling and molecular dynamics simulations established that the CB3GA binding site overlaps both the G- and H-sites. Both hydrophobic/polar interactions as well as steric effects have decisive roles in determining the inhibitory strength of CB3GA and its analogues.

CONCLUSION:The results of the present study might be useful in future drug design and development efforts towards SjGST.