Leishmania donovani adenylate kinase 2a prevents ATP-mediated cell cytolysis in macrophages

In Leishmania spp. ATP utilizing enzymes serves as a key role in preserving integrity of host cells for survival of parasite. Earlier reports suggested that Adenylate kinase (AK) a phosphotransferase enzyme released by Leishmania donovani secretome, involved in modulating levels of NTPs. In the present study, we cloned, expressed and characterized recombinant putative AK. Based on a sequence and phylogeny analysis, we identified the prominent features of the seven AK isoforms of Leishmania donovani and assigned our putative AK as LdAK2a. The Km value of LdAK2a for ATP and AMP substrate were 204 μM and 184 μM, respectively and Vmax was calculated as 1.6 μmol min−1 mg−1 protein. Ap5A, a known inhibitor of AK inhibited LdAK2a with estimated Ki values of 280 nM and 230 nM for ATP and AMP respectively. CD spectral studies were carried out to estimate its structural stability. Recombinant LdAK2a was found to prevent ATP mediated cell cytolysis of Raw 264.7 macrophages in vitro, which was determined by LDH assay and MMP assay. This is the first report which validates that Leishmanial AK2a can prevent ATP mediated cytolysis of macrophage cells and thereby probably play a role in preserving integrity of host cells for survival of parasite. [Display omitted] •Cloned, expressed and purified recombinant putative Leishmania donovani adenylate kinase (LdAK2a).•Identified prominent features of seven AK isoforms of Leishmania donovani through sequence analysis.•Enzyme characterization of LdAKA2a was performed.•LdAK2a modulated ATP levels by utilizing it and prevented ATP mediated cell cytolysis of macrophage cells in vitro.•Adenylate kinase probably plays a role in preserving integrity of host cells for survival of the parasite.