Graphene quantum dots disrupt the mitochondrial potential of Trypanosoma brucei by interacting with the p18 subunit of ATP synthase F1 after endocytosis via the VSG recycling pathway

[Display omitted] •Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) bind to the variant surface glycoprotein of T. brucei.•The GQDs interacted with the p18 subunit of T. brucei ATP synthase F1 and inhibited ATP synthase activity.•GQDs exposure results in a decrease in the proteasome pathway but an increase in the RNA degradation pathway in T. brucei. Trypanosomiasis is one of the main threats to human and animal health in African countries. Trypanosoma brucei can evade the host immune recognition by rapidly altering its variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). The ATP synthase F1 subunit of the parasite exhibits extremely low similarity to that of its mammalian hosts, hypothetically making it an ideal target for the development of novel therapeutics. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were synthesized, and their adhesion to T. brucei surface and internalization was observed microscopically. The activity of ATP synthase and mitochondrial membrane potential of T. brucei were measured after exposure to GQDs. Proteomics, biolayer interferometry, and molecular dynamic simulations were utilized to evaluate the interaction between GQDs with the target proteins. GQDs specifically adhered to the VSG of T. brucei and were conveyed inside the parasite via the VSG internalization pathway. The GQDs promoted intracellular ROS production, interacted with, and inhibited the activity of the p18 subunit of ATP synthase, disrupted parasite mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, the GQDs caused a decrease in aminoacyl – tRNA biosynthesis, and upregulated RNA and protein degradation pathways. The findings of this study offer a novel avenue for the target-oriented discovery of anti-trypanosome drugs.