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1705982 
Journal Article 
Sarcosine metabolism in Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta 
Umair, S; Ria, C; Knight, JS; Bland, RJ; Simpson, HV 
2013 
Yes 
Experimental Parasitology
ISSN: 0014-4894 
134 
1 
1-6 
English 
23376286 
WOS:000317539000001 
Sarcosine (N-methylglycine) is an intermediate in glycine degradation and can also be synthesised from glycine in mammals. Sarcosine metabolism in Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta differed from that of mammals in that creatinase activity was present and sarcosine was demethylated only by sarcosine oxidase (SOX) and not by sarcosine dehydrogenase (SDH). The mean SOX activity was 30 nmolmin(-1)mg(-1) protein in homogenates of L3 and adult worms of both parasites and the apparent Km for sarcosine was 1.1 mM. Addition of 2 mM Cd(2+) inhibited activity by 30%. There was no SDH activity with either NAD(+) or NADP(+) as co-factor. Mean creatinase activity in L3 T. circumcincta and adult worms of both species was 31±6 nmolmin(-1)mg(-1) protein, but was undetectable in L3 H. contortus. Activity was inhibited by up to 70% by Cu(2+), Fe(2+), Fe(3+) and Zn(2+). Possessing creatinase would allow host creatine to be incorporated into amino acids by the parasites. 
Haemonchus contortus; Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta; Creatinase (EC 3.5.3.3.); Sarcosine dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.99.1); Sarcosine oxidase (EC 1.5.3.1)