Characterization Of Eukaryotic Arsenate Reductases Of Rhodanese Superfamily

Arsenic is an abundant environmental element. Soil and water arsenic contamination of both natural and anthropogenic origin is present in many countries. It poses a threat to health and lives of millions of people. Arsenic compounds are highly toxic to organisms and may lead to serious health problems. Due to its cytotoxic properties, arsenic is widely used in antiprotozoan and anticancer therapies.Arsenate is one of the most prevalent inorganic arsenic species found in drinking water. It enters the cell via phosphate transporters, using molecular mimicry. In order to be extruded out of the cell or to enter other detoxification pathways, arsenate must be reduced to arsenite.ACR2 proteins are the most studied arsenate reductases. They belong to rhodanese superfamily and contain a conserved HC(X) 5R motif. Thus far, ten eukaryotic arsenate reductases has been characterized. Nonetheless, more proteins with arsenate reductase activity are being discovered.Characterization of all proteins participating in arsenate reduction pathways will contribute to the development of more effective drug therapies and reducing negative consequences of arsenic and other metalloid or metal poisonings. It might also be applied in engineering transgenic plants accumulating lower quantities of arsenic, thus reducing arsenic supply in crops.