Sequence Analysis and Comparison of TCTP Proteins from Human Protozoan Parasites

PURPOSE: Translational controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a functionally important protein in most eukaryotes because it participates in a wide variety of processes, the most representative being proliferation, differentiation, histamine release, cell death, protein synthesis and response to stress conditions. In the present work, we analyze the sequence, structure and phylogeny of TCTP orthologs in a group of human parasitic protozoan species. METHODS: The complete sequences of TCTP orthologs in protozoan parasites were identified with the NCBI BLAST tool in the database of the EuPathDB Bioinformatics Resource Center. The sequences were aligned and important regions of the protein were identified, and later phylogenetic trees and 3D models were built with different bioinformatic tools. RESULTS: Our results show evolutionarily and structurally conserved sites that could be exploited to create new therapeutic strategies given the increase in the number of strains resistant to current drugs. CONCLUSION: TCTP orthologs in protozoan parasites have been little studied but have been shown to be important in parasite growth, proliferation, reproduction, and response to changes in the environment. For all this, TCTP can be considered as a possible therapeutic target. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11686-022-00521-9.