Inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi alpha-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase-isozyme II by N-isopropyl oxamate and its effect on intact epimastigotes.

摘要

The effect of N-isopropyl oxamate on the activity of alpha-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase-isozyme II (HADH-isozyme II) from Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated. The kinetic studies showed that this substance was a competitive inhibitor of this isozyme. The attachment of the nonpolar isopropylic branched chain to the nitrogen of oxamate increased 12-fold the affinity of N-isopropyl oxamate for the active site of T. cruzi HADH-isozyme II. N-isopropyl oxamate was a selective inhibitor of HADH-isozyme II, since other T. cruzi dehydrogenases were not inhibited by this substance. Since HADH-isozyme II participates in the energy metabolism of T. cruzi, a trypanocidal effect can be expected with inhibitors of this isozyme. However, although it was not possible to detect any trypanocidal activity with N-isopropyl oxamate when the ethyl ester was tested as a possible trypanocidal prodrug, the expected trypanocidal effect was obtained, comparable to that obtained with nifurtimox and benznidazole.