Phloretin and citrate promote the differentiation rate from epimastigote to metacyclic forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.
We have investigated the effects of the metabolic inhibitors, phloretin, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, maleate and trans-aconitate, as well as two intermediates of the tricarboxylic-acid cycle, acetate and citrate, on the growth and metacyclogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi. 0.1 mM phloretin increased the percentage of metacyclic forms about 2.7-fold without affecting growth rate, whereas the other inhibitors had no apparent effect on either growth or differentiation rates. The addition of 5 mM citrate stimulated differentiation by about 2.6-fold. When either 10 mM citrate or 10 mM acetate were added, on the other hand, both the growth and differentiation rates were severely inhibited.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
F J
FJ
Adroher
A
A
Osuna
J A
JA
Lupiáñez
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000156:Aconitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D008298:Maleates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010693:Phloretin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
D000085:Acetates; D002951:Citrates; D008298:Maleates; C030272:maleic acid; D000156:Aconitic Acid; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D010693:Phloretin