Antimalarial activity of diethyldithiocarbamate. Potentiation by copper.
The antimalarial activity of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) in vitro was potentiated by subtoxic concentrations of copper. DDC was also more potent in the presence of an intracellular source of copper, such as when parasites were grown in superoxide dismutase (SOD)-loaded erythrocytes. These data suggest that DDC forms a complex with copper, either intracellularly or extracellularly, which is toxic to malarial parasites. The exact cause of this toxicity is not known, but may be due to a membrane effect, since DDC and copper, in combination, exert a potent lytic effect on normal human erythrocytes.
Meshnick
S R
SR
City University of New York Medical School, NY 10031.
Scott
M D
MD
Lubin
B
B
Ranz
A
A
Eaton
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology
D000962:Antimalarials; D003300:Copper; D004050:Ditiocarb; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase