Damage of Trypanosoma cruzi deoxyribonucleic acid by nitroheterocyclic drugs.
Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes pretreated with the trypanocidal drugs nifurtimox (10 or 100 microM) or benznidazole (38 or 380 microM) showed an increased number of strand-breaks, as revealed by (a) trapping of alkali-denatured kDNA by nitrocellulose filters and (b) electrophoresis in an alkaline 2% agarose gel. Similar damage was observed in nuclear DNA (nDNA), as detected by centrifugation in an alkaline-sucrose gradient. DNA damage was reversible since reincubation in fresh medium for 24 hr restored filtration and electrophoretic and sedimentation patterns to normal.
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA; D009547:Nifurtimox / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009581:Nitrofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D009581:Nitrofurans; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D004247:DNA; D009547:Nifurtimox; C009999:benzonidazole