The effects of antimalarials on the Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase.
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHOD) is a key enzyme in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis and the major source of electrons for the mitochondrial electron transport chain of intraerythrocytic malaria parasites. DHOD and the electron transport chain may also be the site of inhibition by certain antimalarial drugs. In order to test this, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes were exposed in vitro to artemisinin or various 8-aminoquinolines, such as primaquine, WR 238605, WR 225448, and WR 255956, and then assayed for both enzyme activity and [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation, which is an indicator of viability. Atovaquone inhibits DHOD activity to a much greater extent than hypoxanthine incorporation, which is consistent with previous reports that it targets the parasite respiratory chain. However, artemisinin and the 8-aminoquinolines inhibit DHOD to the same or lesser extent than hypoxanthine incorporation, suggesting that these compounds have different modes of action.
Ittarat
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Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor 48109-2029.
Asawamahasakda
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Meshnick
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D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000090722:Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase; D009963:Orotic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000962:Antimalarials; D000090722:Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase; D009963:Orotic Acid; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors