Trypanothione as a Target in the Design of Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial Agents

Title: Trypanothione as a Target in the Design of Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial Agents

Volume: 7 Issue: 12

Author(s): K. Augustyns, K. Amssoms, A. Yamani, P. K. Rajan and A. Haemers

Affiliation:

Keywords: Trypanothione, Antitrypanosomal, Antileishmanial Agents, oxidative stress, glutathionylspermidine synthetase, trypanothione synthetase, g-glutamylcysteine, spermidine, ornithine, decarboxylase

Abstract: Trypanothione is the key molecule in the defence mechanism of Trypanosoma and Leishmania against oxidative stress. The uniqueness of trypanothione makes the metabolism of this molecule an attractive target in antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial drug design. It became clear that this antioxidant cascade can be considered as the Achilles heel of these parasites. The following targets and their respective inhibitors will be discussed biosynthesis of trypanothione with glutathionylspermidine synthetase and trypanothione synthetase biosynthesis of glutathione with gama-glutamylcysteine synthetase biosynthesis of spermidine with ornithine decarboxylase trypanothione hydroperoxide metabolism with tryparedoxine peroxidase, tryparedoxine and trypanothione reductase.

Cite this article as:

Augustyns K., Amssoms K., Yamani A., Rajan K. P. and Haemers A., Trypanothione as a Target in the Design of Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial Agents, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2001; 7 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612013397564