Trypanosoma cruzi trypanothione reductase (TR) was irreversibly inhibited by peroxidase/H2O2 /phenothiazine (PTZ) systems. TR inactivation depended on (a) time of incubation with the phenothiazine system; (b) the peroxidase nature and (c) the PTZ structure and concentration. With the most effective systems, TR inactivation kinetics were biphasic, with a relatively fast initial phase during which about 75% of the enzyme activity was lost, followed by a slower phase leading to total enzyme inactivation. GSH prevented TR inactivation by the peroxidase/H2O2/PTZ+* systems. Production of PTZ+* cation radicals by PTZ peroxidation was essential for TR inactivation. Horseradish peroxidase, leukocyte myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the pseudo-peroxidase myoglobin (Mb) were effective catalysts of PTZ+* production. Promazine, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, propionylpromazine prochlorperazine, perphenazine and trimeprazine were effective constituents of the HRP/H2O2 /PTZ system. The presence of substituents at the PTZ nucleus position 2 exerted significant influence on PTZ activity, as shown by the different effects of 2-trifluoromethyl and 2-H or 2-chlorophenothiazines. The PTZ+* cation radicals disproportionation regenerated the non-radical PTZ molecule and produced the PTZ sulfoxide that was inactive on TR. Thiol compounds including GSH interacted with PTZ+* cation radicals transferring an electron from the sulfide anion to the PTZ+*, thus nullifying the PTZ+* biological and chemical activities.

Oxygen radical generating systems, namely, Cu(II)/ H2O2, Cu(II)/ascorbate, Cu(II)/NAD(P)H, Cu(II)/ H2O2/catecholamine and Cu(II)/H2O2/SH-compounds irreversibly inhibited yeast glutathione reductase (GR) but Cu(II)/H2O2 enhanced the enzyme diaphorase activity. The time course of GR inactivation by Cu(II)/H2O2 dependent on Cu(II) and H2O2 concentrations and was relatively slow, as compared with the effect of Cu(II)/ascorbate. The fluorescence of the enzyme Tyr and Trp residues was modified as a result of oxidative damage. Copper chelators, catalase, bovine serum albumin and HO. scavengers prevented GR inactivation by Cu(II)/H2O2 and related systems. Cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, N-(2-dimercaptopropionylglycine and penicillamine enhanced the effect of Cu(II)/H2O2 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. GSH, Captopril, dihydrolipoic acid and dithiotreitol also enhanced the Cu(II)/H2O2 effect, their actions involving the simultaneous operation of pro-oxidant and antioxidant reactions. GSSG and trypanothione disulfide effectively protected GR against Cu(II)/H2O2 inactivation. Thiol compounds prevented GR inactivation by the radical cation ABTS.+. GR inactivation by the systems assayed correlated with their capability for HO. radical generation. The role of amino acid residues at GR active site as targets for oxygen radicals is discussed.

Glycogen content and the enzymes of glycogen metabolism have been measured in the postimplantation rat embryo over a period ranging from 9.5 to 18.5 days of gestation. The earliest periods studied were at days 9.5 and 10.5 of gestation, when the yolk sac becomes vascularized and heart beat is first established. The next intervals were at days 10.5–11.5 when vascular connections via the allantoic placenta are formed. At 14.5 and 18.5 days of development, 4 entire organs were analyzed; heart, liver, kidney and brain. The metabolic apparatus of glycogen metabolism was concentrated in the embryo at 10.5 days, then the heart region, and in the heart itself at later stages.

Phenothiazine cation radicals (PTZ+*) irreversibly inactivated Trypanosoma cruzi dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH). These radicals were obtained by phenothiazine (PTZ) peroxidation with myeloperoxidase (MPO) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP/H2O2) systems. LADH inactivation depended on PTZ structure and incubation time. After 10 min incubation of LADH with the MPO-dependent systems, promazine, trimeprazine and thioridazine were the most effective; after 30 min incubation, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine and promethazine were similarly effective. HRP-dependent systems were equally or more effective than the corresponding MPO-dependent ones. Chloro, trifluoro, propionyl and nitrile groups at position 2 of the PTZ ring significantly decreased molecular activity, specially with the MPO/H2O2 systems. Comparison of inactivation values for LADH and T. cruzi trypanothione reductase demonstrated a greater sensitivity of LADH to chlorpromazine and perphenazine and a 10-fold lower sensitivity to promazine, thioridazine and trimeprazine. Alkylamino, alkyl-piperidinyl or alkyl-piperazinyl groups at position 10 modulated PTZ activity to a limited degree. Production of PTZ+* radicals was demonstrated by optical and ESR spectroscopy methods. PTZ+* radicals stability depended on their structure as demonstrated by promazine and thioridazine radicals. Thiol compounds such as GSH and N-acetylcysteine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, the corresponding peptides, ascorbate and Trolox, prevented LADH inactivation by the MPO/H2O2/thioridazine system, in close agreement with their action as PTZ+* scavengers. NADH (not NAD+) produced transient protection of LADH against thioridazine and promazine radicals, the protection kinetics being affected by the relatively fast rate of NADH oxidation by these radicals. The role of the observed effects of PTZ radicals for PTZ cytotoxicity is discussed.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), myoglobin (Mb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), catalyzed the generation of radical-cations by one-electron oxidation of phenothiazines (PTZ). The transient formation of these radicals (PTZ+.) was confirmed by ESR and optical spectroscopy. These species are reactive towards Trypanosoma cruzi LADH (T. cruzi LADH), T. cruzi trypanothione reductase (T. cruzi TR) and possibly other macromolecule targets. Both T. cruzi enzymes were irreversibly inactivated. T. cruzi LADH inactivation depended on: a) PTZ structure, peroxidase nature and the rate production of PTZ+. radical cations; b) incubation time; c) the presence of an antioxidant that intercepts free radicals. The production of PTZ+. radical cations, which is essential for T. cruzi LADH inactivation, is correlated with the electron donor ability of the substrates, as qualified by the Hammett sigmapara constant for the subtituent in the 2-position of the PTZ. Promazine (PZ), trimeprazine (TMPZ) and thioridazine (TRDZ) were the most effective inactivating agents, whereas trifluophenothiazines with CF3 group at 2-position (Trifluoperazine (TFP), fluphenazine (FFZ) and trifluopromazine (TFPZ)), and propericyazine (PCYZ) with CN group at 2-position, were much less active or inactive, all in close agreement with their higher or lowest electron donor ability, respectively. Comparison of inactivation values for T. cruzi LADH and mammalian heart LADH demonstrated a greater sensitivity of T. cruzi LADH to various PTZ studied. Thiol compounds, tyrosine, dopa, tryptophan, NADH, ascorbate and trolox prevented T. cruzi LADH inactivation by the peroxidase/H2O2 systems in agreement with their ability to suppress PTZ+. radical cations. The role of these radicals as enzyme inhibitors, or as generators of secondary free radicals and metabolite depletors may contribute to explain the trypanocidal effect as well as other chemotherapeutic actions of PTZ.