Trichinella spiralisThymidylate Synthase: Developmental Pattern, Isolation, Molecular Properties, and Inhibition by Substrate and Cofactor Analogues

Abstract Thymidylate synthase specific activity was found to remain at a constant level in crude extracts from muscle larvae, isolated (1-15 months after infection) by pepsin-HCl digestion, as well as from adult worms ofTrichinella spiralis.The enzyme was purified and its molecular (monomer mol. wt 35 kD) and kinetic (sequential mechanism with the Kmvalues 3.1 and 19 μM for dUMP and N5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, respectively) properties determined. 5-Fluoro-dUMP was a competitive, slow-binding inhibitor of the parasite enzyme. N5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate analogues 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (CB3717), ZD1694, BW1843U89, and AG337 were weaker inhibitors of the parasite than regener…