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J Bacteriol. 1969 November; 100(2): 935-938
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effect of Inhibitors on Phenoloxidase of Mycobacterium leprae

K. Prabhakaran, E. B. Harris and W. F. Kirchheimer

1 U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Carville, Louisiana 70721

ABSTRACT

Previous results had shown that the human leprosy bacilli possess a phenoloxidase, which, when compared with the enzyme from mammalian and plant sources, seemed unique in the range of substrates utilized and in the nature of the products formed. The effect of several inhibitors on the enzyme in Mycobacterium leprae was tested. Compounds which bind copper were found to be more effective than substrate analogues. Diethyldithiocarbamate penetrated the bacillus and completely suppressed its phenolase activity. Diasone (a derivative of diaminodiphenylsulfone used in the treatment of leprosy) proved to be a potent inhibitor of phenoloxidase of mammalian and plant origin. However, it was less efficient in the case of M. leprae. A biochemical peculiarity of M. leprae was observed in its ability to metabolize mimosine and penicillamine. These compounds produced total inhibition of tyrosinase in melanoma extract and of mushroom tyrosinase. Nontoxic inhibitors of phenoloxidase in the leprosy bacilli may be of value in developing a rational approach to chemotherapy of the disease.

J Bacteriol. 1969 November; 100(2): 935-938
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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