Dihydrofolate reductase from Eimeria tenella: rationalization of chemotherapeutic efficacy of pyrimethamine

J Protozool. 1975 Nov;22(4):564-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1975.tb05234.x.

Abstract

Dihydrofolate reductase activity of 0.2 nmole of dihydrofolate reduced/min/mg protein was detected in crude extracts of unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella. The enzyme was purified by a combination of affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. Its molecular weight was estimated as 240,000 daltons. An anticoccidial drug pyrimethamine is a potent inhibitor of the activity of E. tenella dihydrofolate reductase (Ki = 3 nM), but it is less effective an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase from chicken liver. This difference may explain the in vivo therapeutic action of pyrimethamine against Coccidia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens
  • Eimeria / enzymology*
  • Folic Acid Antagonists
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Methotrexate / pharmacology
  • Molecular Weight
  • Pyrimethamine / pharmacology
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use*
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / isolation & purification
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Folic Acid Antagonists
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase
  • Methotrexate
  • Pyrimethamine