Trypanothione

Trypanothione is a unique thiol metabolite found in certain protozoan parasites (Kinetoplastida), where it serves as a major antioxidant and electron donor for multiple redox-active enzymes. It consists of two glutathione molecules linked by a spermidine polyamine, enabling these organisms to survive oxidative challenges in the host environment. Its enzymes, notably trypanothione reductase, present highly selective drug targets due to absence of the trypanothione pathway in humans. Trypanothione itself is not a protein drug target, but a metabolite central to the parasite’s antioxidant system.

Other names

Reduced trypanothioneN1,N8-bis(glutathionyl)spermidineN1,N8-Bis(gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycyl)spermidineCHEBI:17842Trypanothione(1+)

Drugs typically inhibit trypanothione-dependent enzymes such as: Enzyme inhibition (block trypanothione reductase, prevent regeneration of reduced trypanothione, induce oxidative stress in parasite)