Review Article

Sterol Biosynthesis Pathway as Target for Anti-trypanosomatid Drugs

Table 1

Representative compounds that interfere with sterol synthesis in eukaryotes, fungi and trypanosomatids.

Molecular structureNameClassMechanism of action

642502.tab.001a Atorvastatin Statin Inhibitor of the HMG-CoA Reductase. Used to treat hyperlipidemia in humans

642502.tab.001b Alendronate Bisphosphonate Inhibitor of the farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS). Used to treat osteoporosis and different bone resorption diseases

642502.tab.001c BPQ-OH Quinuclidine Inhibitor of the squalene synthase (SQS), acting in the cholesterol and ergosterol biosyntheses

642502.tab.001d Terbinafine Allylamine Inhibitor of the squalene epoxidase. Used for a long time to treat fungal infections

642502.tab.001e Posaconazole Azole Inhibitor of the C14α-demetilase. One of the triazole used to treat fungal infections

642502.tab.001f 22,26-azasterol Azasterol Inhibitor of the Δ24(25)-sterol methyltransferase, one enzyme presents exclusively in the ergosterol biosynthesis