Mechanism of action of MK-401 against Fasciola hepatica: Inhibition of phosphoglycerate kinase

The effect of MK-401 (4-amino-6-trichloroethenyl 1,3-benzenedisulfonamide) on Fasciola hepatica phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) was investigated. MK-401 was a competitive inhibitor of both 3-phosphoglycerate and ATP and had a Ki of 0.29 mM. ATP, 1,3-diphosphoglycerate and MK-401 protected the Fasciola enzyme from inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide. Analogues of MK-401 with different substituents at the 6 position (R = Cl, CF3, C2F3, C3F7) were competitive inhibitors of both 3-phosphoglycerate and ATP and a good correlation between the Ki and in vivo activity of these analogues was observed.