Lysosomes of Leishmania Mexicana Sp. as Targets for Potential Therapeutic Agents

Hydrophobic amino acid esters and peptides disrupt lysosomes in cell-free fractions by a mechanism involving trapping by protonation, enzymatic hydrolysis and accumulation of less permeant products within the organelles (Goldman & Naider 1974; Ransom & Reeves 1983). Damage to lysosomes possibly accounts for the selective toxicity of the compounds for monocytes, NK cells and cytotoxic T cells. This toxicity may be due to ester conversion to membranolytic polymers catalysed by a dipeptidyl-peptidase I (Thiele & Lipsky 1990 a, b).