Phloretin and citrate promote the differentiation rate from epimastigote to metacyclic forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

We have investigated the effects of the metabolic inhibitors, phloretin, 2-deoxy- d-glucose, maleate and trans-aconitate, as well as two intermediates of the tricarboxylic-acid cycle, acetate and citrate, on the growth and metacyclogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi. 0.1 mM phloretin increased the percentage of metacyclic forms about 2.7-fold without affecting growth rate, whereas the other inhibitors had no apparent effect on either growth or differentiation rates. The addition of 5 mM citrate stimulated differentiation by about 2.6-fold. When either 10 mM citrate or 10 mM acetate were added, on the other hand, both the growth and differentiation rates were severely inhibited.