Inhibitors of folate biosynthesis. 1. Inhibition of dihydroneopterin aldolase by pteridine derivatives.

2-Amino-6-carboxamido-7,8-dihydropteridin-4-one and 2-amino-6-hydroxymethyl-7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydropteridin-4-one have been shown to be good inhibitors of Escherichia coli dihydroneopterin aldolase, an early enzyme of de novo folate biosynthesis.