Biochemical characterization of a protein tyrosine phosphatase from Trypanosoma cruzi involved in metacyclogenesis and cell invasion

► We report biochemical and functional data for T. cruzi PTP1. ► We were able to demonstrate inhibition of TcPTP1 by the PTP1b inhibitor BZ3. ► BZ3 accelerates the differentiation of epimastigotes into metacyclic forms. ► BZ3 was able to inhibit by 50% the infectivity of T. cruzi trypomastigotes. ► TcPTP1 is of importance for differentiation and invasivity of T. cruzi.