Fungal-derived methyldeoxaphomins target <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> segregation through the inhibition of PfActin1.

ABSTRACT: Herein we report the finding and structure determination of a natural product based on the methyldeoxaphomin scaffold family from the fungus Trichocladium asperum that shows promising antiplasmodial activity and selectivity against host cells. In vitro evolution and whole genome analysis in Plasmodium falciparum with the most potent member, NPDG-F (EC₅₀ of 550 nM in Dd2; 290 nM in 3D7), shows that parasite resistance to methyldeoxaphomins is strongly associated with mutations in PfActin1 (PF3D7_1246200), a critically essential ATPase needed for all stages of parasite development. Molecular docking study with available PfActin1 crystal structure shows NPDG-F occupies the same allosteric binding pocket as the known actin inhibitor cytochalasin D. The direct PfActin1

SUBMITTER: Jiang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11874377 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature