Antimalarial Potential of Heme-Targeting Dimeric Compounds: Binding Efficacy vs. Membrane Retention Effects.

ABSTRACT: Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, remains a major global health burden with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite the availability of treatments, the therapeutic arsenal is limited, and drug resistance poses a significant challenge. Thus, discovering new antimalarial compounds is critical, and understanding their mechanisms of action is key. One well-studied target is the heme group, which plays a central role in the degradation of the parasite's hemoglobin and infection success. This study describes the dimerization of 3-alkylpyridine derivatives, a class of compounds known to interact with heme, with the aim of enhancing their antimalarial activity. The dimers were analyzed for heme-binding affinity via UV-vis spectroscopy (K _d determination) and further in

SUBMITTER: Kemmer VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12854372 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature