Structural basis for the inhibition of the essential Plasmodium falciparum M1 neutral aminopeptidase.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum parasites are responsible for the major global disease malaria, which results in >2 million deaths each year. With the rise of drug-resistant malarial parasites, novel drug targets and lead compounds are urgently required for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we address this important problem by targeting the malarial neutral aminopeptidases that are involved in the terminal stages of hemoglobin digestion and essential for the provision of amino acids used for parasite growth and development within the erythrocyte. We characterize the structure and substrate specificity of one such aminopeptidase, PfA-M1, a validated drug target. The X-ray crystal structure of PfA-M1 alone and in complex with the generic inhibitor, bestatin, and a phosphinate dipept

SUBMITTER: McGowan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2636733 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature