Structural studies of vacuolar plasmepsins.

ABSTRACT: Plasmepsins (PMs) are pepsin-like aspartic proteases present in different species of parasite Plasmodium. Four Plasmodium spp. (P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and the most lethal P. falciparum) are mainly responsible for causing human malaria that affects millions worldwide. Due to the complexity and rate of parasite mutation coupled with regional variations, and the emergence of P. falciparum strains which are resistant to antimalarial agents such as chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, there is constant pressure to find new and lasting chemotherapeutic drug therapies. Since many proteases represent therapeutic targets and PMs have been shown to play an important role in the survival of parasite, these enzymes have recently been identified as promising targets for the development

SUBMITTER: Bhaumik P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3154504 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature