Evaluation of the calcium effect on self-processing and activity of Plasmodium falciparum metacaspase

• Grant number: 24/23510-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio Ferreira Marcondes Machado
• Grantee: Beatriz Vieira Pereira
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Acadêmica. Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC). Campus da Sede Mogi das Cruzes. Mogi das Cruzes , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/06394-0 - Obtaining and biochemical characterization of recombinant protozoan metacaspases of clinical interest, AP.R

Abstract

956 / 5.000This research project is a continuation of the first scientific initiation project of the proponent, where we cloned and purified the Plasmodium falciparum metacaspase (PfMCA). Interestingly, T. brucei metacaspase 2 has already been previously cloned and characterized by our group, and demonstrated that these enzymes have unique and peculiar characteristics, such as the need for calcium for their activation, which occurs through a double processing. In the present project, we intend to evaluate the effect of the calcium ion on the self-processing of PfMCA and the importance of the interaction of this ion on the structure-activity relationship of this enzyme. The biochemical characterization of this metacaspase and the study of the importance of the highly conserved residues of the interaction site with calcium are extremely important for understanding the functioning of these enzymes, which are excellent targets for the development of new therapeutic methods.