Estudy of vitamin E function and of vitamin K1 biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum.

Author(s)

Rodrigo Antonio Ceschini Sussmann

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2015-09-21

Examining board members

Alejandro Miguel Katzin; Daniel Youssef Bargieri; Carlos Takeshi Hotta; Danilo Ciccone Miguel; Sayuri Miyamoto

• Advisor: Alejandro Miguel Katzin

Abstract

Malaria has the highest mortality rate with more than 500 000 deaths in 2013. The public health situation gets worse because it has been described the emergence of resistance to common drugs used in the treatment of disease. It is necessary to identify and study of new antimalarial targets. The MEP pathway is a potential target for drug development against Plasmodium falciparum once it is absent in humans. Our objectives were to evaluate the function of vitamin E biosynthesized by the parasite and characterize the biosynthesis of vitamin K1 and the phytol metabolism. This study determined that vitamin E biosynthesized by the parasite operates in the redox system of the parasite. We show the biosynthesis of vitamin K1 is active on parasite and we detected its reduced form. Finally, we demonstrate that there is a phytol salvage pathway in P. falciparum as well as plants. The study opens opportunities for the rational development of new antimalarials and deepens knowledge on parasite biology. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/00297-0 - STUDY OF DISTRIBUTION AND FUNCTION Of TOCOPHEROL AND PHYLLOQUINONE BIOSYNTHETIZED BY Plasmodium falciparum
• Grantee: Rodrigo Antonio Ceschini Sussmann
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate