| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Ullah, Najeeb
;
Andaleeb, Hina
;
Mudogo, Celestin Nzanzu
;
Falke, Sven
;
Betzel, Christian
;
Wrenger, Carsten
Total Authors: 6
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES; v. 21, n. 17, p. 16-pg., 2020-09-01. |
| Abstract | |
Plasmodiumspecies are protozoan parasites causing the deadly malaria disease. They have developed effective resistance mechanisms against most antimalarial medication, causing an urgent need to identify new antimalarial drug targets. Ideally, new drugs would be generated to specifically target the parasite with minimal or no toxicity to humans, requiring these drug targets to be distinctly different from the host's metabolic processes or even absent in the host. In this context, the essential presence of vitamin B(6)biosynthesis enzymes inPlasmodium, the pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) biosynthesis enzyme complex, and its absence in humans is recognized as a potential drug target. To characterize the PLP enzyme complex in terms of initial drug discovery investigations, we performed structural analysis of thePlasmodium vivax PLP synthase domain (Pdx1), glutaminase domain (Pdx2), and Pdx1-Pdx2 (Pdx) complex (PLP synthase complex) by utilizing complementary bioanalytical techniques, such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray solution scattering (SAXS), and electron microscopy (EM). Our investigations revealed a dodecameric Pdx1 and a monodispersed Pdx complex. Pdx2 was identified in monomeric and in different oligomeric states in solution. Interestingly, mixing oligomeric and polydisperse Pdx2 with dodecameric monodisperse Pdx1 resulted in a monodispersed Pdx complex. SAXS measurements revealed the low-resolution dodecameric structure of Pdx1, different oligomeric structures for Pdx2, and a ring-shaped dodecameric Pdx1 decorated with Pdx2, forming a heteromeric 24-meric Pdx complex. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 17/03966-4 - Targeting lipoic acid salvage and biosynthesis pathways in MRSA |
| Grantee: | Carsten Wrenger |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/26722-8 - Drug discovery against human infectious diseases |
| Grantee: | Carsten Wrenger |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |