[Transport proteins as drug targets in Plasmodium falciparum. New perspectives in the treatment of malaria].
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, infects and replicates in human erythrocytes. Through the use of substrate-specific transport proteins, P. falciparum takes up nutrients from the erythrocyte's cytoplasm. The sequencing and publishing of the P. falciparum genome have made it possible to identify, clone and characterise a number of these transport proteins from the parasite. Since the P. falciparum transport proteins differ from their human homologues, they may provide potential drug targets in the treatment of malaria. An example of a P. falciparum transport protein which seems promising as a drug target is the parasite's hexose transporter. Furthermore, the antimalarial drug artemisinin has been shown to interact specifically with the parasite's Ca2+ pump. A number of other transport proteins are also discussed as possible drug targets.
Ellekvist
Peter
P
Universitet, Medicinsk Fysiologisk Institut og Institut for Medicinsk Mikrobiologi og Immunologi. ellekvist@immi.ku.dk
Colding
Hanne
H
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000962:Antimalarials; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002118:Calcium