Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance marker protein (Pfcrmp) may be a chloroquine target protein in nucleus.
We previously hypothesized that the key site of chloroquine (CQ) antimalarial action and resistance development is in nucleus of malaria parasite, and that lysosomal (food vacuolar) accumulation of CQ may benefit parasite's survival through reducing the drug pressure on the key site. To further support our hypothesis we propose that Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance marker protein (Pfcrmp) may be a CQ target protein in nucleus and that CQ resistance in malaria parasites may be caused by genetic alterations in Pfcrmp gene.
Li
Gao-De
GD
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. gaode@liverpool.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C416369:PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002738:Chloroquine