Protozoan parasite aquaporins.
Protozoan parasites are a major threat to human health with millions of fatalities worldwide, especially in nonindustrialized countries. Currently, there is no cure for many of these parasitic diseases. Consequently, there is an imperative to find treatment targets and develop novel drugs based on the proteins encoded in the genomes of these parasites. Aquaporins, members of membrane proteins discovered and characterized within the past 20 years, are the mechanism through which water is transported through living membranes. The presence of aquaporins explains disease etiology related to water physiology and presents new pharmacogenomic targets. In this article, we review the literature on aquaporins found in Apicomplexan, Kinetoplastida and Microsporidia parasites as potential drug targets. Furthermore, by analyzing protein motion dynamics, we identify impediments that need to be surmounted for developing effective drugs targeting the aquaglyceroporin of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most fatal form of human malaria.
Fadiel
Ahmed
A
Department of OBGYN, New York University School of Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY 10016, USA. fadiea01@nyu.edu
Isokpehi
Raphael D
RD
Stambouli
Nejla
N
Hamza
Adel
A
Benammar-Elgaaied
Amel
A
Scalise
Trudy Johnson
TJ
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000962:Antimalarials; D020346:Aquaporins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins