title: Isoprenoid biosynthesis in the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: The development of new drugs is one strategy for malaria control. Biochemical pathways localised in the apicoplast of the parasite, such as the synthesis of isoprenic precursors, are excellent targets because they are different or absent in the human host. Isoprenoids are a large and highly diverse group of natural products with many functions and their synthesis is essential for the parasite's survival. During the last few years, the genes, enzymes, intermediates and mechanisms of this biosynthetic route have been elucidated. In this review, we comment on some aspects of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway and discuss the presence of diverse isoprenic products such as dolichol, ubiquinone, carotenoids, menaquinone and isoprenylated proteins, which are biosynthesised during the intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum.
authors: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Fabiana Morandi
authors: FM
authors: Jordão
authors: Emília Akemi
authors: EA
authors: Kimura
authors: Alejandro Miguel
authors: AM
authors: Katzin
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004286:Dolichols / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017368:Protein Prenylation / Q000502:physiology*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024482:Vitamin K 2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004286:Dolichols; D013729:Terpenes; D024482:Vitamin K 2; D014451:Ubiquinone; D002338:Carotenoids