title: Predicted essential proteins of Plasmodium falciparum for potential drug targets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify novel drug targets for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local BLASTP were used to find the proteins non-homologous to human essential proteins as novel drug targets. Functional domains of novel drug targets were identified by InterPro and Pfam, 3D structures of potential drug targets were predicated by the SWISS-MODEL workspace. Ligands and ligand-binding sites of the proteins were searched by Ef-seek.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three essential proteins were identified that might be considered as potential drug targets. AAN37254.1 belonged to 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, CAD50499.1 belonged to chorismate synthase, CAD51220.1 belonged to FAD binging 3 family, but the function of CAD51220.1 was unknown. The 3D structures, ligands and ligand-binding sites of AAN37254.1 and CAD50499.1 were successfully predicated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two of these potential drug targets are key enzymes in 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway and shikimate pathway, which are absent in humans, so these two essential proteins are good potential drug targets. The function and 3D structures of CAD50499.1 is still unknown, it still need further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China. hqf7012@163.com
authors.forename: Qing-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Deng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qin-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D008024:Ligands; D011506:Proteins