DNA topoisomerase VI: a novel target for herbicides and antimalarial drugs

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DNA topoisomerase VI is an enzyme that was originally discovered in archaea but has more recently been found in plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum). Rather little is known about this enzyme but it has key roles in plant growth and development and in the plasmodium life cycle. We will characterise this enzyme and learn more about the reactions that it catalyses and its role in plants and plasmodia. We will go on to develop inhibitors of the enzyme, specifically we aim to screen libraries of compounds and investigate the mechanism of action of compounds that are found to inhibit the enzyme. We aim to develop new leads for herbicides and antimalarial therapy.