Fatty acid biosynthesis in the malaria chloroplast as a drug target

疟疾叶绿体中的脂肪酸生物合成作为药物靶点

• 批准号: nhmrc : 145794
• 负责人: Prof Geoffrey Mcfadden
• 金额: $ 8.74万
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: NHMRC Project Grants
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2002-01-01 至 2002-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://researchdata.edu.au/fatty-acid-biosynthesis-drug-target/96681
• 关键词: Fatty; acid; biosynthesis; malaria; chloroplast

Malarial parasites contain a chloroplast similar to that of plants. We recently found genetic evidence suggesting the malaria chloroplast makes fats in the same way as plant chloroplasts. Additionally, we have found that drugs and herbicides that block plant chloroplast fat production stop growth of malaria cultures. Parasitologists had assumed that malaria was unable to make fats and would scavenge them from its human host so we have probably discovered a new metabolic pathway in these parasites. We now propose to prove that the drugs work by blocking essential, chloroplast-based fat production in parasites. This could lead to novel treatment of malaria and related parasites.

疟疾寄生虫含有与植物相似的叶绿体。我们最近发现的遗传证据表明，疟疾叶绿体以与植物叶绿体相同的方式产生脂肪。此外，我们发现阻止植物叶绿体脂肪产生的药物和除草剂会阻止疟疾培养物的生长。寄生虫学家假设疟疾无法产生脂肪，并且会从人类宿主中清除脂肪，因此我们可能在这些寄生虫中发现了一种新的代谢途径。我们现在提议证明这些药物通过阻止寄生虫体内基于叶绿体的必需脂肪产生而发挥作用。这可能会带来疟疾和相关寄生虫的新治疗方法。