Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase – A Novel Chemotherapeutic Target
David P. Rotella, John J. Siekierka, Purnima Bhanot
Abstract
The primary effector of cGMP signaling in Plasmodium is the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Work in human-infective Plasmodium falciparum and rodent-infective Plasmodium berghei has provided biological validation of P. falciparum PKG (PfPKG) as a drug target for treating and/or protecting against malaria. PfPKG is essential in the asexual erythrocytic and sexual cycles as well as the pre-erythrocytic cycle. Medicinal chemistry efforts, both target-based and phenotype-based, have targeted PfPKG in the past few years. This review provides a brief overview of their results and challenges.
Topics & Concepts
Plasmodium falciparumPlasmodium bergheiEffectorBiologyPlasmodium (life cycle)MalariaProtein kinase AKinaseCell biologyComputational biologyParasite hostingImmunologyWorld Wide WebComputer scienceMalaria Research and ControlDrug Transport and Resistance MechanismsSynthesis and Catalytic Reactions