Characterization of N-myristoyltransferase from Plasmodium falciparum.
|
| Abstract |
The gene coding for myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) has been cloned from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The gene appears to be single copy and mRNA is expressed in asexual blood-stage forms. Comparison of cDNA and genomic sequences identified three small introns. The open reading frame codes for a 410-amino-acid protein and no evidence of forms with an extended N-terminal coding sequence was obtained. Residues important in substrate binding and in the catalytic mechanism in other species are conserved. The protein was expressed from a plasmid in Escherichia coli, partially purified and shown to have enzymic activity using a synthetic peptide substrate. Comparison of the malaria parasite protein with that derived from the human gene showed a different pattern of inhibition by chemical modification. Human NMT activity was inhibited by diethylpyrocarbonate and partially inhibited by iodacetamide, whereas P. falciparum NMT activity was not inhibited by either pre-treatment. Since the enzyme in infectious fungi is a target for potential chemotherapeutic drugs, it should also be investigated in the context of parasitic infections such as that responsible for malaria.
|
|---|---|
| Authors | R S Gunaratne, M Sajid, I T Ling, R Tripathi, J A Pachebat, A A Holder |
| Journal | The Biochemical journal (Biochem J) Vol. 348 Pt 2 Pg. 459-63 (Jun 01 2000) ISSN: 0264-6021 [Print] England |
| PMID | 10816442 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.) |
| Chemical References |
|
| Topics |
|
Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!