Targeting Plasmodium with constrained peptides and peptidomimetics.

Autor: Helton LG; Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia., Kennedy EJ; Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: IUBMB life [IUBMB Life] 2020 Jun; Vol. 72 (6), pp. 1103-1114. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Feb 10.
DOI: 10.1002/iub.2244
Abstrakt: Malaria remains a worldwide health concern with an estimated quarter of a billion people infected and nearly half a million deaths annually. Malaria is caused by a parasite infection from Plasmodium strains which are transmitted from mosquitoes into the human host. Although several small molecule inhibitors have been found to target the early stages of transmission and prevent parasite proliferation, multiple drug resistant parasite strains have emerged and drug resistance remains a major hurdle. As an alternative to small molecule inhibition, several peptide-based therapeutics have been explored for their potential as antimalarial compounds. Chemically constrained peptides or peptidomimetics were developed to target large binding interfaces of parasite-based proteins that have historically been difficult to selectively inhibit using small molecules. Here, we review ongoing research aimed at developing constrained peptides targeting protein-protein interactions pertinent to malaria pathogenesis. These targets include Falcipain-2, the J domain of CDPK1, myosin A tail domain interacting protein, the PKA signaling pathway, and an unclear signaling pathway involving angiotensin-derived peptides. Diverse synthetic methods were also used for each target. Merging parasite biology with synthetic strategies may provide new opportunities to develop alternative methods for uncovering novel antimalarials and may offer an alternate source for targeting drug-resistant parasite strains.
(© 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: