Stage-Specific Antimalarial Activity of Cysteine Protease Inhibitors
-
Bhaskar R. Shenai
Abstract
Cysteine proteases of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, known as falcipains, are promising targets for antimalarial chemotherapy. We evaluated cultured parasites for the stagespecific expression of cysteine proteases and sensitivity to cysteine protease inhibitors. Protease activity and inhibitor sensitivity varied markedly over time. Cysteine protease activity was greatest in early trophozoites, while sensitivity to cysteine protease inhibitors was greatest in mature trophozoites. Our results indicate the importance of considering the stagespecific effects of antimalarials and are consistent with the conclusion that the principal antimalarial activity of cysteine protease inhibitors is due to a block in hemoglobin hydrolysis.
Copyright © 2002 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Nobuhiko Katunuma: An Outstanding Scientific and Professional Career of a Warm-Hearted Person. Reflections on the Occasion of his 75th Birthday
- Structural and Functional Diversity of Connexin Genes in the Mouse and Human Genome
- Congopain from Trypanosoma congolense: Drug Target and Vaccine Candidate
- Biosynthesis of Lysosomal Proteinases in Health and Disease
- Calpain Function in the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Ku Antigen Supports Termination of Mammalian rDNA Replication by Transcription Termination Factor TTF-I
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Upregulates Secretion of Cathepsin B from Thyroid Epithelial Cells
- Selective Release of Calpain Produced αII-Spectrin (α-Fodrin) Breakdown Products by Acute Neuronal Cell Death
- Altered Storage of Proteases in Mast Cells from Mice Lacking Heparin: A Possible Role for Heparin Carboxypeptidase A Processing
- Clustering-Induced Signaling of CEACAM1 in PC12 Cells
- Spin Adducts of Superoxide, Alkoxyl, and Lipid-Derived Radicals with EMPO and Its Derivatives
- Glutathione S-Transferase of the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium falciparum: Characterization of a Potential Drug Target
- Analysis of the Structural Determinants for RNA Binding of the Human Protein AUF1/hnRNP D
- Effect of Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors on Murine B16 Melanoma Cell Invasion in vitro
- Stage-Specific Antimalarial Activity of Cysteine Protease Inhibitors
- Epoxysuccinyl Peptide-Derived Cathepsin B Inhibitors: Modulating Membrane Permeability by Conjugation with the C-Terminal Heptapeptide Segment of Penetratin
- Design of Inhibitors for Human Tissue Kallikrein Using Non-Natural Aromatic and Basic Amino Acids
- Amyloid Fibril Formation by Human Stefin B in vitro: Immunogold Labelling and Comparison to Stefin A
- Lysosomal Peptidases and Glycosidases in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Articles in the same Issue
- Nobuhiko Katunuma: An Outstanding Scientific and Professional Career of a Warm-Hearted Person. Reflections on the Occasion of his 75th Birthday
- Structural and Functional Diversity of Connexin Genes in the Mouse and Human Genome
- Congopain from Trypanosoma congolense: Drug Target and Vaccine Candidate
- Biosynthesis of Lysosomal Proteinases in Health and Disease
- Calpain Function in the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Ku Antigen Supports Termination of Mammalian rDNA Replication by Transcription Termination Factor TTF-I
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Upregulates Secretion of Cathepsin B from Thyroid Epithelial Cells
- Selective Release of Calpain Produced αII-Spectrin (α-Fodrin) Breakdown Products by Acute Neuronal Cell Death
- Altered Storage of Proteases in Mast Cells from Mice Lacking Heparin: A Possible Role for Heparin Carboxypeptidase A Processing
- Clustering-Induced Signaling of CEACAM1 in PC12 Cells
- Spin Adducts of Superoxide, Alkoxyl, and Lipid-Derived Radicals with EMPO and Its Derivatives
- Glutathione S-Transferase of the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium falciparum: Characterization of a Potential Drug Target
- Analysis of the Structural Determinants for RNA Binding of the Human Protein AUF1/hnRNP D
- Effect of Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors on Murine B16 Melanoma Cell Invasion in vitro
- Stage-Specific Antimalarial Activity of Cysteine Protease Inhibitors
- Epoxysuccinyl Peptide-Derived Cathepsin B Inhibitors: Modulating Membrane Permeability by Conjugation with the C-Terminal Heptapeptide Segment of Penetratin
- Design of Inhibitors for Human Tissue Kallikrein Using Non-Natural Aromatic and Basic Amino Acids
- Amyloid Fibril Formation by Human Stefin B in vitro: Immunogold Labelling and Comparison to Stefin A
- Lysosomal Peptidases and Glycosidases in Rheumatoid Arthritis