Inhibitors of Plasmepsin II-potential antimalarial agents

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2006 Dec 15;16(24):6194-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2006.09.027. Epub 2006 Sep 26.

Abstract

In order to overcome the problem of drug resistance in malaria, it appears wise to concentrate drug discovery efforts toward new structural classes and new mechanisms of action. We report our results, targeting Plasmepsin II, a Plasmodium falciparum aspartic protease active in hemoglobin degradation, a parasite specific catabolic pathway. The results show that the new structural class is not only inhibiting PMII in vitro but is also active in a P. falciparum infected human red blood cell assay.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / chemical synthesis*
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Drug Resistance
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • plasmepsin II