Vitamin B1 and B6 in the malaria parasite: requisite or dispensable?

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research

C. Wrenger¹  J. Knöckel¹  R.d. Walter¹  I.b. Müller¹ 

[1] ,Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Department of Biochemistry Hamburg,Germany

关键词: Malaria;    Apicomplexa;    Pyridoxal phosphate synthase;    Vitamin B6;    Vitamin B1;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-879X2008005000006

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Vitamins are essential compounds mainly involved in acting as enzyme co-factors or in response to oxidative stress. In the last two years it became apparent that apicomplexan parasites are able to generate B vitamers such as vitamin B1 and B6 de novo. The biosynthesis pathways responsible for vitamin generation are considered as drug targets, since both provide a high degree of selectivity due to their absence in the human host. This report updates the current knowledge about vitamin B1 and B6 biosynthesis in malaria and other apicomplexan parasites. Owing to the urgent need for novel antimalarials, the significance of the biosynthesis and salvage of these vitamins is critically discussed in terms of parasite survival and their exploitation for drug development.

【 授权许可】

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