Last Updated: 24/10/2025
Isoprenoid biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum: Assessment of potential targets to obtain new anti-malarial drugs
Objectives
The main aim of this project is to evaluate the antioxidant function of ± -tocopherol, ³-tocopherol and phylloquinone in intraerythrocytic forms of P. falciparum, and characterize the presence of phytol free from the toforerol and phylloquinone degradation and verify that these vitamins can be biosynthesized from phytol.
This project is intended to complement the studies already being developed in our laboratory on the isoprenoid biosynthesis in intraerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium falciparum.
All isoprenoids are derived from a common precursor, isopentenyl pyrophosphate and its isomer dimetilalila pyrophosphate and enzymes responsible for prenyltransferases catalyze the sequential condensation of isoprene units. An active route that biossintetiza phylloquinone, menaquinone and tocopherol in intraerythrocytic forms of P. falciparum was recently demonstrated in our laboratory.
With the results obtained in vitro in the previous project we intend to evaluate this project squalestatin and nerolidol as potential antimalarial drugs in vivo in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.
Jul 2015 — Feb 2018
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