Table 3 Potential target proteins and pathways identified in recent studies of protozoan pathogens
Parasite | Potential target | Pathway | Parasite stage(s) at which target can be inhibited | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plasmodium | Translation elongation factor 2 [24] | Protein synthesis [28] | Blood, liver, gametocytes | Mediates GTP-dependent ribosome translocation along mRNA [28] |
Phenylalanine tRNA synthetase [22] | Protein translation | Blood, liver, gametocytes | Catalyzes the attachment of amino acids to tRNA [29] | |
β2 subunit of the proteasome [30] | Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway | Blood, liver, gametocytes | Catalyzes protein degradation [31] | |
Farnesyltransferase [32] | Enables cell cycle progression | Blood, liver | Adds a farnesyl group to the carboxyl terminus of specific proteins [33] | |
Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase 1 [32] | Hemoglobin catabolism | Blood | Cleaves amino acids from proteins or oligopeptides [34] | |
Aminophospholipid-transporting P-type ATPase [32] | Maintenance of cell membrane potential | Blood, liver | Phospholipid transport [35] | |
Thymidylate synthase [32] | DNA synthesis | Blood | Folate biosynthesis | |
Phosphorylation-dependent signaling | Blood, gametocytes | Enables parasite egress from and invasion of red blood cells [38] | ||
Calcium-dependent protein kinase 5 [36] | Calcium regulation | Blood | Critical for parasite egress from red blood cells [39] | |
| Â | Cyclin-dependent-like kinase 3 [40] | Gene expression | Blood, liver, gametocytes | Plays a role in mRNA splicing [40] |
Trypanosoma | β4 subunit of the proteasome [41] | Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway | Tissue and blood stage | Catalyzes protein degradation |
Peroxin interaction [42] | Glycosomal biogenesis and import | Blood stage | Enables glucose metabolism | |
Leishmania | β4 subunit of the proteasome [41] | Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway | Intracellular | Catalyzes protein degradation |
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 [43] | Control of transcription and cell division [44] | Intracellular | Precise role unclear | |
Toxoplasma | Claudin-like apicomplexan microneme protein [45] | Formation of tight junctions through which parasites enter host cells | Tachyzoites | Essential for the invasion of host cells |