Abstract
The invasion of host cells by malaria parasites represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. The role played by apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) in this process has been elucidated recently with the demonstration that AMA1 forms a complex with parasite rhoptry neck (RON) proteins as part of the moving junction that develops between the host cell and the invading parasite. Structural studies of AMA1 alone and in complexes with antibodies that inhibit host cell invasion have identified a conserved hydrophobic cleft that is essential to the assembly of the AMA1/RON complex. AMA1 is already established as an important candidate for inclusion in a malaria vaccine. Here we review both the structural details and functional significance of interactions at the hydrophobic cleft of AMA1, and argue that this feature of the protein represents an excellent target for the development of drugs that would block host cell invasion by malarial parasites.
Keywords: Malaria, merozoite, three-dimensional structure, antibodies, peptides, AMA1, parasite rhoptry neck (RON), conserved hydrophobic cleft, AMA1/RON complex, malaria vaccine, malarial parasites, Plasmodium infection, complex, AMA1 gene
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Apical Membrane Antigen 1 as an Anti-Malarial Drug Target
Volume: 11 Issue: 16
Author(s): Christopher A. MacRaild, Robin F. Anders, Michael Foley and Raymond S. Norton
Affiliation:
Keywords: Malaria, merozoite, three-dimensional structure, antibodies, peptides, AMA1, parasite rhoptry neck (RON), conserved hydrophobic cleft, AMA1/RON complex, malaria vaccine, malarial parasites, Plasmodium infection, complex, AMA1 gene
Abstract: The invasion of host cells by malaria parasites represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. The role played by apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) in this process has been elucidated recently with the demonstration that AMA1 forms a complex with parasite rhoptry neck (RON) proteins as part of the moving junction that develops between the host cell and the invading parasite. Structural studies of AMA1 alone and in complexes with antibodies that inhibit host cell invasion have identified a conserved hydrophobic cleft that is essential to the assembly of the AMA1/RON complex. AMA1 is already established as an important candidate for inclusion in a malaria vaccine. Here we review both the structural details and functional significance of interactions at the hydrophobic cleft of AMA1, and argue that this feature of the protein represents an excellent target for the development of drugs that would block host cell invasion by malarial parasites.
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Cite this article as:
A. MacRaild Christopher, F. Anders Robin, Foley Michael and S. Norton Raymond, Apical Membrane Antigen 1 as an Anti-Malarial Drug Target, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 11 (16) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802611796575885
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802611796575885 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
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