Inhibitors of the Nonmevalonate Pathway of Isoprenoid Biosynthesis as Antimalarial Drugs

Abstract

A mevalonate-independent pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis present in Plasmodium falciparum was shown to represent an effective target for chemotherapy of malaria. This pathway includes 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DOXP) as a key metabolite. The presence of two genes encoding the enzymes DOXP synthase and DOXP reductoisomerase suggests that isoprenoid biosynthesis in P. falciparum depends on the DOXP pathway. This pathway is probably located in the apicoplast. The recombinant P. falciparum DOXP reductoisomerase was inhibited by fosmidomycin and its derivative, FR-900098. Both drugs suppressed the in vitro growth of multidrug-resistant P. falciparum strains. After therapy with these drugs, mice infected with the rodent malaria parasite P. vinckei were cured.

Biosynthesis of Isoprenoids via Mevalonate in Archaea: The Lost Pathway

“…Indeed, fosmidomycin and its derivative FR-900098 inhibit DXP reductoisomerase, and has been recently shown to possess antiPlasmodium activity in vitro (Jomaa et al 1999). Along the same lines, the yeast-type phosphomevalonate kinase in Borrelia, which thus far appears to have only distant paralogs in humans, or the replacement for IPPI, when it is identified, might be promising targets for anti-Lyme Disease therapy.…”

Lipidomics of host–pathogen interactions

“…Lysobisphosphatidic acid and phosphoinositides regulate release of VSV nucleocapsid into cytoplasm [13] SigD/SopB is a type III bacterial derived phosphoinositide phosphatase [29,112] Molecular species of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are altered in host plasmamembrane after Plasmodium infection [116] GP Ethanolamine phospholipids required for Sindbis virus production [111] Intracellular mycobacteria release a heterogeneous mixture of lipids [27,113] Growth arrest of Plasmodium [117] and Toxoplasma [85] by disruption of phosphatidylcholine synthesis Semliki Forest virus mRNA capping enzyme requires association with anionic membrane phospholipids for activity [14] Phosphatidylinositol mannosides stimulate fusion of early endosomes with mycobacterial phagosomes [30] Glycosylated phosphatidylinositol causes phagosome maturation arrest [114] SapM, a mycobacterial derived phosphatase hydrolyses PI3P contributing to inhibition of phagolysosome maturation [115] Sphingosine 1-kinase is recruited to nascent phagosomes [118] Inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis in T. gondii blocks replication [119] SP Sphingomyelin metabolism important for P. falciparum development [120] Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis inhibits Hepatitis C virus RNA replication [15] Inhibition of cholesterol acquisition by the host lowers T. gondii replication [40] ST Cholesterol esterification essential for optimal T. gondii proliferation [121,122] Isopreonoid synthesis inhibitors with anti-malarial [123] and anti-T. gondii activity [124] PR Block of protein farnesylation as antiapicomplexan therapies [125] 5…”

Effect of fosmidomycin on metabolic and transcript profiles of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway in Plasmodium falciparum

“…Jomaa and co-workers demonstrated that fosmidomycin and its derivate FR900098, are able to inhibit the growth of P. falciparum in culture and to cure mice infected with the related malaria parasite, P. vinckei (Jomaa et al 1999). Recent field trials in humans have also demonstrated the effectiveness of fosmidomycin in the treatment of human malarial infections, but it has to be administered for more than four days when used alone (Missinou et al 2002, Borrmann et al 2005.…”

“…Discovery of the MEP pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in P. falciparum revealed several antimalarial drug targets (Jomaa et al 1999). Jomaa and co-workers demonstrated that fosmidomycin and its derivate FR900098, are able to inhibit the growth of P. falciparum in culture and to cure mice infected with the related malaria parasite, P. vinckei (Jomaa et al 1999).…”