| Structural highlights
Function
PLM10_PLAF7 During the asexual blood stage, processes key proteins essential for merozoite egress and invasion of host erythrocytes (PubMed:29074775, PubMed:32109369). Cleaves and activates proteases SUB1 and SUB2 (PubMed:29074775, PubMed:32109369, PubMed:38969256). May process members of the EBL and Rh protein families (PubMed:32109369). Also cleaves apical membrane protein AMA1 (PubMed:29074775). During the mosquito vector stage and probably in ookinetes, cleaves CelTOS (PubMed:29074775).[1] [2] [3]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin X (PMX) has become a target of choice for the development of new antimalarial drugs due to its essential role across the parasite life cycle. Here we describe the 1.7 A crystallographic structure of PMX noncovalently bound to a potent macrocyclic peptidomimetic inhibitor (7k) possessing a hydroxyethylamine (HEA) scaffold. Upon 7k binding, the enzyme adopts a novel conformation, with significant involvement of the S2'S2 loop (M526-H536) and the S2 flap (F311-G314). This results in partial closure of the active site with widespread interactions in both the prime (S') and the non-prime (S) sites of PMX. The catalytic aspartate residues D266 and D467 directly interact with the HEA pharmacophore. Docking of a 7k derivative, compound 7a, highlights a region in the S3 pocket near the S3 flexible loop (H242-F248) that may be key for ligand stabilisation. The dynamic nature of PMX and its propensity to undergo distinct types of induced fit upon inhibitor binding enables generation of potent inhibitors that target this essential malarial aspartic protease.
Structural Plasticity of Plasmodium falciparum Plasmepsin X to Accommodate Binding of Potent Macrocyclic Hydroxyethylamine Inhibitors.,Withers-Martinez C, George R, Ogrodowicz R, Kunzelmann S, Purkiss AG, Kjaer S, Walker PA, Kovada V, Jirgensons A, Blackman MJ J Mol Biol. 2025 Mar 3;437(10):169062. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2025.169062. PMID:40043835[4]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Pino P, Caldelari R, Mukherjee B, Vahokoski J, Klages N, Maco B, Collins CR, Blackman MJ, Kursula I, Heussler V, Brochet M, Soldati-Favre D. A multistage antimalarial targets the plasmepsins IX and X essential for invasion and egress. Science. 2017 Oct 27;358(6362):522-528. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf8675. PMID:29074775 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf8675
- ↑ Favuzza P, de Lera Ruiz M, Thompson JK, Triglia T, Ngo A, Steel RWJ, Vavrek M, Christensen J, Healer J, Boyce C, Guo Z, Hu M, Khan T, Murgolo N, Zhao L, Penington JS, Reaksudsan K, Jarman K, Dietrich MH, Richardson L, Guo KY, Lopaticki S, Tham WH, Rottmann M, Papenfuss T, Robbins JA, Boddey JA, Sleebs BE, Sabroux HJ, McCauley JA, Olsen DB, Cowman AF. Dual Plasmepsin-Targeting Antimalarial Agents Disrupt Multiple Stages of the Malaria Parasite Life Cycle. Cell Host Microbe. 2020 Apr 8;27(4):642-658.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.02.005., Epub 2020 Feb 27. PMID:32109369 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2020.02.005
- ↑ Withers-Martinez C, George R, Maslen S, Jean L, Hackett F, Skehel M, Blackman MJ. The malaria parasite egress protease SUB1 is activated through precise, plasmepsin X-mediated cleavage of the SUB1 prodomain. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2024 Sep;1868(9):130665. PMID:38969256 doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130665
- ↑ Withers-Martinez C, George R, Ogrodowicz R, Kunzelmann S, Purkiss AG, Kjaer S, Walker PA, Kovada V, Jirgensons A, Blackman MJ. Structural Plasticity of Plasmodium falciparum Plasmepsin X to Accommodate Binding of Potent Macrocyclic Hydroxyethylamine Inhibitors. J Mol Biol. 2025 Mar 3;437(10):169062. PMID:40043835 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2025.169062
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