Die Röntgenstrukturen der Glutamatdehydrogenase von Plasmodium falciparum und der Liponamiddehydrogenase von Trypanosoma cruzi. Zielmoleküle für das strukturbasierte Design neuer antiparasitärer Wirkstoffe

In the work presented, the crystal structures of Plasmodium falciparum glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and of Trypanosoma cruzi Lipoamide dehydrogenase (LipDH) were determined to a resolution of 2.7 and 1.9 Angstroms, respectively. Both are targets for the design of novel antiparasitic drugs, because they are involved in the parasites defense against oxidative stress or in the production of reactive oxygen species (in the case of lipoamide dehydrogenase). The work also deals with the similarities and differences of the two parasite enzymes compared to closely related proteins and the respective proteins of the human host. The results provide a starting point for further studies with the aim to find selective inhibitors of P. falciparum GDH and improved so-called subversive substrates of T. cruzi LipDH with methods of structure-based drug design.