Structural Basis for Blocking Sugar Uptake into the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

TitleStructural Basis for Blocking Sugar Uptake into the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsJiang, X, Yuan, Y, Huang, J, Zhang, S, Luo, S, Wang, N, Pu, D, Zhao, N, Tang, Q, Hirata, K, Yang, X, Jiao, Y, Sakata-Kato, T, Wu, J-W, Yan, C, Kato, N, Yin, H, Yan, N
JournalCell
Volume183
Issue1
Pagination258-268.e12
Date Published2020 Oct 01
ISSN1097-4172
KeywordsAmino Acid Sequence, Animals, Antimalarials, Biological Transport, Glucose, Humans, Malaria, Malaria, Falciparum, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins, Parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, Protozoan Proteins, Sugars
Abstract

<p>Plasmodium species, the causative agent of malaria, rely on glucose for energy supply during blood stage. Inhibition of glucose uptake thus represents a potential strategy for the development of antimalarial drugs. Here, we present the crystal structures of PfHT1, the sole hexose transporter in the genome of Plasmodium species, at resolutions of 2.6 Å in complex with D-glucose and 3.7 Å with a moderately selective inhibitor, C3361. Although both structures exhibit occluded conformations, binding of C3361 induces marked rearrangements that result in an additional pocket. This inhibitor-binding-induced pocket presents an opportunity for the rational design of PfHT1-specific inhibitors. Among our designed C3361 derivatives, several exhibited improved inhibition of PfHT1 and cellular potency against P. falciparum, with excellent selectivity to human GLUT1. These findings serve as a proof of concept for the development of the next-generation antimalarial chemotherapeutics by simultaneously targeting the orthosteric and allosteric sites of PfHT1.</p>

DOI10.1016/j.cell.2020.08.015
Alternate JournalCell
PubMed ID32860739