Last Updated: 26/09/2023
Targeting the sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway of protozoan parasites as drug targets
Objectives
This project is focussed on serine palmitoyl transferase (SPTs) from T. gondii and Plasmodium spp. with the ultimate goal to determine the 3D structure of the protein in complex with inhibitors paving the way for a structure-based drug design programme.
The protozoan parasites are a large group of single-cell eukaryotes including the important human pathogens Toxoplasma gondii (causing Toxoplasmosis) and Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria). Since current therapies are limited by severe side-effects and increasing drug resistance there is an urgent need for new targets such as the enzymes involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis. Sphingolipids are derived from L-serine and a fatty acid forming the so-called sphingoid base. Serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT) catalyses the first, rate-limiting step in the de-novo biosynthesis.
Sep 2021 — Sep 2025
