Journal:Acta Cryst F:S2053230X24008604

Ternary structure of Plasmodium vivax N-myristoyl transferase (PvNMT) with myristoyl-CoA and inhibitor IMP-0001173

Dr Oluwatoyin Asojo ^[1]

Molecular Tour
The 2.3 Å resolution ternary structure of the essential P. vivax N- myristoyltransferase (PvNMT) with myristoyl-CoA and a peptide-binding domain inhibitor (IMP-0001173) is reported as part of ongoing efforts by the SSGCID for the rational design of new therapeutics for malaria.

Plasmodium vivax is a major cause of malaria that poses an increased health burden on approximately a third of the world’s population due to climate change. Primaquine, the preferred treatment for P. vivax malaria, is contraindicated in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a common genetic cause of hemolytic anemia, affecting ~2.5% of the world’s population and ~8% the population in areas of the world where P. vivax malaria is endemic. The Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID conducts the structure-function analysis of P. vivax N-Myristoyltransferase (PvNMT) as part of efforts to develop alternative malaria drugs. PvNMT catalyzes the attachment of myristate to the N-terminal glycine of many proteins, and this critical post-translational modification is required for P. vivax survival. The first step is forming an NMT-myristoyl-CoA binary complex that can bind to peptides. Understanding how inhibitors prevent protein binding will facilitate the development of PvNMT as a viable drug target. NMTs are secreted in all life stages of malarial parasites, making them attractive targets, unlike current antimalarials that are only effective during the plasmodial erythrocytic stages. The 2.3Å crystal structure of the ternary complex of PvNMT with Myr-CoA and a novel inhibitor is reported. One asymmetric unit contains two monomers. The structure reveals notable differences between PvNMT and human enzymes and similarities to other plasmodial NMTs that can be exploited to develop new antimalarials.

This project is part of a continuing SSGCID collaboration training Hampton University students in structural science, rational structure-based drug discovery, and scientific communication.

References

1. ↑ Bolling C, Mendez A, Taylor S, Makumire S, Reers A, Zigweid R, Subramanian S, Dranow DM, Staker B, Edwards TE, Tate EW, Bell AS, Myler PJ, Asojo OA, Chakafana G. Ternary structure of Plasmodium vivaxN-myristoyltransferase with myristoyl-CoA and inhibitor IMP-0001173. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. 2024 Oct 1;80(Pt 10):269-277. PMID:39291304 doi:10.1107/S2053230X24008604