Expression in Yeast Links Field Polymorphisms in PfATP6 to in Vitro Artemisinin Resistance and Identifies New Inhibitor Classes

Background. The mechanism of action of artemisinins against malaria is unclear, despite their widespread use in combination therapies and the emergence of resistance. Results. Here, we report expression of PfATP6 (a SERCA pump) in yeast and demonstrate its inhibition by artemisinins. Mutations in Pf...

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Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2013-08, Vol.208 (3), p.468-478
Main Authors: Pulcini, Serena, Staines, Henry M., Pittman, Jon K., Slavic, Ksenija, Doerig, Christian, Halbert, Jean, Tewari, Rita, Shah, Falgun, Avery, Mitchell A., Haynes, Richard K., Krishna, Sanjeev
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antimalarials - pharmacology
Artemisinins - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
Calcium-Transporting ATPases - genetics
Drug Resistance
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Microbiology
PARASITES
Parasitic Sensitivity Tests - methods
Plasmodium falciparum - genetics
Polymorphism, Genetic
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics
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Summary:Background. The mechanism of action of artemisinins against malaria is unclear, despite their widespread use in combination therapies and the emergence of resistance. Results. Here, we report expression of PfATP6 (a SERCA pump) in yeast and demonstrate its inhibition by artemisinins. Mutations in PfATP6 identified in field isolates (such as S769N) and in laboratory clones (such as L263E) decrease susceptibility to artemisinins, whereas they increase susceptibility to unrelated inhibitors such as cyclopiazonic acid. As predicted from the yeast model, Plasmodium falciparum with the L263E mutation is also more susceptible to cyclopiazonic acid. An inability to knockout parasite SERCA pumps provides genetic evidence that they are essential in asexual stages of development. Thaperoxides are a new class of potent antimalarial designed to act by inhibiting PfATP6. Results in yeast confirm this inhibition. Conclusions. The identification of inhibitors effective against mutated PfATP6 suggests ways in which artemisinin resistance may be overcome.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/jit171