Prodrug activation in malaria parasites mediated by an imported erythrocyte esterase, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH)
Sesh A. Sundararaman, Justin J. Miller, Ellora C. Daley, Kelsey O’Brien, Paulina Kasak, Abigail M. Daniels, Rachel L. Edwards, Kenneth M. Heidel, Darean A. Bague, Madeleine A. Wilson, Andrew J. Koelper, Elexi C. Kourtoglou, Alex D. White, Sloan A. August, Georgia A. Apple, , Audrey R. Odom John
The paper identifies acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) from red blood cells as an enzyme imported by malaria parasites that activates lipophilic ester prodrugs, offering a new strategy to overcome drug resistance.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Mar 4, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology