Virtuelle (Nano) Welten PDB Molecule of the Month 102: Lactate Dehydrogenase

Exploring the Structure

The protozoan parasites that cause malaria are thought to rely on glycolysis for most of their energy during part of their cycle of infection. Researchers are now looking for drugs to block the action of lactate dehydrogenase as a way of attacking these parasites and curing the infection. The structure shown here (PDB entry 1cet) has four molecules of chloroquine bound in the active sites of the lactate dehydrogenase found in the Plasmodium parasite. Chloroquine is one of the major drugs used to treat malaria, however, its major site of action probably isn't at this enzyme; instead, it is thought to block the unusual methods that the parasite must use to feed on blood. But researchers are exploring many other anti-malarial molecules that target lactate dehydrogenase, as seen in other PDB entries such as 1t24, 1t25, and similar structures.

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