In-Silico Structure Determination of Protein Falstatin from Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum
Bhatt Tarun Kumar · 2012
Malaria is the major cause of socio-economic loss to most of the developing countries. Several drugs have been developed against the deadly malaria causing protozoan, Plasmodium falciparum. However, development of drug resistance against existing drugs has necessitated the identification of new drug targets. Several proteases have been identified from malaria parasite which is involved in various processes like haemoglobin degradation, egress of merozoite etc. But more important aspect of malaria biology is the regulation of these proteases for effective regulation of parasite life cycle. Falstatin is such a protein which binds to many cysteine proteases and regulates their activities. Therefore, Falstatin is the potential target for drug discovery. In this study, we determined the three-dimensional structure of Falstatin by molecular modelling using Swiss Modeller and Sali’s Modeller. Ramachandran plot was used for structure validation. Falstatin active site was determined using CastP. Structural analysis of Plasmodium Falciparum Falstatin (Pf-Falstatin) could be instrumental in identifying new drug like molecules.