Plasmodium Falciparum Histone Deacetylases as Novel Antimalarial Drug Targets

Abstract

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are recognised as potential drug targets for many diseases including cancer, inflammatory diseases and some parasitic diseases including malaria. In eukaryotic cells, these enzymes play an important role in transcriptional regulation through modification of chromatin structure. Inhibitors of mammalian HDAC enzymes including trichostain A and apicidin are active against P. falciparum parasites, however these compounds are not selective for malaria parasites versus normal cell lines. The aims of this study were to examine the antimalarial potential of new hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitors and to investigate a P. falciparum HDAC, PfHDAC1, as a potential new antimalarial drug target.