EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite and protein synthesis inhibitors effective as anti-malarial compounds

Abstract

The plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been sequenced and found to contain a gene encoding an EF-Tu protein. Inhibitors of the protein are effective as anti-malarial compounds and the protein can be used to screen for such inhibitors. Furthermore, the 23S ribosomal RNA encoded on the malaria parasite plastid DNA is a target for anti-malarial compounds and the antibiotic thiostrepton acts as an anti-malarial by binding to the RNA.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a new protein encoded in the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, to DNA encoding the protein, to methods of producing the protein, to methods of screening for anti-malarial compounds, to compounds identified by such screening methods and to methods of preventing or treating growth of the malaria parasite.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] The malarial 35 kb circular DNA molecule central to this invention corresponds to a minor species of DNA distinct from nuclear DNA discovered in the 1960s (Gutteridge et al. 1971). In the mid-80s the first study on its purification and molecular analysis was published (Williamson et al. 1985). Its similarity was noted to a circular DNA in the related organism Toxoplasma gondii—a well known opportunistic pathogen in AIDS cases.

[0003] It is important to stress that the malaria parasite and related apicomplexans are unusual amongst non-photosynthetic organisms in that they possess two forms of organellar DNA, typically a property of plants. One form of organellar DNA has been identified as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), whereas the other, the 35 kb circle, we have proposed is the remnant of a plastid DNA (plDNA), a provenance hitherto unsuspected for these organisms (Wilson et al. 1991, 94). This plDNA was probably acquired by an ancient progenitor of the phylum and may be of algal origin (Williamson et al. 1994). The precise location of these organellar DNAs in the cell shows they are in separate compartments (Kohler et al 1997).

[0004] Thus, there are potentially two organellar protein synthesising systems of independent prokaryotic origin within the malaria organism that could be susceptible to inhibition with antibiotics. Although the malarial mitochondrion is the best characterised of the organelles, its genetic content is highly idiosyncratic, contributing only incomplete fragments of two rRNA genes to the machinery required for protein synthesis. The circular DNA from the putative plastid, on the other hand, is much more conventional, producing transcripts of four complete rRNA genes, some twenty tRNA genes, subunits of a typical plastid RNA polymerase, and a number of ribosomal protein genes organised in modified bacterial operons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In sequencing the malarial plastid DNA, we found that it contains a gene encoding a new EF-Tu protein homologous to the EF-Tu proteins known in prokaryotes. Thus, the invention provides an EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The invention also provides DNA encoding the protein.

[0006] The prokaryotic EF-Tu proteins are known to be important in controlling the elongation cycle in protein synthesis, and it is known that inhibition of the proteins by various compounds has an antibiotic effect. In view of the sequence similarity between the prokaryotic EF-Tu proteins and our newly-identified malarial plastid EF-Tu protein, we proposed the theory that the antibiotic compounds which inhibit the prokaryotic proteins may also inhibit the malarial protein and therefore be useful as anti-malarials. We tested such antibiotics (e.g. kirromycin and aurodox) for their anti-malarial effect and found our theory was correct; the antibiotics were found to be effective anti-malarials both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the invention provides a method of preventing or treating infection of a patient with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which method comprises administering to the patient a compound which inhibits the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of said malaria parasite.

[0007] The knowledge provided by the invention of the EF-Tu protein in the malaria plastid and the fact that its inhibitors are effective anti-malarials allows the protein to be used in screening for new anti-malarial compounds. Accordingly, the invention includes a method of identifying an anti-malarial compound, which method comprises

[0008] (i) contacting a test compound with the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum; and

[0009] (ii) determining whether the compound binds to or inhibits the protein, any such binding or inhibition being indicative that the compound is an anti-malarial.

[0010] We also investigated the ability of antibiotics which bind to other components of the prokaryotic protein synthesis machinery to act as anti-malarial compounds. As a result of these investigations, it was found that thiostrepton, which is known to bind to the GTPase domain of the 23S ribosomal RNA of E. coli, is also able to bind to GTPase domain of the 23S rRNA encoded on the plastid of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf 23S rRNApl). Accordingly, the invention provides a method of identifying an anti-malarial compound, which method comprises

[0011] (i) contacting the compound with the 23S ribosomal RNA encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf 23S rRNApl) or with a fragment of said RNA containing the GTPase domain; and

[0012] (ii) determining whether the compound binds to said RNA or said fragment, any such binding being indicative that the compound is an anti-malarial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the elongation cycle that occurs during protein synthesis and shows the points in the cycle at which various inhibitors operate.

[0014] FIG. 2A shows the amino acid sequence of the EF-Tu protein according to the invention from the plastid of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (pf). The sequence is aligned with sequences of EF-Tu proteins from other organisms, namely E. coli (“ecoli”), Anacystis nidulans (“anani”), Cyanophora paradoxa (“cypha”) and Cryptomonas phi (“cryph”).

[0015] FIG. 2B shows the nucleotide sequence of the tufA gene that encodes the EF-Tu protein according to the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3A shows a Southern blot of endonuclease-restricted malarial genomic DNA hybridised with a PftufA-specific PCR product as probe. A single band for the 35 kb plastid was obtained for each restriction digest.

[0017] FIG. 3B shows cross-hybridisation between endonuclease-restricted malarial genomic DNA and the yeast tufM gene, indicating the possible presence of a malarial version of tufM.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows the results of an experiment in which an antisense RNA probe (about 230 nts) made by in vitro transcription, corresponding to a portion of the tufA gene encoding domains I and II of the predicted EF-Tupl protein, was used in an RNase protection assay to demonstrate the presence of tufA transcripts in total RNA extracted from erythrocytic parasites during the course of a single growth cycle (0-40 hrs).

[0019] FIG. 5 shows dose-response curves for the effects of fusidic acid, mocimycin (kirromycin), thiostrepton and GE 2270 on incorporation of 3H-hypoxanthine and 14C-isoleucine into erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum grown in cultures over a 36 hour period. The Figure also shows a dose-response curve for the effect of mocimycin on myeloma cells (a control).

[0020] FIG. 6 shows the effects of aurodox and mocimycin on the growth of P. chabaudi in mice. The solid line is for aurodox, the dotted line is for mocimycin and the dashed line is for no drug controls. The arrows on the x-axis indicate days on which three 0.1 ml 100 mM ip injections were given.

[0021] FIG. 7 shows the sequence of the GTPase region of the plastid 23S rRNAs of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Toxoplasma gondii (Toxo) (numbers based on E.coli), showing substitution sites (circled) affecting the binding of thiostrepton. The alternative nucleotides in Pf cytosolic 28S rRNA and Pf mitochondrial 23S rRNA are indicated.

[0022] FIG. 8 shows thiostrepton titrations (means of duplicates, bar=range) in a filter binding assay with transcripts of the GTPase region of LSU rRNA.

[0023] A) Short 23S transcripts of P.falciparum (Pf) wild type rRNApl (open circle A1067) and mutated forms (open square A1067U and filled triangle A1067G), as well as Pf 28S rRNA transcripts (filled square), are compared with an optimized E.coli control transcript (filled circle). For convenience, nucleotide numbers correspond to E.coli.

[0024] B) T. gondii wild type rRNApl transcript (filled triangle) and mutated transcript (open triangle) compared with control transcripts from P.falciparum rRNApl (open circle) and E.coli (filled circle).

[0025] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the structures of various antibiotics usable in the invention.

[0026] FIG. 11 shows slot blots of RNA fractioned on sucrose gradients. Pretreatment with anisomycin blocked the puromycin-induced shift of the hybridization signal for P.falciparum cytosolic 23S ribosomes but not the plastid 16S ribosomes.

[0027] A-C. Blots hybridized with a probe for the cytosolic large subunit (23S) rRNA. Anisomycin blocked the puromycin-induced shift.

[0028] D-F. The same blots hybridized with a probe for the plastid-encoded small subunit (16S) rRNA. Anisomycin did not block the puromycin-induced shift.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a slot blot showing the puromycin-induced shift of the hybridization signal for plastid mRNA specifying EF-Tu.

[0030] FIG. 13 contains immunoblots showing that binding of antibiotics modifies migration of EF-Tu.GDP in native polyacrylamide gels. Two segments of the same gel show A) heterologously expressed Pf EF-Tupl protein detected with a malaria peptide-specific antibody and B) E.coli EF-Tu detected with a specific antibody (Breidenbach et al 1990). Lanes without antibiotics (1 and 5), lanes with 100 &mgr;M antibiotic: GE2270A (2 and 6), enacyloxin lla (3 and 7), kirromycin (4 and 8). Arrows indicate uncomplexed EF-Tu.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The EF-Tu Protein

[0032] The function of the EF-Tu protein is in the elongation cycle of protein synthesis. The cycle is illustrated in FIG. 1. EF-Tu reacts with GTP and AA-tRNA to form an EF-Tu/AA-tRNA/GTP complex. After binding to EF-Tu, the AA-tRNA component is transferred to the ribosomal A site with the release of free EF-Tu-GDP complex and phosphate. The GDP is released from EF-Tu and the EF-Tu is then ready for another cycle.

[0033] EF-Tu is an exceedingly abundant protein in E. coli, present in approximately as many copies as there are tRNA molecules. It can bind every tRNA except for fMet-tRNA.

[0034] The malarial plastid EF-Tu has much sequence identify with known EF-Tu proteins from other organisms (see FIG. 2A). We have made a 3D-model structure for the malarial plastid EF-Tu protein based on the crystal structures available for bacterial equivalents (E. coli and T. thermophilus). This model showed that the bacterial and malarial proteins are very similar indeed, strongly implying that the malarial plastid EF-Tu is functional.

[0035] The sequence of the malarial plastid EF-Tu protein of the invention may be that labelled “eftu_pf” in FIG. 2A, but variations in this sequence are possible. The protein may, for example, have a sequence identity with the sequence in FIG. 2A of 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more or 99% or more.

[0036] The sequence of FIG. 2A may be modified by substitution, deletion,-extension or insertion. A substitution, deletion or insertion may involve one or more amino acids, typically from 1 to 5, from 1 to 10 or from 1 to 20 amino acids.

[0037] Such modified sequences must retain the functions of the EF-Tu protein necessary for participation in the elongation cycle of protein synthesis. In general, the physicochemical nature of the sequence of FIG. 2A should be preserved; the amino acids of a modified sequence should generally be of a similar charge, size and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity as those in the sequence of FIG. 2A. Candidate substitutions are those in which an amino acid from one of the following groups is replaced by a different amino acid from the same group:

[0038] H, R and K

[0039] I, L, V and M

[0040] A, G, S and T

[0041] D and E.

[0042] The EF-Tu protein of the invention may be provided in purified form. The protein may also be provided in pure form and in isolated form. The protein may, for example, be provided in a preparation in which it constitutes 10% or more, 40% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more or 99% or more of the total protein in the preparation by weight.

[0043] The protein will usually be obtained by expression of recombinant DNA containing the protein, but may also be obtained by biochemical purification of the protein from the malaria parasite.

[0044] DNA Encoding the Malarial Plastid EF-Tu Protein

[0045] The DNA encoding the EF-Tu protein may have the sequence shown in FIG. 2B, but variations in this sequence are possible. The DNA molecule may, for example, have a sequence identity with the sequence shown in FIG. 2B of 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more or 99% or more.

[0046] A recombinant DNA molecule encoding the EF-Tu protein of the invention may be obtained using well-known and conventional recombinant DNA techniques, such as those described in Sambrook et al (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

[0047] Such DNA molecules may be obtained by making a library of replicable expression vectors. The library may be created by cloning all the DNA or, more preferably, the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite into a parent vector. The library may be screened for members containing the desired nucleic acid sequence, e.g. by means of a DNA probe or antibody.

[0048] The term “replicable expression vector” is used herein to mean a vector which contains the appropriate origin of replication sequence for directing replication of the vector. The vector may also contain the appropriate sequences for expression of the EF-Tu protein. The sequences for expression of the protein will generally include a transcription promotor and a translation initiator operably linked to the coding sequence. The term “operably linked” refers to a linkage in which the promotor and initiator are connected in such a way to the coding sequence as to permit expression of the protein. A vector may, for example, be a plasmid, virus or phage vector. A vector may contain one or more selectable markers, for example an ampicillin resistance gene in the case of a bacterial vector or a neomycin resistance gene in the case of a mammalian vector. A foreign gene sequence encoding the EF-Tu protein inserted into a vector may be transcribed in vitro or the vector may be used to transform a host cell.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a host cell transformed with a vector encoding the EF-Tu protein. A vector and host cell will be chosen so as to be compatible with each other, and may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. A prokaryotic host may, for example, be E.coli in which case the vector may, for example, be a bacterial plasmid or a phage vector. A eukaryotic host may, for example, be a yeast (e.g. S.cerevisiae), a chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell or an insect cell (e.g. Spodoptera frugiperda).

[0050] The invention includes a method of producing the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which method comprises

[0051] (i) culturing a host cell containing a DNA molecule encoding the protein under conditions such that the protein is expressed; and

[0052] (ii) recovering the protein from the culture.

[0053] Antibodies to the Malarial Plastid EF-Tu Protein

[0054] The invention includes an antibody specific for the EF-Tu protein of the invention. The antibody is preferably monoclonal, but may also be polyclonal. The antibody may be labelled. Examples of suitable antibody labels include radiolabels, biotin (which may be detected by avidin or streptavidin conjugated to peroxidase), alkaline phosphatase and fluorescent labels (e.g. fluorescein and rhodamine). The term “antibody” is used herein to include both complete antibody molecules and fragments thereof. Preferred fragments contain at least one antigen binding site, such as Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments. Humanised antibodies and fragments thereof are also included within the term “antibody”.

[0055] The antibody may be produced by raising antibody in a host animal against an EF-Tu protein according to the invention or an antigenic epitope thereof (hereinafter “the immunogen”). Methods of producing monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies are well-known. A method for producing a polyclonal antibody comprises immunising a suitable host animal, for example an experimental animal, with the immunogen and isolating immunoglobulins from the serum. The animal may therefore be inoculated with the immunogen, blood subsequently removed from the animal and the IgG fraction purified. A method for producing a monoclonal antibody comprises immortalising cells which produce the desired antibody. Hybridoma cells may be produced by fusing spleen cells from an inoculated experimental animal with tumour cells (Kohler and Milstein, Nature 256, 495-497, 1975).

[0056] An immortalized cell producing the desired antibody may be selected by a conventional procedure. The hybridomas may be grown in culture or injected intraperitoneally for formation of ascites fluid or into the blood stream of an allogenic host or immunocompromised host. Human antibody may be prepared by in vitro immunisation of human lymphocytes, followed by transformation of the lymphocytes with Epstein-Barr virus.

[0057] For the production of both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, the experimental animal is suitably a goat, rabbit, rat or mouse. If desired, the immunogen may be administered as a conjugate in which the immunogen is coupled, for example via a side chain of one of the amino acid residues, to a suitable carrier. The carrier molecule is typically a physiologically acceptable carrier. The antibody obtained may be isolated and, if desired, purified.

[0058] Assays for Identifying Anti-malarial Compounds that Inhibit the Malarial Plastid EF-Tu Protein

[0059] As mentioned above, the knowledge provided by the invention of the EF-Tu protein in the malaria plastid and the fact that its inhibitors are effective anti-malarials allows the protein to be used in screening for new anti-malarial compounds.

[0060] Various different assay systems may be used to carry out the screening, but all the assays have in common that the EF-Tu protein of the invention is contacted with test compounds and the ability of each test compound to bind to or inhibit the protein is determined. Any such binding or inhibition is indicative that the compound could be useful as an anti-malarial drug.

[0061] The screening assays will generally require one or more controls. It will generally be desirable to include a positive control in the form of a compound known to bind to or inhibit the EF-Tu protein, so as to ensure that the assay system is responding properly. Examples of suitable positive controls include kirromycin (mocimycin) and aurodox (1-methylmocimycin), which we have shown through our experiments to be effective anti-malarials and which are known to inhibit prokaryotic EF-Tu. It will also generally be desirable to include a negative control in the form of a sample containing no test compound, so as to obtain a measurement of the background signal in the assay. If a test compound gives a signal in the assay above that of the background, this is indicative that the compound has given a positive result and could be an anti-malarial.

[0062] One convenient type of assay system is a “band shift” system. This involves determining whether a test comopund advances or retards the EF-Tu protein of the invention on gel electrophoresis relative to the EF-Tu protein in the absence of test compound. The mobility of GDP complexed EF-Tu is decreased with GE2270A but increased with enacyloxin IIa or kirromycin.

[0063] Another convenient type of assay system is a competitive binding system. Such a system may comprise

[0064] (i) incubating the EF-Tu protein of the invention with a test compound and a labelled reference compound that is known to bind the protein (e.g. kirromycin or aurodox);

[0065] (ii) determining the amount of the labelled reference compound that is bound to the protein; and

[0066] (iii) comparing the amount of bound labelled reference compound determined in step (ii) with the amount of said compound that binds to the protein in the absence of the test compound;

[0067] wherein any reduction in the binding of the labelled reference compound in the presence of the test compound compared to the binding in the absence of the test compound shows that the test compound is competing with the reference compound for binding to the protein and indicates that the test compound could be an anti-malarial.

[0068] The amount of the labelled reference compound bound to the protein may be measured directly or indirectly. A direct measurement may be carried out by removing assay mixture containing the unbound labelled reference compound and measuring the amount of label that is in the protein fraction. Alternatively, the amount of labelled reference compound bound to the protein could be determined indirectly by measuring the amount of label remaining in the assay solution after removal of the protein fraction, which will be inversely related to the amount that has bound to the protein.

[0069] In a competitive binding assay system, the EF-Tu protein may be immobilised on a solid support or may be in solution. The use of immobilised protein has the advantage that, after the binding reaction is complete, the protein/labelled reference compound complex may be separated from the labelled reference compound that remains in solution by simply removing the solution away from the solid support. If, on the other hand, the protein is not immobilised during the assay but rather is in solution, then it will generally be necessary to devise a means for separating the protein/labelled reference compound complex from the uncomplexed reference compound before measuring the amount of label. Such separation could be achieved, for example, by precipitating the protein using an antibody to the protein or by using a non-specific protein precipitation technique.

[0070] Suitable labels for use in the assay systems according the invention are well-known in the art and include the labels set out above that may be attached the antibodies of the invention.

[0071] Use of Compounds that Inhibit the Malarial Plastid EF-Tu Protein as Anti-malarials

[0072] Compounds that inhibit the malarial plastid EF-Tu protein may be used as anti-malarial compounds. Such compounds may be identified using the screening assays described above.

[0073] We have already identified some such compounds. e.g. the antibiotics kirromycin (mocimycin), aurodox (1-methylmocimcyin), Efrotomycin (a glycoside of kirromycin), Enacyloxin IIa and GE2270. Efrotomycin has previously been shown to have the desirable properties of rapid oral absorption and prolonged plasma half-life.

[0074] The antibiotics in the kirromycin series may be represented by the general formula: 1

[0075] wherein R1 is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl group (e.g. methyl); R2 is hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl or a sugar group (e.g. a disaccharide); and R3 is hydrogen, OH or C1-C4 alkyl.

[0076] Preferred antibiotics for use in the invention are as follows: 2

[0077] The compounds may be used in either the treatment of an existing infection by the malaria parasite or in the prevention of such an infection from occurring in the first place. The dosage regimen will ultimately be at the discretion of the physician, who will take into account factors such as the nature of the compound, the severity of any disease and the weight and age of the patient. However, suitable routes of administration may include the oral route, the rectal route, the intramuscular route and the intravenous route. The oral route is preferred because this is generally the most convenient route for a patient to take regular doses of the compound without the assistance of a physician. A typical dose would be from 1 to 1000 mg and such a dose may, for example, be taken from 1 to 3 times daily.

[0078] In order to be administered to a patient, the compound will be provided in the form of a pharmaceutical composition containing the active compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. Typical oral dosage compositions include tablets, capsules, liquid solutions and liquid suspensions.

[0079] Compounds that Bind to the 23S rRNA Encoded on the Malaria Parasite

[0080] We have found that the 23S rRNA encoded on the plastid of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf23S rRNApl) is a target for compounds with anti-malarial activity. More specifically, we have found that the mechanism of action of the antibiotic thiostrepton, which was known to have anti-malarial activity, is through binding to the GTPase domain of the 23S rRNA of the malaria plastid.

[0081] This information allows the design of assays for screening for further anti-malarial compounds whose mechanism of action operates through the 23S rRNA. These assays involve contacting each of the test compounds with the 23S rRNA or a fragment thereof containing the GTPase binding domain, and measuring any binding of the test compounds to the rRNA or fragment. Any such binding is of course indicative that the compound could be an anti-malarial.

[0082] We have already developed one assay for detecting binding to the 23S rRNA. We made a short transcript from DNA encoding the 23S rRNA of the malaria plastid corresponding to the GTPase domain (about nucleotide 1051 to about nucleotide 1108) and found that the transcript bound thiostrepton strongly.

[0083] The binding was specific. It depended to a large extent on the presence of an A residue at the position corresponding to E. coli position 1067. A transcript corresponding to the GTPase domain of the E. coli 23S rRNA (which contained the A at position 1067) was also shown to bind thiostrepton strongly. Mutation of A1067 to either U or G in the malaria plastid transcript dramatically reduced binding. A transcript corresponding to the GTPase domain of the cytosolic malaria 28S rRNA also bound thiostrepton poorly.

[0084] A screening assay for further anti-malarial compounds can be based on a competitive binding assay in which the ability of each test compound to compete with thiostrepton for binding to the Pf23S rRNApl is measured. Such an assay comprises

[0085] (i) incubating the Pf 23S rRNApl or a fragment thereof containing the GTPase domain with the test compound and thiostrepton as a reference compound (or another reference compound known to bind to the rRNA or the fragment);

[0086] (ii) determining the amount of thiostrepton (or other reference compound) that is bound to the rRNA or the fragment; and

[0087] (iii) comparing the amount of thiostrepton (or other reference compound) bound to the rRNA or the fragment with the amount that is bound in the absence of the test compound;

[0088] wherein any reduction in the binding of the thiostrepton (or other reference compound) in the presence of the test compound compared to the binding in the absence of the test compound is indicative that the test compound is competing for binding to the rRNA and that the test compound could be an anti-malarial.

[0089] In a screening assay based on the invention for further anti-malaria compounds, it would be necessary to use appropriate controls. A good positive control would be to use a compound known to compete with thiostrepton (or with the other reference compound) to ensure that the assay is working properly; a positive result for the known competitor in the assay would indicate that the assay had worked correctly. It would also generally be desirable to use a negative control comprising, for example, a sample in which no thiostrepton or test compound is present; this would enable the background signal in the assay to be determined and any signal above the background would indicate binding to the 23S rRNA.

[0090] The following experiments serve to illustrate the invention.

[0091] Experimental Section

[0092] Materials and Methods

[0093] Polysome preparation and puromycin shift—P.falciparum was grown in blood cultures (Trager et al 1976) and ribosomes prepared as described (Sherman et al 1975). Parasitized erythrocytes were lysed for 1 hr on ice in a buffer containing 0.14% Nonidet P-40 (Trade Name), 25 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 380 mM-sucrose, 6.5 mM &bgr;-mercaptoethanol and 50 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.6. The lysate was centrifuged×3 at 10,000 g for 10 min at 4° C. to remove genomic DNA and other cell debris before further centrifugation at 105,000 g for 1 hr in an SW40 rotor (Trade Name, Beckman) at 4° C. The resulting pellet was resuspended in 25 mM KCl, 5 mM MgCl2 and 50 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.6) and homogenized by hand (×50 strokes) with a glass dounce homogenizer (Wheatstone, USA). The suspension was centrifuged at 10,000 g for 10 min at 4° C. and the crude pellet discarded before further centrifugation for 2 hr at 105,000 g in an SW55 rotor (Beckman) at 4° C. The pellet was resuspended in 10 mM Tris HCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 100 mM KCl and homogenized again to give a suspension of ribosomes.

[0094] Polysomes were fractioned on sucrose gradients (20-50% w/v) prepared in 0.3M KCl, 3 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM dithiothreitol (DDT) with 0.02M Tris HCl (pH 7.6)—referred to as “high salt” buffer; centrifugation was at 30,000 g (Beckman Sw40 rotor) for 21 hr at 4° C.

[0095] In an experiment with RNase (Cox 1969), total polysomes were incubated with a range of concentrations of RNase (1-13 ng ml−1 ribosomes, Boehringer) prior to centrifugation for 30 min at 26° C. In other experiments, polysomes were dissociated to monosomes and subunits by the incorporation of puromycin; here the total ribosome preparation was incubated for 20 min at 37° C. with 2 mM puromycin in the “high salt” buffer to which was added 2 mM GTP, 10 &mgr;lml−1 RNAsin (39 U&mgr;l−1, Promega) and 1 mM DTT. In some experiments, ribosomes were incubated with both anisomycin (Sigma) and puromycin. Anisomycin was added at 3 mM for 10 min at 37° C. followed by incubation with puromycin as above (Cundliffe et al 1974). After ribosome fractionation on the sucrose gradients, RNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (Chomczynski it al 1987), precipitated in ethanol and blotted on to nylon membranes (Gene Screen, Trade Name) using a slot-blot apparatus (Scot-Labs). Hybridization was carried out with 32P-labelled DNA prepared from either cloned fragments of the 35 kb plDNA of P falciparum, PCR products amplified from it, oligonucleotides based on its sequence (Wilson et al 1996), or with PCR products based on the sequence of Pf28S cytosolic rRNA (McCutchen et al 1988). Hybridization signals were quantitated using a Molecular Dynamics phosphor imager.

[0096] Antibiotics—Samples of Mocimycin (kirromycin), Aurodox (N-methylated kirromycin), and Efrotomycin (a glycoside of kirromycin) were used. Aurodox was dissolved in RPMI-Albumax medium (Grande et al 1977), kirromycin was dissolved in RPMI made alkaline by addition of 1M NaOH, and efrotomycin was dissolved in ethanol before dilution in culture medium. Enacyloxin IIA was dissolved in 1% NaHCO3 prior to dilution in RPMI-Albumax medium. The antibiotic GE2270A was dissolved in 100% DMSO before dilution in culture medium. Fusidic acid (Sigma) was dissolved directly in culture medium, and thiostrepton (Sigma) in 100% DMSO before dilution in culture medium. A hemisuccinate form of thiostrepton was prepared as a potassium salt, according to Bodanszky et al 1965. Incorporation of radiotracers by P.falciparum growing in blood cultures in the presence and absence of drugs was carried out as described (Strath et al 1993).

[0097] EF-Tu model—Pf EF Tupl was modelled by homology with the known 3D structures determined by X-ray crystallography of EF-Tu.GTP (Berchtold et al 1993) and EF-Tu.GDP (Polekhina et al 1996) both from Thermus aquaticus. Modelling was carried out with the WHAT-IF program package (Trade Name, Vriend 1990), as described in Tews et al 1996. Alignments had to be adjusted manually because of small gaps and insertions. An iterative procedure of the automated model-building algorithm checked and corrected the alignments until no errors were detectable. Threee insertions in the Pf EF-Tupl sequence had to be deleted: Leu 190, Pro263 and Leu359-Val363. The final alignment with the T. aquaticus structure had single residue gaps in the Pf sequence between Leu41 and Ser42 as well as residues Asn209 and lle210. Co-ordinates for the C (alpha) backbone were copied from the known structure for overlapping segments and the atoms for the amino acids Gly, Ala and Pro were placed directly in their calculated positions. All remaining residues were assigned to Ala before the order in which side changes had to be placed was calculated by the algorithm implemented by the program. Atoms were subsequently placed using a position-dependent amino acid rotamer library. The model was refined geometrically and re-numbered according to the P.falciparum sequence.

[0098] Heterologous expression—The malarial plastid tufA gene was amplified by PCR, cloned into the TA vector (Trade Name, Invitrogen) and its sequence determined (Wilson et al 1996). Re-cloning into the expression vector pGEX (Trade Name, Pharmacia) was carried out with a PCR product generated using 5′ and 3′ primers providing custom-made restriction sites. Transfectants in E.coli (strains DH5 alpha, Sure. JM109) were found mostly to carry deletions within the tufA sequence, but one clone in JM109 contained the complete insert (sequenced on a single strand). This was expressed as a fusion protein of the expected size by induction of mid-log phase cultures with 50 &mgr;M isopropyl-&bgr;-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) at 37° C. or 27° C. The insoluble fusion protein was solubilized in 5M guanidinium HCl and refolded by dilution (Lin et al 1991).

[0099] Antibody to an epitope of Pf EF-Tu—A rabbit polyclonal antibody was prepared against a 13-mer synthetic peptide IQKNKDYELIKSN from domain I of Pf EF-Tu coupled to polylysine beads (Severn Biotech. Ltd). In Western blots (ECL protocol, Amersham), this antibody did not cross-react with EF-Tu from E.coli, nor did an antibody to E.coli EF-Tu react with the expressed malarial protein.

[0100] Drug binding—Thiostrepton binding to short rRNA transcripts generated in vitro was assayed according to Ryan et al 1991, as modified by Clough et al 1997. A band shift method in native 12% polyacrylamide gel (Cetin et al 1996) was used to demonstrate complex formation between a resolubilized fraction of the expressed Pf EF-Tupl and various antibiotics. Before electrophoresis and immunoblotting, samples were incubated on ice for 15 mins in 50 mM imidazole acetate (pH 7.6), 10 mM NH4Cl, 10 mM MgCl2, 1 mM DDT and 100 &mgr;M GDP, in a final volume of 20 &mgr;l.

[0101] Results

[0102] Evidence for Plastid Protein Synthesis

[0103] Ribosomes from erythrocytic parasites were fractionated by centrifugation on linear gradients (20-50% sucrose) and RNA was extracted from fractions collected over the length of the gradients. Slot blots of the RNA were hybridized with 32P-labelled DNA probes prepared from either cloned fragments of Pf plDNA, PCR products based on its sequence, or kinased oligonuceotides. As shown in FIG. 11 C&F, hybridization with probes for the large(cytosolic) or small(plastid) subunit rRNAs gave signals extending to the bottom of the gradient, indicative of rRNA incorporated in polysomes. Supportive evidence was obtained by limited digestion of the total ribosome preparation with RNase (13 ng RNase/mg ribosomes for 30 min at 26° C.) before fractionation—this causes dissociation of the polysomes (Cox 1969) and shifted the hybridization signal up the gradient (data not shown). More specific evidence for a subset of polysomes belonging to the plastid compartment was obtained by incubating total ribosomes with 2 mM puromycin in the presence of GTP, 0.3M KCl and 1 mM DDT prior to density gradient fractionation: puromycin acts as an analogue of the 3′ terminal adenosine of aminoacylated tRNAs and is incorporated into nascent peptide chains, terminating translation and dissociating polysomes (Gale et al 1981). Incubation with puromycin caused a shift of both the cytosolic and plastid rRNA hybridization signals up the gradient (FIG. 11, B&E). The specificity of the puromycin-shift was confirmed by pre-treating Pf ribosomes with the antibiotic anisomycin which binds only to eukaryotic ribosomes and prevents puromycin incorporation (Gale et al 1981). As shown in FIG. 11A, anisomycin blocked the puromycin-induced shift of the hybridization signal for Pf 28S cytosolic rRNA, whereas hybridization of the same blot with a probe for Pf 16S rRNApl showed the puromycin-shift of the plastid subset of polysomes was not blocked (FIG. 11D).

[0104] Similar results were obtained with a probe for an mRNA specified by the plDNA. FIG. 12 shows the puromycin-induced shift of the hybridization signal for mRNA specifying EF-Tupl.

[0105] To quantitate the relative proportions of the hybridization signals generated by different species of RNA, slot blots were hybridized with 32P-labelled oligonucleotides, known amounts of DNA being used as appropriate standards. The 28S cytosolic rRNA was estimated to be 80-fold more plentiful than 16S rRNApl and 2000-fold more plentiful than the mRNA specifying EF-Tupl (data not shown). These results and the puromycin-shifts are consistent with the presence of actively translating plastid ribosomes in blood cultures of malaria parasites.

[0106] tufA Sequence

[0107] From a combination of cloned DNA fragments and PCR products amplified from the 35 kb circular DNA of P.falciparum, we derived a 1.23 kb nt sequence whose predicted peptide (calculated M. Wt. 46,633) is homologous to the elongation factor EF-Tu (FIG. 2A). The malarial gene lies 45 nts downstream from two ribosomal protein-encoding genes, rps12 and rps7. In this respect, the organization resembles the str operon on the plDNAs of the flagellate protists Euglena gracilis (Montadon & Stutz, 1984; Hallick et al. 1993) and Astasia longa (Seimelster et al. 1990), as well as the non-chlorophyte alga Cryptomonas (Douglas, 1991), and the cyanelle of Cryptomonas paradoxa (Kraus et al. 1990), the intervening fus gene encoding EF-G in the str operon of bacteria such as E.coli (Zengal and Lindahl BBA 1050, 317 (1990)) presumably having been transferred to the nucleus. The short intergenic region upstream of the PfpltufA gene does not contain an open reading frame or putative leader sequence. At the nt level, the malarial pltufA gene is extremely rich in adenine and thymine (A+T) residues (79%) compared to related sequences in the database, a feature with important consequences for computations intended to establish the gene's phylogenetic relationships.

[0108] At the predicted peptide level, the malarial sequence is very divergent from other recorded EF-Tu's (only 45% amino acid identity with E.coli and 51% identity with Anacystis nidulans). Nonetheless, several highly conserved regions are evident, including the four segments of domain I involved in GTP binding. In E.coli, the first three of these segments carry the consensus elements G18HVDHGK24; D80CPG83; and N135KCD138. In the malarial sequence there is only one substitution C136E. Most of the residues defining the GDP binding pocket also are conserved (in E.coli G23, N135, K136, D138, S173, L175), the only substitution in the malarial sequence being M139L. In a less well conserved region (amino acids 180-190, topologically close to the GTP binding domain). The malarial sequence has an insertion typical of plastid versions of EF-Tu that is not found in the E.coli gene, and is only partially present in the mitochondrial equivalent (tufM) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Nagata et al. 1983). Despite the gene's high A+T content, the predicted malarial EF-Tu peptide is one of the most highly conserved proteins encoded by the 35 kb circle; however, it is potentially more basic (calculated pI=8.43) than the versions present in bacteria or the yeast mitochondrion (Piechulla & Kuntzel, 1983).

[0109] In view of the unknown functional status of the 35 kb circular DNA, it was of interest to compare the predicted malarial EF-Tupl peptide with the unusual chloroplast form in the Charophycean alga Colochaete orbicularis, as it has been suggested that the latter may no longer be functional, there being multiple tufA-like sequences in the nucleus (Baldauf et al. 1990). Baldauf and colleagues pointed out that the C.orbicularis EF-Tupl amino acid sequence differs in twenty two sites that otherwise are conserved in all but four of 27 other EF-Tu sequences. Despite the malarial gene's extreme A+T content, the predicted EF-Tu peptide has only 6 conservative amino acid substitutions in the same 22 residues (Table 1). This suggests that the functional domains encoded by the tufA gene on the 35 kb circle have been maintained under selective pressure. 1 TABLE 1 AMINO ACID SEQUENCE COMPARISON OF CONSENSUS SITES (MODIFIED FROM BALDAUF ET AL. 1990) Site* C cp eub all Pf 21-22 FS VD VD VD VD 60-62 NMS GIT GIT GIT GIT  87 N D D D D  90 N K K K K 128 I V V V V 153 N E E E E 210 L I I I I 227 R D D D D 233 S G G G G 236 L T T T T 241 T R R R K 248 N K K K N 272 K E E E E 286 D N N N N 301 K R R R R 372 E D D D D 393 V A A A S 401 I V V V I 405 I V V V I * = Amino acids numbered as in FIG. 2A. C = Coleochaete orbicularis chloroplast tuf A (Baldauf et al. 1990) cp = cyanobacteria and chloroplast consensus eub = eubacteria, cyanobacteria and chloroplast consensus all = eubacteria, eukaryotes and archaebacteria consensus Pf = Plasmodium falciparum 35 kb circule tufA

[0110] When hybridized with a PftufA-specific PCR product under stringent conditions, Southern blots of endonuclease-restricted malarial genomic DNA gave a single band of the size predicted (FIG. 3A). At low stringency no other bands were revealed that might have corresponded to the nucleus-encoded mitochondrial gene tufM (Nagata et al, 1983; Wells et al. 1994). The likely presence of a malarial equivalent was indicated, however, by cross-hydridization at low stringency with a PCR product based on the yeast tufM gene (FIG. 3B).

[0111] An antisense RNA probe (˜230 nts) made by in vitro transcription, corresponding to a portion of the malarial tufA gene encoding domains I and II of the predicted EF-Tupl protein, was used in an RNase protection assay to demonstrate the presence of tufA transcripts in total RNA extracted from erythrocytic parasites (FIG. 4).

[0112] Modelling of the Three-dimensional Structure of P.falciparum EF-Tupl

[0113] Despite the highly divergent amino acid composition of Pf EF-Tupl a computer model showed conservation of secondary structure motifs in all three domains of the hypothetical protein. The model is reliable, with good confidence in the overall folding and also in the detail of the secondary structure compared with T.aquaticus. Only minor differences were found in the length of some structural motifs: in domain I there are small length differences in 5 of the nine alpha helices and in 3 out of six &bgr; strands. The changes are more pronounced in domain II where the first two &bgr;-strands seem to be continuous in Pf, and an extra &bgr;-strand is formed by residues Gly245-Leu249. In domain III, differences from T. aquaticus are again minor with a slightly different positioning of two &bgr;-strands.

[0114] The model for Pf EF-Tupl.GTP showed that the GTP-binding site is conserved as well as the whole lining towards the GTP-binding pocket. There is also conservation on the interface between the domains. These interfaces are exposed when EF-Tu. GTP converts to the effective EF-Tu.GDP form. In this form of the protein, conserved residues in the cleft between domains I and III correspond to the site which other studies have shown kirromycin binds.

[0115] Antibiotics

[0116] The effects of three classes of compounds on intraerythrocytic parasites of P.falciparum in vitro, as well as on P.chabaudi in vivo, are considered below. In assessing the significance of these results it should be noted that in prokaryotes, kirromycin, whose binding site is at the interface of domains I and III of EF-Tu.GTP (Mesters et al. 1994), binds to the ternary complex of tRNA and EF-Tu.GTP preventing the conformational change required for release from the ribosome upon GTP hydrolysis, whereas the drug has a different effect on eukaryotic cells. In the latter, at 100 &mgr;M, it blocks RNA synthesis without affecting DNA or protein synthesis (Schmid et al. 1978).

[0117] Kirromycin: Kirromycin-resistant forms of bacterial EF-Tu are modified at one of seven amino acids along the opposing interfaces of domains I and III (Mesters et al 1994 and Abdulkarim et al 1994) and Pf EF-Tupl has a substitution at one of these sites (A375S-E.coli numbers) that could potentially confer resistance to kirromycin. To test this possibility, kirromycin (Mocimycin), its methylated derivative Aurodox or its disaccharide derivative Efrotomycin were incubated with erythrocytic stages of P.falciparum grown in cultures over a 36 hr period. The incorporation of both 3H-hypoxanthine and 14C-isoleucine was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion, maximum inhibition being achieved at 100 &mgr;M kirromycin (FIG. 5). Similar levels of inhibition were obtained for all three compounds. In synchronized cultures, inhibitory effects on ring stage parasites were observed as early as five hours after exposure to Aurodox and were maximal after 10 hrs exposure. Once maximal depression of incorporation had been reached at any particular dose of drug, residual incorporation continued at a uniform rate thereafter. Vital staining with rhodamine 123, a fluorescent dye that concentrates within the mitochondrion (Divo et al. 1985) confirmed the parasiticidal effect, loss of specific mt staining being evident within 2-3 hours (data not shown). Treatment of parasites with 1 mM Aurodox for 1.5 cell cycles, followed by removal of the antibiotic by washing and follow-up for 2 weeks in vitro, indicated the effect was parasite death rather than stasis. Blood cultures of P.falciparum were about 10 times more sensitive to the antibiotic than a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium spp) used in parallel bioassays.

[0118] On the basis of these findings, preliminary studies were carried out on mice infected with P.chabaudi. In the first experiment, mice were infected and inoculated on the same day intraperitoneally with 0.1 ml of 100 mM Aurodox, a dose calculated to mimic the maximal inhibitory effect observed in vitro. The Aurodox-treated animals showed a lag in development of the infection compared with untreated controls indicating partial inactivation of the infectious inoculum (FIG. 6). In a single experiment. Mocimycin w as found to be less effective in vivo than Aurodox.

[0119] Enacyloxin IIa: Enacyloxin IIa (ExIIa) is a linear antibiotic representing a new family of polyenic antibiotics (Watanabe 1992) that bind to EF-Tu and block transfer to the nascent peptide chain of aminoacylated-tRNA bound at the A site (Cetin 1996). The profiles for inhibition of radiotracer incorporation in blood cultures of P.falciparium incubated with Ex IIa were similar to those with Mocimycin.

[0120] GE2270: This is a thiopeptide antibiotic in the same family as thiostrepton. It binds to a different site on Ef-Tu than kirromycin and locks the protein into a different conformation (Landini 1996). This antibiotic was more inhibitory in blood cultures than either kirromycin or thiostrepton (FIG. 5).

[0121] Fusidic acid: Fusidic acid, presently in clinical use as a narrow spectrum antibiotic, was assessed as a potential antimalarial by titration with P.falciparum in vitro, as described above. Maximum inhibition of radiotracer incorporation was achieved at a concentration of 200 &mgr;M (FIG. 5). Preliminary experiments with fusidic acid in mice infected with P.chabaudi found little effect on parasitaemias, even at toxic dose levels of the drug.

[0122] Thiostrepton: Nucleotide (nt) sequences are available for the GTPase domain of the 28S rRNA specified by the nucleus (Rogers et al. 1996), as well as the 23S rRNAs specified by the mt and pl large subunit rRNA genes of the human malaria pathogen Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) (Feagin, 1992). These data indicate that the high affinity binding site for the thiazolyl peptide antibiotic thiostrepton, A1067 in E.coli (Thompson et al 1991, Ryan et al 1991 and Rosendahl et al 1994), is conserved in the GTPase domain encoded by the plastid DNA, but modified to a G in both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes (FIG. 7).

[0123] We have tested thiostrepton to ascertain whether it inhibits Pf and found reproducible inhibition of uptake of 3H-hypoxanthine and 14C-isoleucine in blood cultures (50% inhibition at 3-5 &mgr;M thiostrepton). Onset of inhibition of protein synthesis by thiostrepton was more rapid (5 hrs) than by tetracycline (8 hrs). Specificity was demonstrated by the lack of effect of viomycin (data not shown), an unrelated antibiotic that also can inhibit translocation (Kutay et al 1990).

[0124] Having established thiostrepton's activity, we asked “does the antibiotic bind preferentially to the nuclear, mitochondrial or plastid forms of Pf 28/23 S rRNA?”. Evidence that the highest affinity interaction of thiostrepton is with 23S rRNApl was obtained from an in vitro binding assay (Ryan et al 1991). Short transcripts of wild type (wt) RNA corresponding to the GTPase domain of Pf 23S rRNApl (nts 987-1078) were transcribed in vitro from a PCR product that included a T7 promoter sequence in one of the primers. Mutated malarial rRNA sequences (E.coli numbers A1067U and A1067G) were obtained by PCR methodology and transcribed in the same way. Both wild type and modified transcript sequences were verified prior to thiostrepton binding assays. A positive control transcript was used based on the 23S rRNA sequence of E.coli with a mutation (U1061A) that increases stability and binding. FIG. 8A shows that the mutation Pfpl (E.coli number A1067U) markedly reduced thiostrepton binding (˜14% of wt). An intermediate level of binding (˜35% of wt) was obtained with the mutation Pfpl (E.coli number A1067G). Thiostrepton binding to a transcript corresponding to the GTPase domain (nt 1334-1427) of the cytosolic Pf 28S rRNA was ˜10% of that for Pf 23S rRNApl. These data show that the nts crucial for thiostrepton binding to Pf23 S rRNA are as in E.coli, and that the plastid form has the highest binding affinity.

[0125] In the same way, we tested a transcript corresponding to the GTPase domain of the 23S rRNApl of Toxoplasma gondii (Tg), a related apicomplexan that is an important opportunistic pathogen in patients with AIDS. In this case, the wild type sequence has a substitution at a different site (E.coli number A1077U)—see FIG. 7, that inhibits binding by thiostrepton in E. coli (Ryan et al 1991). This was found also to be the case with a transcript derived from a PCR product covering the GTPase domain of Tgpl 23S rRNA (nt 926-1024) (FIG. 8B). Corrective mutation of the Tgpl transcript (E. coli number U1077A) conferred a significant increase (×5) in thiostrepton binding (FIG. 8B).

[0126] These thiostrepton binding studies constitute the first direct evidence that components of the malarial plastid organelle could be preferentially targeted by drugs. The results complement earlier studies (Pfefferkon et al 1994 and Beckers et al 1995) which inferred that toxoplasma's 23S rRNApl might be the target of the macrolide antiobiotic, clindamycin, acting at a different effector site.

[0127] Drugs Bind to Heterologously Expressed EF-Tu

[0128] The material tufA gene in pGEX was expressed as an insoluble fusion protein in E.coli JM 109. The protein was detected either with antibodies to the GST tag or with antibodies to a specific peptide sequence in domain I (IQKNKDYELIKSN) not found on E.coli EF-Tu. Washed inclusion bodies were dissolved and refolded by dilution (Lin et al 1991). This yielded a small amount of refolded protein that migrated in native acrylamide gels as a spontaneously cleaved product and we used this to show that the expressed protein forms complexes with kirromycin and other drugs that bind to different sites on EF-Tu. As shown in FIG. 13, the mobility (Mr) of the expressed malarial protein was advanced or retarded in these complexes in the same characteristic way described for E.coli EF-Tu (Cetin et al 1996): the Mr of the GDP form of the complex decreased with GE2270A, but increased with enacyloxin IIa or kirromycin. These results show that the heterologously expressed Pf EF-Tupl can adopt a native conformation and bind the classical antibiotic inhibitors.

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Sequence Listing

[0183] (1) General Information

[0184] (i) APPLICANT:

[0185] (A) NAME: CLOUGH et al

[0186] (B) STREET: National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill

[0187] (C) CITY: London

[0188] (E) COUNTRY: United Kingdom

[0189] (F) POSTAL CODE (ZIP) NW7 1AA

[0190] (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: AN EF-TU PROTEIN ENCODED ON THE PLASTID DNA OF THE MALARIA PARASITE AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS INHIBITORS EFFECTIVE AS ANTI-MALARIAL COMPOUNDS

[0191] (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2

[0192] (iv) COMPUTER READABLE FORM:

[0193] (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk

[0194] (B) COMPUTER; IBM PC compatible

[0195] (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS

[0196] (D) SOFTWARE: PatentIn Release #1.0, Version #1.30 (EPO)

[0197] (v) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: APPLICATION NUMBER: US NA

[0198] (2) Information for SEQ ID NO: 1

[0199] (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

Claims

1. The EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

2. The protein according to claim 1 which has the sequence labelled “eftu_pf” in FIG. 2A (SEQ ID NO:2).

3. The protein according to claim 1 or 2 in purified form.

4. A DNA molecule encoding the protein of claim 1 or 2.

5. The DNA molecule according to claim 4 which comprises the sequence shown in FIG. 2B (SEQ ID NO:1).

6. The DNA molecule according to claim 4 in purified form.

7. The DNA molecule according to claim 4 which is a cloning or expression vector.

8. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 7.

9. A method of producing the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which method comprises

(i) culturing a host cell containing a DNA molecule encoding the protein under conditions such that the protein is expressed; and

(ii) recovering the protein from the culture.

10. A method of identifying an anti-malarial compound, which method comprises

(i) contacting a compound with the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum; and

(ii) determining whether the compound binds to or inhibits the protein, any such binding or inhibition being indicative that the compound is an anti-malarial.

11. A compound identified by the method of claim 10.

12. A method of preventing or treating infection of a patient with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which method comprises administering to the patient a compound which inhibits the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of said malaria parasite.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the compound is an antibiotic.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the compound is a member of the kirromycin series of antibiotics.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of kirromycin (mocimycin), aurodox (1-methylmocimycin), efrotomycin, enacyloxin IIa and GE2270.

16. An antibody specific for the EF-Tu protein encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

17. A method of identifying an anti-malarial compound, which method comprises

(i) contacting a test compound with the 23S ribosomal RNA encoded on the plastid DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (pf 23S rRNApl) or with a fragment of said RNA containing the GTPase domain; and

(ii) determining whether the compound binds to said RNA or said fragment, any such binding being indicative that the compound is an anti-malarial.

18. A method according to claim 17 which comprises

(i) incubating the Pf 23S rRNApl or the fragment thereof with the test compound and a reference compound known to bind to the rRNA or the fragment;

(iia) determining the amount of reference compound that is bound to the rRNA or the fragment; and

(iib) comparing the amount of reference compound bound to the rRNA or the fragment with the amount that is bound in the absence of the test compound;

wherein any reduction in the binding of the reference compound in the presence of the test compound compared to the binding in the absence of the test compound is indicative that the test compound is competing for binding to the rRNA and that the test compound could be an anti-malarial.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the reference compound is thiostrepton.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein said RNA or said fragment contains an A residue at the position corresponding to position 1067 in the 23S rRNA of Escherichia coli.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said fragment comprises the pf 23S rRNApl sequence corresponding to the sequence from about position 1051 to about position 1108 of the 23S rRNA of Escherichia coli.

22. A compound identified by the method of claim 17.