PMID: 3320742Dec 1, 1987Paper

Purification of the bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase complex from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Molecular Pharmacology
G X Chen, J W Zolg

Abstract

The bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase complex from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been purified to homogeneity using a sequence of separation steps including phenyl-Superose, gel filtration, dye affinity matrix, hydroxyapatite, and anion exchange chromatography. The specific activity of dihydrofolate reductase increased approximately 24,000-fold from 3.3 units mg-1 protein to 79,000 units mg-1 protein after five successive chromatographic steps with a yield of 31%. Both enzyme activities coeluted as a symmetric peak in highly purified preparations, indicating the existence of a bifunctional enzyme complex in P. falciparum. The apparent molecular weight of the native complex was approximately 120,000 as determined by gel filtration. When individual fractions of the anion exchange column were subject to polyacrylamide electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, the increase in intensity of a single band correlated with the amount of both the thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase activity. Further purification led to an electrophoretically pure protein (yield 2.6%) with an apparent molecular weight of 67,000, suggesting that the bifunctional enzyme complex from P. falciparu...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.