The Demogorgon of Malaria: Investigating PfTPI Through the Lens of Stranger Things
In 2021, it was estimated that there were 247 million cases of malaria, of which an estimated 619,000 people died. Malaria poses a worldwide threat, with the need for treatment becoming critical. One possibility for treatment lies within Triosephosphate Isomerase of Plasmodium falciparum (PfTPI) – an enzyme that plays a key role in the metabolism of glucose.
However, for TPI to be used as an antimalarial drug target, knowledge about its structure and function is crucial. This 3D model will take you on a Stranger Things-themed tour of PfTPI, exploring the key parts of the enzyme.
TPI is a homodimer, in that it has two identical monomers. These monomers are connected in such a way that one is “flipped” in relation to the other. Here, we refer to monomer A as the Upside Down and monomer B as Hawkins. We will delve into the Upside Down of the PfTPI structure and function, uncovering the potential avenues for drug discovery.
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