Objective
Plasmodium falciparum cell cycle regulators are promising targets for novel anti-malarial drug design. This application is firmly based in the post-genomic era where the identification of novel drug targets is greatly facilitated by the availability of the P. falciparum genomic databases. P. falciparum cell cycle regulators are promising drug targets because of their predicted essential roles in regulating the pathogen's life-cycle. We have determined the structure of PfPK5. the first structure of a P. falciparum protein kinase and the first of a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) not derived from humans. A comparison of CDK structures from these two evolutionarily remote organisms suggests that the fold and the mechanism of inactivation of monomeric CDKs are highly conserved. The first aim of this project is to employ X-ray crystallographic studies to guide the development of potent and selective small molecule ATP-competitive inhibitors of P. falciparum protein kinase 5 (PfPK5), a member of the P. falciparum cyclin-dependent protein kinase family. Homologues of this enzyme in other eukaryotes play an essential role in regulating cell cycle progression. These compounds will be useful tools for P. falciparum cell cycle studies, and will provide lead compounds for anti-malarial drug development. The second aim of the project is to employ biochemical and biophysical methods to characterise CDK/cyclin complexes. This will explore the evolutionary conservation of the structural mechanisms that regulate the eukaryotic cell cycle. The final aim is to characterise P. falciparum cyclin 4 (Pfcyc-4) a novel member of the cyclin family that shows a distinct pattern of expression in the erythrocytic stages of the parasite's life cycle.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- medical and health sciences basic medicine medicinal chemistry
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
OXFORD
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.