CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF RECOMBINANT PLASMEPSINS

摘要

The subject invention concerns cloning and expression of plasmepsins from Plasmodium. One aspect of the invention pertains to polynucleotide sequences that encode active plasmepsin enzymes. Specifically described are polynucleotides encoding plasmepsins from P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. The subject invention also concerns the plasmepsin polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides of the subject invention. The plasmepsin polypeptides of the invention possess activity as aspartic proteinases and can be used to screen for drugs which block or inhibit the activity of the plasmepsins of the present invention.