Pharmacological targeting of mRNA cap formation for treatment of parasitic infections

摘要

This invention provides the genes encoding the RNA triphosphatase and RNA guanylyltransferase of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the catalytically active recombinant RNA triphosphatase and RNA guanylyltransferase enzymes. These enzymes form the basis of activity inhibition assays to identify molecules that specifically target the formation of the mRNA 5' cap in unicellular eukaryotic parasites.