Chromatin regulation in schistosomes and histone modifying enzymes as drug targets
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
; 106(7): 794-801, Nov. 2011. ilus
Article
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| LILACS
| ID: lil-606641
Biblioteca responsable:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Only one drug is currently available for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis and the increasing risk of selecting strains of schistosome that are resistant to praziquantel means that the development of new drugs is urgent. With this objective we have chosen to target the enzymes modifying histones and in particular the histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) are under intense study as potential anti-cancer drugs and act via the induction of cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Schistosomes like other parasites can be considered as similar to tumours in that they maintain an intense metabolic activity and rate of cell division that is outside the control of the host. We have shown that HDACi can induce apoptosis and death of schistosomes maintained in culture and have set up a consortium (Schistosome Epigenetics Targets, Regulation, New Drugs) funded by the European Commission with the aim of developing inhibitors specific for schistosome histone modifying enzymes as novel lead compounds for drug development.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
LILACS
Asunto principal:
Schistosoma
/
Cromatina
/
Inhibidores Enzimáticos
/
Histona Acetiltransferasas
/
Histona Desacetilasas
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
/
PARASITOLOGIA
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia
Pais de publicación:
Brasil