DUTPASE: Deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase as a drug target for the control of protozoal and bacterial infections

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0342

Key words (English)

Deoxyuridine Triphosphate Nucleotidohydrolase as a Drug Target for the Control of Protozoal and Bacterial Infections

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK3-CT-2001-00305

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.3 The 'cell factory'

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

This proposal concerns the evaluation of the enzyme deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase as a drug target against bacterial, protozoan and mycobacterial infections. The diseases of particular interest are malaria, leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis, Chagas' disease, bacterial infections and mycobacterial infections such as tuberculosis. This enzyme may also have application as an anticancer target. The enzyme is essential for the viability of the organism and represents a novel drug target. The following is planned: cloning and overexpression of the enzyme from key pathogens; crystallisation and x-ray crystallography of the enzymes; drug design using molecular modelling; screening of a large database of compounds to provide novel leads; synthesis of potential inhibitors; screening of compounds against pathogen and human enzymes; screening of compounds against protozoa, bacteria and mycobacteria in vitro.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0342