Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Understanding the Development of Compensatory Pathways in a Mutant Malaria Parasite Harbouring Hypomorphic Allele of Plant-Like Kinases
Published on: November 22, 2024
Structural basis for the decarboxylation of orotidine 5'-monophosphate (OMP) by Plasmodium falciparum OMP
Keiji Tokuoka1, Yukiko Kusakari, Sudaratana R Krungkrai
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract:
Orotidine 5'-monophoshate decarboxylase (OMPDC) catalyses the decarboxylation of orotidine 5'-monophosphate (OMP) to uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP). Here, we report the X-ray analysis of apo, substrate or product-complex forms of OMPDC from Plasmodium falciparum (PfOMPDC) at 2.7, 2.65 and 2.65 A, respectively. The structural analysis provides the substrate recognition mechanism with dynamic structural changes, as well as the rearrangement of the hydrogen bond array at the active site. The structural basis of substrate or product binding to PfOMPDC will help to uncover the decarboxylation mechanism and facilitate structure-based optimization of antimalarial drugs.
Related Concept Videos
Malaria
Loss of Carboxy Group as CO2: Decarboxylation of Malonic Acid Derivatives
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Allosteric Proteins-ATCase
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway,...
Drug Metabolism: Phase I Reactions
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids

