para-Aminobenzoate Synthesis versus Salvage in Malaria Parasites

Enzymes of the folate de novo synthesis pathway in malaria parasites are proven antimalarial drug targets. A key precursor for folate synthesis is para-aminobenzoate ( pABA). In a recent study [ 1 Matz J.M. et al. Plasmodium para-aminobenzoate synthesis and salvage resolve avoidance of folate competition and adaptation to host diet. Cell Rep. 2019; 26 ( e4) : 356-363 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ] ( Cell Rep. 2019;26:356–363 e4), the contributions of pABA synthesis versus salvage were re-evaluated in a rodent malaria model with knockout parasites grown in mice fed with various diets. The results imply that malaria parasites can either synthesize or salvage pABA to meet the demand for folates