Choline transporter-like protein (PfCTL)

The Choline transporter-like protein (also known as the parasite choline carrier or PfCTL) is a vital membrane transporter located on the plasma membrane of Plasmodium falciparum during its intraerythrocytic stage [2, 7]. It is responsible for the uptake of choline from the host erythrocyte's cytoplasm into the parasite, providing the essential precursor for the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine via the Kennedy pathway [1, 16]. Phosphatidylcholine is the most abundant phospholipid in the parasite's membranes, and its synthesis is critical for the rapid membrane biogenesis required for parasite growth and multiplication [8, 11]. Because the parasite cannot synthesize choline de novo, this transporter is an essential bottleneck for its survival [1, 16]. Antimalarial drug candidates such as albitiazolium (SAR97276) act as choline mimetics that competitively inhibit the transporter, effectively starving the parasite of choline and disrupting membrane formation [1, 4, 6]. The transporter's distinct biochemical properties and lack of close human orthologs make it a highly selective and promising target for the development of new antimalarial therapies, particularly against drug-resistant strains [2, 12, 13].

Other names

Parasite choline carrierPlasmodium falciparum choline transporterPfCHTPfCHT1Choline transporter-like protein 1PfCTL1

Competitive inhibition of choline uptake into the parasite, which prevents the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and disrupts membrane formation during the intraerythrocytic stage [1, 4].