Dihydropteroate Synthase (Plasmodium) (DHPS)

Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) from Plasmodium species is an essential bifunctional enzyme involved in de novo folate synthesis—a validated antimalarial drug target whose inhibition leads to parasite death but whose genetic plasticity underlies widespread antifolate resistance seen globally today. DHPS catalyzes the condensation of p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) with 6-hydroxymethyldihydropterin pyrophosphate to form 7,8-dihydropteroate, a precursor for folate derivatives essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Mutations in dhps confer resistance to sulfa drugs by reducing drug binding while retaining enzymatic function. The protein is expressed throughout all stages of the intraerythrocytic cycle.

Other names

PfDHPSPvDHPSDihydropteroate synthetasePPPK-DHPS

Competitive inhibition of p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) binding