Understanding the function of unique P. falciparum FIKK kinases.

FIKK kinases are unique among apicomplexan parasites. Interestingly the genome of P. falciparum encodes 20 FIKK kinases, but very little is known about the localisation of biological function of any of these. This project will focus on a sub-group of FIKK kinases which our preliminary work strongly suggests are essential for parasite survival. The divergence of these enzymes from mammalian eukaryotic protein kinases, together with their essentiality to parasite proliferation, makes them highly attractive potential targets for the development of next-generation anti-malarial drugs. The overall objective is to characterise one or more essential FIKK kinases and help to understand the mechanisms by which they regulate essential biological processes in the parasite. This will be achieved in part by confirming their essentiality, localisation and trafficking in blood stage P. falciparum parasites and identification of their target proteins by biochemical and proteomic approaches.