Fungal infections have emerged as important pathogens causing formidable morbidity and mortality during the past two decades. A series of new antifungal targets have been developed for the development of antifungal drug discovery. Based on abundant experience and top drug discovery platform, Creative Biolabs is capable of identifying potential antifungal targets especially related to ornithine decarboxylase.
Introduction of Ornithine Decarboxylase
Polyamines are essential for the growth and multiplication of all eukaryotic cells and affect nucleic acid synthesis and contribute to the regulation of protein synthesis. Intracellular polyamine levels are highly dependent on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is an important pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent amino acid decarboxylase. Studies have shown that ornithine decarboxylase is involved in the polyamine biosynthesis of all living cells and catalyzes the conversion of ornithine to putrescine, the first and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of putrescine and of the polyamines spermidine and spermine.
Fig.1 Regulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity by polyamines in yeast. (Taxis, 2015)
Ornithine Decarboxylase as Potential Antifungal Target
Polyamines are small polycationic compounds present in all living organisms. They are essential for all living organisms as they regulate several biological processes. In higher eukaryotic organisms, including fungi, the most common polyamines are putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. Among the biosynthetic pathway of polyamines, ornithine descarboxylase is the dominant controlling factor of the entire pathway as it is the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine synthesis. Thus, ornithine descarboxylase is a potential antifungal target for new drug discovery.
We provide the world's leading target identification and validation service using numerous approaches, such as natural bioactive compound target identification, functional analysis and in vivo target validation. Except for ornithine descarboxylase, we also offer other potential cellular function-related targets exploiting service to meet every client’s specific requirements, which including but not limited to:
Aided by our professional technical team and advanced technology platform, Creative Biolabs is confident in providing high-quality target exploiting services to promote the development of antifungal drug discovery. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
For Research Use Only.
