A LC-MS-BASED ASSAY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ACTIVITY AND INHIBITION OF ANOPHELES GAMBIAE 3-HYDROXYKYNURENINE TRANSAMINASE ENZYME

摘要

In Anopheles gambiae, the most efficient vector of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, 3hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) represents a toxic metabolite. In the adult mosquitoes, the excess of this toxic metabolite is removed by a specific 3-HK transaminase (Ag-HKT) which converts the 3-HK into the more stable xanthurenic acid. Interfering with 3-HK metabolism in A. gambiae is a potential approach for the development of transmission-blocking drugs and insecticides.