Nucleotide sequence encoding carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II

Abstract

The present invention provides a nucleotide sequence encoding carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II of Plasmodium falciparum. Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II catalyses the first committed and rate-limiting step in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. P. falciparum relies exclusively on pyrimidine synthesis de novo because of its inability to salvage pyrimidines. Mature human red blood cells, however, have no recognised requirement for a pyrimidine nucleotide. Accordingly, this enzyme represents a prime chemotherapeutic locus. The present invention relates to the use of the sequence encoding carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II in the recombinant production of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II and to antisense molecules, ribozymes and other gene inactivation agents designed from this sequence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.