N-myristoyltransferase: a novel target.

Myristoyl-CoA:Protein N-myristoyltranferase (NMT) is a cytosolic monomeric enzyme which catalyses the transfer of a rare fatty acid, myristate from myristoyl-CoA to the N-terminal glycine residue of a variety of eukaryotic and viral proteins. N-myristoyltransferase is a novel target for anticancer, antiviral and antifungal agents. Recent N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors like benzofurans and benzothiazole derivatives show in vivo antifungal activity and are promising selective fungal N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors.