Effect of sinefungin on macromolecular biosynthesis and cell cycle of Plasmodium falciparum.

The growth of the malarial parasite P. falciparum was arrested by the adenine containing nucleoside sinefungin at the trophozoite stage. The synthesis of DNA, of polyamines and the specific proteins of the schizont stage were completely blocked by the drug. The inhibition of DNA synthesis was not due to a decrease in the amount of DNA polymerase, but to the depletion of polyamines which are required for DNA synthesis.