1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) is an enzyme involved in the first step in the nonmevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria, plants, and the parasite causing the most virulent form of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum (Mammals produce isoprenoids via the mevalonate pathway). Inhibiton of the enzyme provides alternative to traditional antimalaria therapy. FR-900098 is twice more effective than fosmidomycin against various strains of P. falciparum in vitro and the closely related P. vinckei in mice.
