response to chloroquine

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

Any process that results in a change in state or activity of a cell or an organism (in terms of movement, secretion, enzyme production, gene expression, etc.) as a result of a chloroquine stimulus. [GOC:kmv, GOC:TermGenie, PMID:23922869]

Chloroquine is a medication used to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. It works by interfering with the parasite's ability to multiply in the red blood cells. Chloroquine is also being investigated as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

The biological process of response to chloroquine involves several steps.

1. Chloroquine is taken up by the parasite through the parasite's food vacuole.

2. The chloroquine accumulates in the food vacuole, where it interferes with the parasite's ability to digest hemoglobin.

3. The parasite's food vacuole becomes acidic, and the chloroquine becomes protonated.

4. The protonated chloroquine is then able to bind to heme, a component of hemoglobin.

5. This binding prevents the parasite from utilizing heme for its metabolism and growth.

6. As a result, the parasite is unable to multiply and dies.

The exact mechanism by which chloroquine exerts its antimalarial effects is still being investigated. However, it is clear that chloroquine interferes with the parasite's ability to digest hemoglobin and to utilize heme for its metabolism and growth. This ultimately leads to the parasite's death.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (5)