Molecular characterization of Plasmodium falciparum putative polynucleotide kinase/phosphatase

► Polynucleotide kinase/phosphatase gene of Plasmodium falciparum was cloned and expressed. ► 3′-Phosphatase activity was detected but 5′ kinase activity was not observed. ► The enzyme use only single-stranded substrates, and not double-stranded substrates. ► PfPNKP is more sensitive to sodium vanadate (Na3VO4) than human PNKP. ► Unlike human PNKP, PfPNKP is involved in single-strand breaks repair.