title: Crystal structure of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase from Escherichia coli at 3.0 A resolution. A target enzyme for chemotherapy.
abstract: The atomic structure of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase, an essential enzyme in purine biosynthesis, has been determined at 3.0 A resolution. The last three C-terminal residues and a sequence stretch of 18 residues (residues 113 to 130) are not visible in the electron density map. The enzyme forms a dimer in the crystal structure. Each monomer is divided into two domains, which are connected by a central mainly parallel seven-stranded beta-sheet. The N-terminal domain contains a Rossmann type mononucleotide fold with a phosphate ion bound to the C-terminal end of the first beta-strand. A long narrow cleft stretches from the phosphate to a conserved aspartic acid, Asp144, which has been suggested as an active-site residue. The cleft is lined by a cluster of residues, which are conserved between bacterial, yeast, avian and human enzymes, and likely represents the binding pocket and active site of the enzyme. GAR Tfase binds a reduced folate cofactor and glycinamide ribonucleotide for the catalysis of one of the initial steps in purine biosynthesis. Folate analogs and multi-substrate inhibitors of the enzyme have antineoplastic effects and the structure determination of the unliganded enzyme and enzyme-inhibitor complexes will aid the development of anti-cancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schulze-Gahmen
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inglese
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marolewski
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Benkovic
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003461:Crystallography; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010710:Phosphates; D051026:Phosphoribosylglycinamide Formyltransferase; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; D051026:Phosphoribosylglycinamide Formyltransferase; D000217:Acyltransferases