The structure of chorismate synthase reveals a novel flavin binding site fundamental to a unique chemical reaction.
The crystal structure of chorismate synthase (CS) from Streptococcus pneumoniae has been solved to 2.0 A resolution in the presence of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and the substrate 5-enolpyruvyl-3-shikimate phosphate (EPSP). CS catalyses the final step of the shikimate pathway and is a potential therapeutic target for the rational design of novel antibacterials, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and herbicides. CS is a tetramer with the monomer possessing a novel beta-alpha-beta fold. The interactions between the enzyme, cofactor, and substrate reveal the structural reasons underlying the unique catalytic mechanism and identify the amino acids involved. This structure provides the essential initial information necessary for the generation of novel anti-infective compounds by a structure-guided medicinal chemistry approach.
Maclean
John
J
Department of Structural Biology, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow G20 0XP, Scotland, United Kingdom. john.maclean@btinternet.com
Ali
Sohail
S
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002384:Catalysis; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D019281:Dimerization; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005415:Flavins / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology
D005415:Flavins; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C019895:chorismate synthase; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases