title: Identification of amino acids essential for catalytic activity of pneumococcal neuraminidase A.
abstract: We characterised pneumococcal neuraminidase A (NanA) by determining key amino acids required for the enzymatic activity of the protein. Single replacement of two residues, hypothesised to be important for the catalytic activity of neuraminidases, resulted in total loss of activity (E647 with Q or Y752 with F). The mutation of R663 to H caused substantial reduction in the catalytic ability of the enzyme. The inactive neuraminidases thus produced were protective immunogens against pneumococcal pneumonia in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Maurice Shock Building, University of Leicester, PO Box 138, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yesilkaya
authors.forename: Shital
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soma-Haddrick
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Crennell
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Andrew
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002384:Catalysis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D009439:Neuraminidase