title: The role of Phe181 in the hexamerization of Helicobacter pylori quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase.
abstract: Quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (QAPRTase; NadC) catalyzes an indispensable step in NAD biosynthesis, one that is essential for cell survival in prokaryotes, which makes it an attractive target for antibacterial drug therapy. We recently reported the crystal structures of Helicobacter pylori QAPRTase with bound quinolinic acid, nicotinamide mononucleotide, and phthalic acid. The enzyme exists as a hexamer organized as a trimer of dimers, which is essential for full enzymatic activity. The loop between helix alpha7 and strand beta8 contributes significantly to the hydrophobic dimer-dimer interactions. Phe181Pro mutation within the alpha7-beta8 loop disrupts the hexamerization of QAPRTase, and the resultant dimer shows dramatically reduced protein stability and no activity. Our findings thus suggest that compounds able to disrupt its proper oligomerization could potentially function as selective inhibitors of Helicobacter pylori QAPRTase and represent a novel set of antibacterial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: M-K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Eom
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D019281:Dimerization; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010430:Pentosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D017354:Point Mutation; D011392:Proline / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D000098553:Nicotinate-Nucleotide Diphosphorylase (Carboxylating)
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010649:Phenylalanine; D011392:Proline; D010430:Pentosyltransferases; D000098553:Nicotinate-Nucleotide Diphosphorylase (Carboxylating)