title: Folate binding site of flavin-dependent thymidylate synthase.
abstract: The DNA nucleotide thymidylate is synthesized by the enzyme thymidylate synthase, which catalyzes the reductive methylation of deoxyuridylate using the cofactor methylene-tetrahydrofolate (CH(2)H(4)folate). Most organisms, including humans, rely on the thyA- or TYMS-encoded classic thymidylate synthase, whereas, certain microorganisms, including all Rickettsia and other pathogens, use an alternative thyX-encoded flavin-dependent thymidylate synthase (FDTS). Although several crystal structures of FDTSs have been reported, the absence of a structure with folates limits understanding of the molecular mechanism and the scope of drug design for these enzymes. Here we present X-ray crystal structures of FDTS with several folate derivatives, which together with mutagenesis, kinetic analysis, and computer modeling shed light on the cofactor binding and function. The unique structural data will likely facilitate further elucidation of FDTSs' mechanism and the design of structure-based inhibitors as potential leads to new antimicrobial drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Koehn
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Perissinotti
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moghram
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lesley
authors.forename: Irimpan I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Amnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohen
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000201:enzymology*; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005492:Folic Acid; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase