Bacterial cellulose synthase bound to a substrate analogueBacterial cellulose synthase bound to a substrate analogue

Structural highlights

5eiy is a 3 chain structure with sequence from Cereibacter sphaeroides and Cereibacter sphaeroides 2.4.1. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA. For a guided tour on the structure components use FirstGlance.
Method:X-ray diffraction, Resolution 2.95Å
Ligands:, , , , , , ,
Resources:FirstGlance, OCA, PDBe, RCSB, PDBsum, ProSAT

Function

Q3J125_CERS4 Catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase. It polymerizes uridine 5'-diphosphate glucose to cellulose.[RuleBase:RU365020]

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Many biopolymers, including polysaccharides, must be translocated across at least one membrane to reach their site of biological function. Cellulose is a linear glucose polymer synthesized and secreted by a membrane-integrated cellulose synthase. Here, in crystallo enzymology with the catalytically active bacterial cellulose synthase BcsA-BcsB complex reveals structural snapshots of a complete cellulose biosynthesis cycle, from substrate binding to polymer translocation. Substrate- and product-bound structures of BcsA provide the basis for substrate recognition and demonstrate the stepwise elongation of cellulose. Furthermore, the structural snapshots show that BcsA translocates cellulose via a ratcheting mechanism involving a 'finger helix' that contacts the polymer's terminal glucose. Cooperating with BcsA's gating loop, the finger helix moves 'up' and 'down' in response to substrate binding and polymer elongation, respectively, thereby pushing the elongated polymer into BcsA's transmembrane channel. This mechanism is validated experimentally by tethering BcsA's finger helix, which inhibits polymer translocation but not elongation.

Observing cellulose biosynthesis and membrane translocation in crystallo.,Morgan JL, McNamara JT, Fischer M, Rich J, Chen HM, Withers SG, Zimmer J Nature. 2016 Mar 17;531(7594):329-34. doi: 10.1038/nature16966. Epub 2016 Mar 9. PMID:26958837[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

References

  1. Morgan JL, McNamara JT, Fischer M, Rich J, Chen HM, Withers SG, Zimmer J. Observing cellulose biosynthesis and membrane translocation in crystallo. Nature. 2016 Mar 17;531(7594):329-34. doi: 10.1038/nature16966. Epub 2016 Mar 9. PMID:26958837 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature16966

5eiy, resolution 2.95Å

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