2vd9

File:2vd9.jpg

THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF ALANINE RACEMASE FROM BACILLUS ANTHRACIS (BA0252) WITH BOUND L-ALA-P

OverviewOverview

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, has been targeted by the Oxford Protein Production Facility to validate high-throughput protocols within the Structural Proteomics in Europe project. As part of this work, the structures of an alanine racemase (BA0252) in the presence and absence of the inhibitor (R)-1-aminoethylphosphonic acid (L-Ala-P) have determined by X-ray crystallography to resolutions of 2.1 and 1.47 A, respectively. Difficulties in crystallizing this protein were overcome by the use of reductive methylation. Alanine racemase has attracted much interest as a possible target for anti-anthrax drugs: not only is D-alanine a vital component of the bacterial cell wall, but recent studies also indicate that alanine racemase, which is accessible in the exosporium, plays a key role in inhibition of germination in B. anthracis. These structures confirm the binding mode of L-Ala-P but suggest an unexpected mechanism of inhibition of alanine racemase by this compound and could provide a basis for the design of improved alanine racemase inhibitors with potential as anti-anthrax therapies.

About this StructureAbout this Structure

2VD9 is a Single protein structure of sequence from Bacillus anthracis. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA.

ReferenceReference

Structures of an alanine racemase from Bacillus anthracis (BA0252) in the presence and absence of (R)-1-aminoethylphosphonic acid (L-Ala-P)., Au K, Ren J, Walter TS, Harlos K, Nettleship JE, Owens RJ, Stuart DI, Esnouf RM, Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2008 May 1;64(Pt, 5):327-33. Epub 2008 Apr 5. PMID:18453697 Page seeded by OCA on Thu May 22 21:39:38 2008