Crystal Structures of Respiratory Pathogen Neuraminidases

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.01.108· OSTI ID:980117

Hsiao, Y; Parker, D; Ratner, A; Prince, A; Tong, L

Currently there is pressing need to develop novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of infections by the human respiratory pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The neuraminidases of these pathogens are important for host colonization in animal models of infection and are attractive targets for drug discovery. To aid in the development of inhibitors against these neuraminidases, we have determined the crystal structures of the P. aeruginosa enzyme NanPs and S. pneumoniae enzyme NanA at 1.6 and 1.7 {angstrom} resolution, respectively. In situ proteolysis with trypsin was essential for the crystallization of our recombinant NanA. The active site regions of the two enzymes are strikingly different. NanA contains a deep pocket that is similar to that in canonical neuraminidases, while the NanPs active site is much more open. The comparative studies suggest that NanPs may not be a classical neuraminidase, and may have distinct natural substrates and physiological functions. This work represents an important step in the development of drugs to prevent respiratory tract colonization by these two pathogens.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
• Sponsoring Organization: Doe - Office Of Science
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 980117
• Report Number(s): BNL-93035-2010-JA; BBRCA9; TRN: US201015%%1502
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 380, Issue 3; ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ANIMALS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALLIZATION
DRUGS
ENZYMES
FUNCTIONS
HOST
HUMAN POPULATIONS
PATHOGENS
PROTEOLYSIS
PSEUDOMONAS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
STREPTOCOCCUS
SUBSTRATES
TARGETS
TRYPSIN
national synchrotron light source