Structure of the cystathionine γ-synthase MetB from Mycobacterium ulcerans

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2011 Sep 1;67(Pt 9):1154-8. doi: 10.1107/S1744309111029575. Epub 2011 Aug 16.

Abstract

Cystathionine γ-synthase (CGS) is a transulfurication enzyme that catalyzes the first specific step in L-methionine biosynthesis by the reaction of O(4)-succinyl-L-homoserine and L-cysteine to produce L-cystathionine and succinate. Controlling the first step in L-methionine biosythesis, CGS is an excellent potential drug target. Mycobacterium ulcerans is a slow-growing mycobacterium that is the third most common form of mycobacterial infection, mainly infecting people in Africa, Australia and Southeast Asia. Infected patients display a variety of skin ailments ranging from indolent non-ulcerated lesions as well as ulcerated lesions. Here, the crystal structure of CGS from M. ulcerans covalently linked to the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) is reported at 1.9 Å resolution. A second structure contains PLP as well as a highly ordered HEPES molecule in the active site acting as a pseudo-ligand. These results present the first structure of a CGS from a mycobacterium and allow comparison with other CGS enzymes. This is also the first structure reported from the pathogen M. ulcerans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Carbon-Oxygen Lyases / chemistry*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / enzymology*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • O-succinylhomoserine (thiol)-lyase
  • Carbon-Oxygen Lyases

Associated data

  • PDB/3QHX
  • PDB/3QI6