PMID: 16674948

Authors:

Wehenkel A, Fernandez P, Bellinzoni M, Catherinot V, Barilone N, Labesse G, Jackson M, Alzari PM

Title:

The structure of PknB in complex with mitoxantrone, an ATP-competitive inhibitor, suggests a mode of protein kinase regulation in mycobacteria.

Journal:

FEBS Lett. 2006 May 29;580(13):3018-22. Epub 2006 Apr 27.

Abstract:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis PknB is an essential receptor-like protein kinase involved in cell growth control. Here, we demonstrate that mitoxantrone, an anthraquinone derivative used in cancer therapy, is a PknB inhibitor capable of preventing mycobacterial growth. The structure of the complex reveals that mitoxantrone partially occupies the adenine-binding pocket in PknB, providing a framework for the design of compounds with potential therapeutic applications. PknB crystallizes as a 'back-to-back' homodimer identical to those observed in other structures of PknB in complex with ATP analogs. This organization resembles that of the RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR, suggesting a mechanism for kinase activation in mycobacteria.