PMID: 20124697

Authors:

Schulz EC, Neumann P, Gerardy-Schahn R, Sheldrick GM, Ficner R

Title:

Structure analysis of endosialidase NF at 0.98 A resolution.

Journal:

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2010 Feb;66(Pt 2):176-80. Epub 2010 Jan 22.

Abstract:

Endosialidase NF (endoNF) is a bacteriophage-derived endosialidase that specifically degrades alpha-2,8-linked polysialic acid. The structure of a new crystal form of endoNF in complex with sialic acid has been refined at 0.98 A resolution. The 210 kDa homotrimeric multi-domain enzyme displays outstanding stability and resistance to SDS. Even at atomic resolution, only a minor fraction of side chains possess alternative conformations. However, multiple conformations of an active-site residue imply that it has an important catalytic function in the cleavage mechanism of polysialic acid.