PMID: 21904066 , Related PDB ids: 3QHX, 3QI6

Authors:

Clifton MC, Abendroth J, Edwards TE, Leibly DJ, Gillespie AK, Ferrell M, Dieterich SH, Exley I, Staker BL, Myler PJ, Van Voorhis WC, Stewart LJ

Title:

Structure of the cystathionine gamma-synthase MetB from Mycobacterium ulcerans.

Journal:

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

Abstract:

Cystathionine gamma-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 A 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.