Structural highlights
Function
[IMM9_ECOLX] This protein is able to protect a cell, which harbors the plasmid ColE9 encoding colicin E9, against colicin E9, it binds specifically to the DNase-type colicin and inhibits its bactericidal activity. [CEA9_ECOLX] This plasmid-coded bactericidal protein is an endonuclease active on both single- and double-stranded DNA but with undefined specificity. Colicins are polypeptide toxins produced by and active against E.coli and closely related bacteria.
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The crystal structure of the cytotoxic endonuclease domain from the bacterial toxin colicin E9 in complex with its cognate immunity protein Im9 reveals that the inhibitor does not bind at the active site, the core of which comprises the HNH motif found in intron-encoded homing endonucleases, but rather at an adjacent position leaving the active site exposed yet unable to bind DNA because of steric and electrostatic clashes with incoming substrate. Although its mode of action is unorthodox, Im9 is a remarkably effective inhibitor since it folds within milliseconds and then associates with its target endonuclease at the rate of diffusion to form an inactive complex with sub-femtomolar binding affinity. This hyperefficient mechanism of inhibition could be well suited to other toxic enzyme systems, particularly where the substrate is a polymer extending beyond the boundaries of the active site.
Structural and mechanistic basis of immunity toward endonuclease colicins.,Kleanthous C, Kuhlmann UC, Pommer AJ, Ferguson N, Radford SE, Moore GR, James R, Hemmings AM Nat Struct Biol. 1999 Mar;6(3):243-52. PMID:10074943[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Kleanthous C, Kuhlmann UC, Pommer AJ, Ferguson N, Radford SE, Moore GR, James R, Hemmings AM. Structural and mechanistic basis of immunity toward endonuclease colicins. Nat Struct Biol. 1999 Mar;6(3):243-52. PMID:10074943 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/6683
