Structural highlights
Function
FTSZ_MYCTU Essential cell division protein that forms a contractile ring structure (Z ring) at the future cell division site. The regulation of the ring assembly controls the timing and the location of cell division. One of the functions of the FtsZ ring is to recruit other cell division proteins to the septum to produce a new cell wall between the dividing cells (By similarity). Binds GTP and shows GTPase activity.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_00909]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths each year. One potential antibacterial target in M. tuberculosis is filamentous temperature sensitive protein Z (FtsZ), which is the bacterial homologue of mammalian tubulin, a validated cancer target. M. tuberculosis FtsZ function is essential, with its inhibition leading to arrest of cell division, elongation of the bacterial cell and eventual cell death. However, the development of potent inhibitors against FtsZ has been a challenge owing to the lack of structural information. Here we report multiple crystal structures of M. tuberculosis FtsZ in complex with a coumarin analogue. The 4-hydroxycoumarin binds exclusively to two novel cryptic pockets in nucleotide-free FtsZ, but not to the binary FtsZ-GTP or GDP complexes. Our findings provide a detailed understanding of the molecular basis for cryptic pocket formation, controlled by the conformational flexibility of the H7 helix, and thus reveal an important structural and mechanistic rationale for coumarin antibacterial activity.
Conformational Flexibility of A Highly Conserved Helix Controls Cryptic Pocket Formation in FtsZ.,Alnami A, Norton RS, Pena HP, Haider S, Kozielski F J Mol Biol. 2021 May 21;433(15):167061. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167061. PMID:34023403[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Alnami A, Norton RS, Pena HP, Haider S, Kozielski F. Conformational Flexibility of A Highly Conserved Helix Controls Cryptic Pocket Formation in FtsZ. J Mol Biol. 2021 May 21;433(15):167061. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167061. PMID:34023403 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167061
