Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is generated by natural and anthropogenic processes and has a critical role in environmental chemistry. It has an ozone-depleting potential similar to that of hydrochlorofluorocarbons as well as a global warming potential exceeding that of CO(2) 300-fold. In bacterial denitrification, N(2)O is reduced to N(2) by the copper-dependent nitrous oxide reductase (N(2)OR). This enzyme carries the mixed-valent Cu(A) centre and the unique, tetranuclear Cu(Z) site. Previous structural data were obtained with enzyme isolated in the presence of air that is catalytically inactive without prior reduction. Its Cu(Z) site was described as a [4Cu:S] centre, and the substrate-binding mode and reduction mechanism remained elusive. Here we report the structure of purple N(2)OR from Pseudomonas stutzeri, handled under the exclusion of dioxygen, and locate the substrate in N(2)O-pressurized crystals. The active Cu(Z) cluster contains two sulphur atoms, yielding a [4Cu:2S] stoichiometry; and N(2)O bound side-on at Cu(Z), in close proximity to Cu(A). With the substrate located between the two clusters, electrons are transferred directly from Cu(A) to N(2)O, which is activated by side-on binding in a specific binding pocket on the face of the [4Cu:2S] centre. These results reconcile a multitude of available biochemical data on N(2)OR that could not be explained by earlier structures, and outline a mechanistic pathway in which both metal centres and the intervening protein act in concert to achieve catalysis. This structure represents the first direct observation, to our knowledge, of N(2)O bound to its reductase, and sheds light on the functionality of metalloenzymes that activate inert small-molecule substrates. The principle of using distinct clusters for substrate activation and for reduction may be relevant for similar systems, in particular nitrogen-fixing nitrogenase.

Background:The cysteine peptidase gingipain K is a major proteolytic virulence factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis. Results: The structure of the catalytic and immunoglobulin-type domains has been solved in complex with a covalent inhibitor. Conclusion: A distinct S 1 pocket explains its high specificity for lysines. Significance: The structural details reveal the working mechanism and may lead to the design of drugs to selectively treat periodontitis.

Antibody–Drug Conjugates (ADCs) have been through multiple cycles of technological innovation since the concept was first practically demonstrated ~40 years ago. Current technology is focusing on large, whole immunoglobulin formats (of which there are approaching 100 in clinical development), many with site-specifically conjugated payloads numbering 2 or 4. Despite the success of trastuzumab-emtansine in breast cancer, ADCs have generally failed to have an impact in solid tumours, leading many to explore alternative, smaller formats which have better penetrating properties as well as more rapid pharmacokinetics (PK). This review describes research and development progress over the last ~10 years obtained from the primary literature or conferences covering over a dozen different smaller format-drug conjugates from 80 kDa to around 1 kDa in total size. In general, these agents are potent in vitro, particularly more recent ones incorporating ultra-potent payloads such as auristatins or maytansinoids, but this potency profile changes when testing in vivo due to the more rapid clearance. Strategies to manipulate the PK properties, whilst retaining the more effective tumour penetrating properties could at last make small-format drug conjugates viable alternative therapeutics to the more established ADCs.