Several serotypes of Escherichia coli produce protein toxins closely related to Shiga toxin (Stx) from Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1. These Stx-producing E. coli cause outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans, with the latter being more likely if the E. coli produce Stx2 than if they only produce Stx1. To investigate the differences among the Stxs, which are all AB 5 toxins, the crystal structure of Stx2 from E. coli O157:H7 was determined at 1.8-Å resolution and compared with the known structure of Stx. Our major finding was that, in contrast to Stx, the active site of the A-subunit of Stx2 is accessible in the holotoxin, and a molecule of formic acid and a water molecule mimic the binding of the adenine base of the substrate. Further, the A-subunit adopts a different orientation with respect to the B-subunits in Stx2 than in Stx, due to interactions between the carboxyl termini of the B-subunits and neighboring regions of the A-subunit. Of the three types of receptor-binding sites in the B-pentamer, one has a different conformation in Stx2 than in Stx, and the carboxyl terminus of the A-subunit binds at another. Any of these structural differences might result in different mechanisms of action of the two toxins and the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome upon exposure to Stx2.

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Lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase A (Hex A) is essential for the degradation of GM2 gangliosides in the central and peripheral nervous system. Accumulation of GM2 leads to severely debilitating neurodegeneration associated with Tay-Sachs disease (TSD), Sandoff disease (SD) and AB variant. Here, we present the X-ray crystallographic structure of Hex A to 2.8 A resolution and the structure of Hex A in complex with NAG-thiazoline, (NGT) to 3.25 A resolution. NGT, a mechanism-based inhibitor, has been shown to act as a chemical chaperone that, to some extent, prevents misfolding of a Hex A mutant associated with adult onset Tay Sachs disease and, as a result, increases the residual activity of Hex A to a level above the critical threshold for disease. The crystal structure of Hex A reveals an alphabeta heterodimer, with each subunit having a functional active site. Only the alpha-subunit active site can hydrolyze GM2 gangliosides due to a flexible loop structure that is removed post-translationally from beta, and to the presence of alphaAsn423 and alphaArg424. The loop structure is involved in binding the GM2 activator protein, while alphaArg424 is critical for binding the carboxylate group of the N-acetyl-neuraminic acid residue of GM2. The beta-subunit lacks these key residues and has betaAsp452 and betaLeu453 in their place; the beta-subunit therefore cleaves only neutral substrates efficiently. Mutations in the alpha-subunit, associated with TSD, and those in the beta-subunit, associated with SD are discussed. The effect of NGT binding in the active site of a mutant Hex A and its effect on protein function is discussed.

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Crystal structures of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genotype 2a of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from two crystal forms have been determined. Similar to the three-dimensional structures of HCV polymerase genotype 1b and other known polymerases, the structures of the HCV polymerase genotype 2a in both crystal forms can be depicted in the classical right-hand arrangement with fingers, palm, and thumb domains. The main structural differences between the molecules in the two crystal forms lie at the interface of the fingers and thumb domains. The relative orientation of the thumb domain with respect to the fingers and palm domains and the ␤-flap region is altered. Structural analysis reveals that the NS5B polymerase in crystal form I adopts a "closed" conformation that is believed to be the active form, whereas NS5B in crystal form II adopts an "open" conformation and is thus in the inactive form. In addition, we have determined the structures of two NS5B polymerase/non-nucleoside inhibitor complexes. Both inhibitors bind at a common binding site, which is nearly 35 Å away from the polymerase active site and is located in the thumb domain. The binding pocket is predominantly hydrophobic in nature, and the enzyme inhibitor complexes are stabilized by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. Inhibitors can only be soaked in crystal form I and not in form II; examination of the enzyme-inhibitor complex reveals that the enzyme has undergone a dramatic conformational change from the form I (active) complex to the form II (inactive).

X-ray crystal structures of two non-nucleoside analogue inhibitors bound to hepatitis C virus NS5B RNAdependent RNA polymerase have been determined to 2.0 and 2.9 Å resolution. These noncompetitive inhibitors bind to the same site on the protein, ϳ35 Å from the active site. The common features of binding include a large hydrophobic region and two hydrogen bonds between both oxygen atoms of a carboxylate group on the inhibitor and two main chain amide nitrogen atoms of Ser 476 and Tyr 477 on NS5B. The inhibitor-binding site lies at the base of the thumb domain, near its interface with the C-terminal extension of NS5B. The location of this inhibitor-binding site suggests that the binding of these inhibitors interferes with a conformational change essential for the activity of the polymerase. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)1 infects about 3% of the world's human population. HCV infection can develop into chronic hepatitis, which, in some cases, causes cirrhosis of the liver, eventually leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (1). There is no vaccine against HCV currently, and no generally effective therapy for all genotypes of HCV is available. At the present time, the use of recombinant interferon ␣-2a, ␣-2b, "consensus" interferon, and pegylated interferon ␣-2b either in monotherapy or in combination with ribavirin is the only approved therapy available (2). However, limited efficacy and some adverse side effects are associated with these therapies (3). Therefore, the development of HCV-specific antiviral agents is needed urgently.Extensive studies have been done to understand the structures and functions of the individual components of the HCVencoded polyprotein (structural proteins C, E1, and E2 and nonstructural proteins NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B) (4 -6). Among them, NS2, NS3 protease and helicase, and NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase are essential enzymes for the replication of HCV. The high resolution crystal structures of NS3 protease (7-9) and helicase domains (10, 11) and NS5B polymerase (12-14) have been determined by crystallographic methods in the past 5 years. These enzymes are potential targets for structure-based drug design. The inhibitors of NS3 protease and, in some cases, corresponding structures of NS3 protease/inhibitor complexes have been reported recently (15). In the case of HCV NS5B polymerase, both nucleoside and non-nucleoside inhibitors have been discovered in recent years (16). 3TC (2Ј-deoxy-3Ј-thiacytidine proprietary compound lamivudine) triphosphate has been reported to have a weak inhibitory effect with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 180 M (17), whereas numerous non-nucleoside compounds have been documented to possess relatively potent anti-NS5B activity. Examples include specific rhodanines and barbituric acid derivatives, many of which were found to exhibit anti-NS5B activity with IC 50 values below 1 M (18, 19). Classes of dihydroxypyrimidine carboxylic acids and diketoacid derivatives were claimed as well with IC 50 values within the submicromolar range for the latt...

The main peptidase (M(pro)) from the coronavirus (CoV) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is one of the most attractive molecular targets for the development of anti-SARS agents. We report the irreversible inhibition of SARS-CoV M(pro) by an aza-peptide epoxide (APE; k(inact)/K(i) = 1900(+/-400) M(-1) s(-1)). The crystal structures of the M(pro):APE complex in the space groups C2 and P2(1)2(1)2(1) revealed the formation of a covalent bond between the catalytic Cys145 S(gamma) atom of the peptidase and the epoxide C3 atom of the inhibitor, substantiating the mode of action of this class of cysteine-peptidase inhibitors. The aza-peptide component of APE binds in the substrate-binding regions of M(pro) in a substrate-like manner, with excellent structural and chemical complementarity. In addition, the crystal structure of unbound M(pro) in the space group C2 revealed that the "N-fingers" (N-terminal residues 1 to 7) of both protomers of M(pro) are well defined and the substrate-binding regions of both protomers are in the catalytically competent conformation at the crystallization pH of 6.5, contrary to the previously determined crystal structures of unbound M(pro) in the space group P2(1).

Rhomboid peptidases are members of a family of regulated intramembrane peptidases that cleave the transmembrane segments of integral membrane proteins. Rhomboid peptidases have been shown to play a major role in developmental processes in Drosophila and in mitochondrial maintenance in yeast. Most recently, the function of rhomboid peptidases has been directly linked to apoptosis. We have solved the structure of the rhomboid peptidase from Haemophilus influenzae (hiGlpG) to 2.2-Å resolution. The phasing for the crystals of hiGlpG was provided mainly by molecular replacement, by using the coordinates of the Escherichia coli rhomboid (ecGlpG). The structural results on these rhomboid peptidases have allowed us to speculate on the catalytic mechanism of substrate cleavage in a membranous environment. We have identified the relative disposition of the nucleophilic serine to the general base/acid function of the conserved histidine. Modeling a tetrapeptide substrate in the context of the rhomboid structure reveals an oxyanion hole comprising the side chain of a second conserved histidine and the main-chain NH of the nucleophilic serine residue. In both hiGlpG and ecGlpG structures, a water molecule occupies this oxyanion hole.intramembrane peptidase ͉ membrane protein ͉ rhomboid protease ͉ x-ray crystallography