Repository logo
 

Selective small molecule inhibitor of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis fumarate hydratase reveals an allosteric regulatory site.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Kasbekar, Monica 
Mott, Bryan T 
Yasgar, Adam 
Hyvönen, Marko 

Abstract

Enzymes in essential metabolic pathways are attractive targets for the treatment of bacterial diseases, but in many cases, the presence of homologous human enzymes makes them impractical candidates for drug development. Fumarate hydratase, an essential enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, has been identified as one such potential therapeutic target in tuberculosis. We report the discovery of the first small molecule inhibitor, to our knowledge, of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis fumarate hydratase. A crystal structure at 2.0-Å resolution of the compound in complex with the protein establishes the existence of a previously unidentified allosteric regulatory site. This allosteric site allows for selective inhibition with respect to the homologous human enzyme. We observe a unique binding mode in which two inhibitor molecules interact within the allosteric site, driving significant conformational changes that preclude simultaneous substrate and inhibitor binding. Our results demonstrate the selective inhibition of a highly conserved metabolic enzyme that contains identical active site residues in both the host and the pathogen.

Description

Keywords

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, TCA cycle, allosteric regulation, fumarate hydratase, selective inhibition, Allosteric Regulation, Crystallography, X-Ray, Fluorescence, Fumarate Hydratase, Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Journal Title

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K039520/1)
National Institutes of Health (Oxford–Cambridge Scholars Program)