Co-crystallization of Staphylococcus aureus peptide deformylase (PDF) with potent inhibitors.

In bacteria the biosynthesis of all nascent polypeptides begins with N-formylmethionine. The post-translational removal of the N-formyl group is carried out by peptide deformylase (PDF). Processing of the N-formyl group from critical bacterial proteins is required for cell survival.