Analyzing the postulated inhibitory effect of Manumycin A on farnesyltransferase.

Manumycin A is postulated to be a specific inhibitor against the farnesyltransferase (FTase) since this effect has been shown in 1993 for yeast FTase. Since then, plenty of studies investigated Manumycin A in human cells as well as in model organisms like Some studies pointed to additional targets and pathways involved in Manumycin A effects like apoptosis. Therefore, these studies created doubt whether the main mechanism of action of Manumycin A is FTase inhibition.

Impact of a conserved N-terminal proline-rich region of the α-subunit of CAAX-prenyltransferases on their enzyme properties.

Background: The CAAX-prenyltransferases farnesyltransferase (FTase) and geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I) are heterodimers with a common α- (FTα) and unique β-subunits. Recently, α-subunits of species (e.g.