The first crystal structure of a family 129 glycoside hydrolase from a probiotic bacterium reveals critical residues and metal cofactors.

The α--acetylgalactosaminidase from the probiotic bacterium (NagBb) belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 129 and hydrolyzes the glycosidic bond of Tn-antigen (GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr). NagBb is involved in assimilation of -glycans on mucin glycoproteins by in the human gastrointestinal tract, but its catalytic mechanism has remained elusive because of a lack of sequence homology around putative catalytic residues and of other structural information. Here we report the X-ray crystal structure of NagBb, representing the first GH129 family structure, solved by the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method based on sulfur atoms of the native protein.

Synergistic activity of fosfomycin, β-lactams and peptidoglycan recycling inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objectives: To evaluate the interconnection between peptidoglycan (PG) recycling, fosfomycin susceptibility and synergy between fosfomycin and β-lactams in Pseudomonas aeruginosa METHODS: Fosfomycin MICs were determined by broth microdilution and Etest for a panel of 47 PAO1 mutants defective in several components of PG recycling and/or AmpC induction pathways. PAO1 fosfomycin MICs were also determined in the presence of a 5 mM concentration of the NagZ inhibitor PUGNAc. Population analysis of fosfomycin susceptibility and characterization of the resistant mutants that emerged was also performed for selected strains.

Modifying the phenyl group of PUGNAc: reactivity tuning to deliver selective inhibitors for N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidases.

The synthesis of analogues of the potent N-acetylhexosaminidase inhibitor, PUGNAc, are described. These compounds were assayed against a set of biologically important N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidases and were found to vary in both potency and selectivity.

Gaining insight into the catalysis by GH20 lacto-N-biosidase using small molecule inhibitors and structural analysis.

The synthesis of potent inhibitors for lacto-N-biosidases and X-ray structural characterization of these compounds in complex with BbLNBase is described.

Inhibition of the family 20 glycoside hydrolase catalytic modules in the Streptococcus pneumoniae exo-β-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase, StrH.

Streptococcus pneumoniae produces a cell-surface attached β-N-acetylglucosaminidase called StrH that is used by this pathogen to process the termini of host complex N-linked glycans. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine-thiazoline (NAG-Thiazoline, NGT) and O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino N-phenyl carbamate (PUGNAc) are inhibitors of the two family 20 glycoside hydrolase catalytic modules within StrH and these inhibitors have proven useful in modulating the activity of StrH in assays that model aspects of the host-bacterium interaction. Here we explore the molecular basis of StrH inhibition through structural, kinetic, thermodynamic and site-directed mutagenic analyses using the recombinantly produced independent catalytic modules of StrH (GH20A and GH20B) and the inhibitors NGT and PUGNAc.

Crystal structures of a glycoside hydrolase family 20 lacto-N-biosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum.

Human milk oligosaccharides contain a large variety of oligosaccharides, of which lacto-N-biose I (Gal-β1,3-GlcNAc; LNB) predominates as a major core structure. A unique metabolic pathway specific for LNB has recently been identified in the human commensal bifidobacteria. Several strains of infant gut-associated bifidobacteria possess lacto-N-biosidase, a membrane-anchored extracellular enzyme, that liberates LNB from the nonreducing end of human milk oligosaccharides and plays a key role in the metabolic pathway of these compounds.

Development of tools to study lacto-N-biosidase: an important enzyme involved in the breakdown of human milk oligosaccharides.

Milk and sugar? The elucidation of the catalytic mechanism and the development of the first known inhibitor for lacto-N-biosidases, which are important enzymes involved in the breakdown of human milk oligosaccharides, are described.