An inhibitor of FtsZ with potent and selective anti-staphylococcal activity.

FtsZ is an essential bacterial guanosine triphosphatase and homolog of mammalian beta-tubulin that polymerizes and assembles into a ring to initiate cell division. We have created a class of small synthetic antibacterials, exemplified by PC190723, which inhibits FtsZ and prevents cell division. PC190723 has potent and selective in vitro bactericidal activity against staphylococci, including methicillin- and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

High-field EPR investigations of Mn(III)Mn(IV) and Mn(II)Mn(III) states of dimanganese catalase and related model systems.

Multi-frequency EPR experiments at 9, 34 and 94 GHz are reported on the antiferromagnetically coupled mixed valence Mn(II)Mn(III) complex of manganese catalase and on several dinuclear manganese model systems. They are compared with similar experiments obtained earlier for the Mn(III)Mn(IV) states. It is demonstrated how accurate information on the G- and 55Mn hyperfine tensors can be derived from this approach.

Substrate specificity and mechanism from the structure of Pyrococcus furiosus galactokinase.

Galactokinase (GalK) catalyses the first step of the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism, the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of galactose to galactose-1-phosphate. In man, defects in galactose metabolism can result in disorders with severe clinical consequences, and deficiencies in galactokinase have been linked with the development of cataracts within the first few months of life. The crystal structure of GalK from Pyrococcus furiosus in complex with MgADP and galactose has been determined to 2.

Outer sphere mutagenesis of Lactobacillus plantarum manganese catalase disrupts the cluster core. Mechanistic implications.

X-ray crystallography of the nonheme manganese catalase from Lactobacillus plantarum (LPC) [Barynin, V.V., Whittaker, M.