Research & Teaching Faculty

Structural insights into the catalytic mechanism of Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase

TitleStructural insights into the catalytic mechanism of Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsAmaya, MF, Watts, AG, Damager, I, Wehenkel, A, Nguyen, T, Buschiazzo, A, Paris, G, Frasch, AC, Withers, SG, Alzari, PM
JournalSTRUCTURE
Volume12
Pagination775-784
Date PublishedMAY
ISSN0969-2126
Abstract

Sialidases are a superfamily of sialic-acid-releasing enzymes that are of significant interest due to their implication as virulence factors in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases. However, extensive studies of viral and microbial sialidases have failed to provide a comprehensive picture of their mechanistic properties, in part because the structures of competent enzyme-substrate complexes and reaction intermediates have never been described. Here we report these structures for the Trypanosoma cruzi traps-sialidase (TcTS), showing that catalysis by sialidases occurs via a similar mechanism to that of other retaining glycosidases, but with some intriguing differences that may have evolved in response to the substrate structure.

DOI10.1016/j.str.2004.02.036