STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF SELECTED TARGETS FROM MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

Stanford University, Stanford CA

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Abstract

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. We have selected more than 400 target genes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis for cloning, expression and crystal structure determination. The targets are either gene products with an unknown function or are enzymatic activities from several essential pathways involved in detoxification or amino acid synthesis. Over 25 crystal structures have been determined in our lab to date and a number of targets have been cloned, expressed and crystallized. Structural work is continuing on the previously determined crystal structures with the goal of elucidating the detailed enzymatic mechanism for the design of effective inhibitors. The project requires the screening of typically large numbers of crystals, MAD or SAD phasing and high-resolution data collection to visualize the details of substrate or inhibitor binding.