Primary Citation of Related Structures:   1JJI
PubMed Abstract: 
The crystal structure of AFEST, a novel hyper-thermophilic carboxylesterase from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus, complexed with a sulphonyl derivative, has been determined and refined to 2.2 A resolution. This enzyme, which has recently been cla ...
The crystal structure of AFEST, a novel hyper-thermophilic carboxylesterase from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus, complexed with a sulphonyl derivative, has been determined and refined to 2.2 A resolution. This enzyme, which has recently been classified as a member of the hormone- sensitive-lipase (H) group of the esterase/lipase superfamily, presents a canonical alpha/beta hydrolase core, shielded on the C-terminal side by a cap region composed of five alpha-helices. It contains the catalytic triad Ser160, His285 and Asp255, whereby the nucleophile is covalently modified and the oxyanion hole formed by Gly88, Gly89 and Ala161. A structural comparison of AFEST with its mesophilic and thermophilic homologues, Brefeldin A esterase from Bacillus subtilis (BFAE) and EST2 from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, reveals an increase in the number of intramolecular ion pairs and secondary structure content, as well as a significant reduction in loop extensions and ratio of hydrophobic to charged surface area. The variety of structural differences suggests possible strategies for thermostabilization of lipases and esterases with potential industrial applications.
Related Citations: 
Cloning, Overexpression and Properties of a New Thermophilic and Termostable Esterase with Sequence Similarity to Hormone-Sensitive Lipase Subfamily from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus Manco, G., Giosue, E., D'Auria, S., Herman, P., Carrea, G., Rossi, M. (2000) Arch Biochem Biophys 373: 182
A snapshot of the transition state of a novel thermophilic esterase belonging to the subfamily of mammalian hormone-sensitive lipase De Simone, G., Galdiero, S., Manco, G., Lang, D., Rossi, M., Pedone, C. (2000) J Mol Biol 303: 761
Organizational Affiliation: 
Centro di Studio di Biocristallografia- CNR, University of Naples "Federico II", via Mezzocannone 6/8, Naples, 80134, Italy.