X-ray structures along the reaction pathway of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase elucidate catalysis in the alpha-amylase family.
Uitdehaag, J.C., Mosi, R., Kalk, K.H., van der Veen, B.A., Dijkhuizen, L., Withers, S.G., Dijkstra, B.W.(1999) Nat Struct Biol 6: 432-436
- PubMed: 10331869 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/8235
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1CXK, 1CXL - PubMed Abstract: 
Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) is an enzyme of the alpha-amylase family, which uses a double displacement mechanism to process alpha-linked glucose polymers. We have determined two X-ray structures of CGTase complexes, one with an intact substrate at 2.1 A resolution, and the other with a covalently bound reaction intermediate at 1.8 A resolution. These structures give evidence for substrate distortion and the covalent character of the intermediate and for the first time show, in atomic detail, how catalysis in the alpha-amylase family proceeds by the concerted action of all active site residues.
Organizational Affiliation: 
BIOSON Research Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.