The crystal structure of GMP synthetase reveals a novel catalytic triad and is a structural paradigm for two enzyme families.
Tesmer, J.J., Klem, T.J., Deras, M.L., Davisson, V.J., Smith, J.L.(1996) Nat Struct Biol 3: 74-86
- PubMed: 8548458 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsb0196-74
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1GPM - PubMed Abstract: 
The crystal structure of GMP synthetase serves as a prototype for two families of metabolic enzymes. The Class I glutamine amidotransferase domain of GMP synthetase is found in related enzymes of the purine, pyrimidine, tryptophan, arginine, histidine and folic acid biosynthetic pathways. This domain includes a conserved Cys-His-Glu triad and is representative of a new family of enzymes that use a catalytic triad for enzymatic hydrolysis. The structure and conserved sequence fingerprint of the nucleotide-binding site in a second domain of GMP synthetase are common to a family of ATP pyrophosphatases, including NAD synthetase, asparagine synthetase and argininosuccinate synthetase.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.