A 2.8 A resolution structure of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei: comparison with the sheep enzyme accounts for differences in activity with coenzyme and substrate analogues.
Primary Citation of Related Structures:   1PGJ
PubMed Abstract: 
The three-dimensional structure of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) from the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei has been solved at 2.8 A resolution. This pentose phosphate pathway enzyme is NADP-dependent; NADPH generated in the reaction protects against oxidative stress ...
The three-dimensional structure of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) from the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei has been solved at 2.8 A resolution. This pentose phosphate pathway enzyme is NADP-dependent; NADPH generated in the reaction protects against oxidative stress. The enzyme crystallises in the space-group P3121 with a dimer in the asymmetric unit and cell dimensions a=b=135.13 A, c=116.74 A, alpha=beta=90 degrees, gamma=120 degrees. The structure has refined to R=18.6% (Rfree=27.3%) with good geometry. The amino acid sequence of T. brucei 6PGDH is only 35% identical to that of the sheep liver enzyme and significant activity differences have been observed. The active dimer assembles with the C-terminal tail of one subunit threaded through the other, forming part of the substrate binding site. The tail of T. brucei 6PGDH is shorter than that of the sheep enzyme and its terminal residues associate tightly with the second monomer. The three-dimensional structure shows this generates additional interactions between the subunits close to the active site; the coenzyme binding domain is thereby associated more tightly with the helical domain. Three residues, conserved in all other known sequences, are important in creating a salt bridge between monomers close to the substrate binding site. The differences could explain the 200-fold enhanced affinity observed for the substrate analogue 6-phospho-2-deoxy-D-gluconate and suggest targets for anti-parasite drug design. The coenzyme binding domain of 6PGDH has a beta-alpha-beta fold; while in most species the "fingerprint" sequence is GxAxxG, in the T. brucei enzyme it is GxGxxG. Additional interactions between the enzyme and the coenzyme bis-phosphate are likely in the parasite 6PGDH, accounting for greater inhibition (40-fold) of 2'5'-ADP. While the core of the T. brucei dimer was restrained during refinement, several conformational differences have been found between the monomers; those at the coenzyme binding site suggest the molecule could be asymmetric during the enzyme reaction.
Related Citations: 
Overexpression in Escherichia Coli and Purification of the 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase of Trypanosoma Brucei Barrett, M.P., Phillips, C., Adams, M.J., Le Page, R.W. (1994) Protein Expr Purif 5: 44
Crystallographic Study of Coenzyme, Coenzyme Analogue and Substrate Binding in 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase: Implications for Nadp Specificity and the Enzyme Mechanism Adams, M.J., Ellis, G.H., Gover, S., Naylor, C.E., Phillips, C. (1994) Structure 2: 651
Erratum. Crystallographic Study of Coenzyme, Coenzyme Analogue and Substrate Binding in 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase: Implications for Nadp Specificity and the Enzyme Mechanism Adams, M.J., Ellis, G.H., Gover, S., Naylor, C.E., Phillips, C. (1994) Structure 2: 784
Preliminary Crystallographic Study of 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma Brucei Phillips, C., Barrett, M.P., Gover, S., Le Page, R.W., Adams, M.J. (1993) J Mol Biol 233: 317
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, Oxford University, Rex Richards Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.