Download MendeleyCrystal structure of NucB, a biofilm-degrading endonuclease.
Basle, A., Hewitt, L., Koh, A., Lamb, H.K., Thompson, P., Burgess, J.G., Hall, M.J., Hawkins, A.R., Murray, H., Lewis, R.J.(2018) Nucleic Acids Res 46: 473-484
- PubMed: 29165717
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkx1170
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
5OMT - PubMed Abstract:
Bacterial biofilms are a complex architecture of cells that grow on moist interfaces, and are held together by a molecular glue of extracellular proteins, sugars and nucleic acids. Biofilms are particularly problematic in human healthcare as they can coat medical implants and are thus a potential source of disease. The enzymatic dispersal of biofilms is increasingly being developed as a new strategy to treat this problem. Here, we have characterized NucB, a biofilm-dispersing nuclease from a marine strain of Bacillus licheniformis, and present its crystal structure together with the biochemistry and a mutational analysis required to confirm its active site. Taken together, these data support the categorization of NucB into a unique subfamily of the ββα metal-dependent non-specific endonucleases. Understanding the structure and function of NucB will facilitate its future development into an anti-biofilm therapeutic agent.
Organizational Affiliation:
Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
