High resolution structure of Vibrio cholerae acylphosphatase (VcAcP) cage: Identification of drugs, location of its binding site and engineering to facilitate cage formation.
Chatterjee, S., Nath, S., Sen, U.(2020) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 523: 348-353
- PubMed: 31866010 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.12.060
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6KRB - PubMed Abstract: 
Protein cages have recently emerged as an extraordinary drug-delivery system due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, ease to manipulate and engineer. We have reported earlier the formation and architecture of a do-decameric cage-like architecture of Vibrio cholerae acylphosphatase (VcAcP) at 3.1 Å. High resolution (2.4 Å) crystal structure of VcAcP cage, reported here, illuminates a potential binding site for sulphate/phosphate containing drugs whereas analysis of its subunit association and interfaces indicates high potential for cage engineering. Tryptophan quenching studies indeed discloses noteworthy binding with various sulphate/phosphate containing nucleotide-based drugs and vitamin B 6 (PLP) demonstrating that exterior surface of VcAcP protein cage can be exploited as multifunctional carrier. Moreover, a quadruple mutant L30C/T68C/N40C/L81C-VcAcP (QM-VcAcP) capable to form an intricate disulphide bonded VcAcP cage has been designed. SEC, SDS-PAGE analysis and DLS experiment confirmed cysteine mediated engineered VcAcP cage formation.
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, HBNI, 1/AF Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700064, India.
Organizational Affiliation: 
















