Biochemical and Structural Analysis of a Novel Esterase from Caulobacter crescentus related to Penicillin-Binding Protein (PBP)

Abstract

Considering that the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria is largely increasing, a thorough understanding of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) is of great importance and crucial significance because this enzyme family is a main target of beta-lactam-based antibiotics. In this work, combining biochemical and structural analysis, we present new findings that provide novel insights into PBPs. Here, a novel PBP homologue (CcEstA) from Caulobacter crescentus CB15 was characterized using native-PAGE, mass spectrometry, gel filtration, CD spectroscopy, fluorescence, reaction kinetics, and enzyme assays toward various substrates including nitrocefin. Furthermore, the crystal structure of CcEstA was determined at a 1.9 A resolion. Structural analyses showed that CcEstA has two domains: a large alpha/beta domain and a small a-helix domain. A nucleophilic serine (Ser(68)) residue is located in a hydrophobic groove between the two domains along with other catalytic residues (Lys(71) and Try(157)). Two large flexible loops (UL and LL) of CcEstA are proposed to be involved in the binding of incoming substrates. In conclusion, CcEstA could be described as a paralog of the group that contains PBPs and beta-lactamases. Therefore, this study could provide new structural and functional insights into the understanding this protein family.