Reinterpreting the mechanism of inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis D-alanine:D-alanine ligase by D-cycloserine

Biochemistry. 2013 Oct 8;52(40):7145-9. doi: 10.1021/bi400839f. Epub 2013 Sep 25.

Abstract

d-Cycloserine is a second-line drug approved for use in the treatment of patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of tuberculosis. The unique mechanism of action of d-cycloserine, compared with those of other clinically employed antimycobacterial agents, represents an untapped and exploitable resource for future rational drug design programs. Here, we show that d-cycloserine is a slow-onset inhibitor of MtDdl and that this behavior is specific to the M. tuberculosis enzyme orthologue. Furthermore, evidence is presented that indicates d-cycloserine binds exclusively to the C-terminal d-alanine binding site, even in the absence of bound d-alanine at the N-terminal binding site. Together, these results led us to propose a new model of d-alanine:d-alanine ligase inhibition by d-cycloserine and suggest new opportunities for rational drug design against an essential, clinically validated mycobacterial target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cycloserine / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Kinetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / enzymology
  • Peptide Synthases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Binding
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Cycloserine
  • Peptide Synthases
  • D-alanylalanine synthetase