This paper describes the mechanistic characterization of a yeast beta-1,3-D-glucan synthase (GS). GS is a proven target of FDA-approved antifungal drugs, but its catalytic mechanism is poorly understood. Using a newly developed size exclusion chromatography (SEC) assay, we were able to monitor the chain elongation for the first time and found that GS catalyzes the formation of a long glucan (~2,000 – 7,000 mer) at an amazing efficiency (~50-60 Glc unit polymerized per sec). The use of substrate analogs also revealed that the enzyme catalyzes the polymerization at the nonreducing end. The study also discusses the first comprehensive model of the GS catalytic cycle.
-
Search It!
-
Recent Entries
- Matthew and Jib’s work is published online in Nature Chemical Biology
- Our Comprehensive Natural Products reviews are published online
- Haoran and Edward’s work on MoaA is published online in JACS
- Abhi successfully defended his PhD dissertation
- Dr. Ogasawara visited Duke to give a seminar
- Abhi and Anna’s paper on glucan synthase was published in Biochemistry.
- Hai and Matthew won poster award!
- Abhi won a poster prize in the 2019 Enzymes Coenzymes and Pathway GRC
- Hai’s paper on mitomycin biosynthesis was published
- Ken was selected as the 2019 ACS Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry
-
Links