Crystal structure of the essential Mycobacterium tuberculosis phosphopantetheinyl transferase PptT, solved as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein

Phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTases) are key enzymes in the assembly-line production of complex molecules such as fatty acids, polyketides and polypeptides, where they activate acyl or peptidyl carrier proteins, transferring a 4′-phosphopantetheinyl moiety from coenzyme A (CoA) to a reactive serine residue on the carrier protein. The human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes two PPTases, both essential and therefore attractive drug targets. We report the structure of the type-II PPTase PptT, obtained from crystals of a fusion protein with maltose binding protein. The structure, at 1.75Å resolution (R=0.156, Rfree=0.191), reveals an α/β fold broadly similar to other type-II PPTases, but with differences in peripheral structural elements. A bound CoA is clearly defined with its pantetheinyl arm tucked into a hydrophobic pocket. Interactions involving the CoA diphosphate, bound Mg2+ and three active site acidic side chains suggest a plausible pathway for proton transfer during catalysis.