Structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chitinase 1 and screening-based discovery of potent inhibitors.

Hurtado-Guerrero R, van Aalten DM.. Structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chitinase 1 and screening-based discovery of potent inhibitors.. Chem Biol. . 2007, Vol. 14(5), p. 589-2007.

family 18 chitinase, that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CTS1. The enzyme is active against 4-methylumbelliferyl chitooligosaccharides and displays an unusually low pH optimum for activity. A library screen against ScCTS1 yielded hits with Ki 's as low as 3.2 microM. Crystal structures of ScCTS1 in complex with inhibitors from three series reveal striking mimicry of carbohydrate substrate by small aromatic moieties and a pocket that could be further exploited in optimization of these inhibitors.