How protein modules fit together


Scientists have defined a new type of protein-protein interaction in tubulysin biosynthesis. This discovery will provide important guidelines for engineering cells to create new molecules and potential drugs.

Biosynthesis of small molecules is often done by a huge protein chain that can be conceptually broken down into ‘modules’ that perform specific steps in the overall synthesis. These modules have to communicate to pass along the growing small molecule, but the way in which some modules talk to each other was not known.

Kira Weissman and colleagues present a structure for one piece of a protein that directly talks to another module. They also prove that several amino acids on one side of this structure control communication to the partner protein. By switching these amino acids, then, it may be possible to mix and match modules to make brand new molecules that may be important drugs.

Author contact:
Kira Weissman (Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany)
Tel: +49 681 302 5497, Email: k.weissman@mx.uni-saarland.de