Structural modeling and functional analysis of the essential ribosomal processing protease Prp from S taphylococcus aureus

What is it about?

The ongoing rise of antibiotic resistance is a major global health concern, as microorganisms become resistant to all available drugs. Identification of new therapeutic targets is urgently needed. We recently identified a novel protease in Staphylococcus aureus that cleaves a ribosomal protein precursor. In this work, we demonstrate that this cleavage is essential, which makes the protease an attractive target for antibiotic development. We report biochemical and structural analysis of this new type of protease that sheds light on how it binds to its substrate. These studies set the stage for the design of new antibiotics to target S. aureus and related drug-resistant pathogens.

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