Structural insights into the binding and catalytic mechanisms of the Listeria monocytogenes bacteriophage glycosyl hydrolase PlyP40

What is it about?

Endolysins are enzymes that specifically recognize and degrade the cell wall of bacteria, which makes them interesting as antimicrobial agents or diagnostic tools. They consist of several functional modules, which can be rearranged to create artificial proteins with new properties. For this purpose, knowledge of the structure and function of the endolysins and their individual modules is important. Here, we elucidate the structure and function of the endolysin PlyP40, which is active against the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Using this knowledge, we create artificial fusion proteins with altered properties.

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