Lack of dynamics in the MabA active site kills the enzyme activity: practical consequences for drug-design studies

The MabA protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a validated drug target. Previous structural studies of this protein showed dynamic behaviour in the catalytic site and described motion between an open `active' holo form (with NADP) and a closed `inactive' apo form (without NADP). Here, a mutation (G139A) is reported that leads to complete protein inactivation and freezes the catalytic site into its closed form, even in the presence of the cofactor. This observation suggests a new way to develop anti-MabA drugs via protein stabilization of the `inactive' form.