How does allosamidin inhibit family 18 chitinases?
Label:chem
Topic
Chitinases are enzymes that degrade chitin, a major component in the exoskeletons of insects and cell walls of fungi. Inhibiting chitinases can have significant biological effects, such as disrupting insect development or fungal growth.
Answer
Allosamidin inhibits family 18 chitinases by mimicking the oxazolium ion intermediate formed during the enzymatic reaction. The allosamizoline moiety of allosamidin binds to the active center of the enzyme, preventing the normal hydrolysis of chitin. This binding is supported by theoretical, NMR, X-ray crystallographic, and thermodynamic studies.
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