Abstract
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative saprophytic bacterium responsible of melioidosis, an endemic disease of tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. A recombinant gamma-CA (Bps gamma CA) identified in the genome of this bacterium was cloned and purified. Its catalytic activity and anion inhibition profiles were investigated. The enzyme was an efficient catalyst for the CO2 hydration showing a km of 5.3 x 10(5) s(-1) and k(cat)/K-m of 2.5 x 10(7) M-1 x s(-1). The best Bps gamma CA inhibitors were sulfamide, sulfamic acid, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, which showed K-I in the range of 49-83 mu M (these inhibitors showed millimolar inhibition constant against hCA II), followed by diethyldithiocarbamate, selenate, tellurate, perrhenate, selenocyanate, trithiocarbonate, tetraborato, pyrophosphate, stannate, carbonate, bicarbonate, azide, cyanide, thiocyanate and cyanate with K(I)s in the range of 0.55-9.1 mM. In our laboratories, work is in progress to resolve the X-ray crystal structures of Bps gamma CA, which may allow the development of small molecule inhibitors with desired properties for targeting and inhibiting specifically the bacterial over the human CAs, considering the fact that B. pseudomallei is involved in a serious bacterial disease. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.