Recombinant Escherichia fergusonii Peptide Deformylase (def) is a genetically engineered metalloenzyme critical for bacterial protein maturation. It catalyzes the hydrolytic removal of the N-terminal formyl group from nascent polypeptides—a universal step in bacterial protein synthesis . This enzyme is produced via recombinant DNA technology, enabling its study and application in antibacterial drug development .
| Feature | E. fergusonii PDF | Human Mitochondrial PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Catalytic Metal | Fe²⁺/Ni²⁺ | Fe²⁺ (low stability) |
| Deformylation Efficiency | High | Negligible |
| Drug Target Potential | Validated | Not applicable |
Target Validation: PDF is essential for bacterial survival; deletion of the def gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae increases susceptibility to deformylase inhibitors .
Inhibitor Screening: Recombinant PDF is used to test compounds like actinonin, which block deformylation and cause bacteriostatic effects in E. coli .
KEGG: efe:EFER_3270