Crystal structures of the elusive Rhizobium etli l-asparaginase reveal a peculiar active site

Abstract

L-asparaginases catalyse the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. Here, the authors present high resolution crystal structures of Rhizobium etli L-asparaginase that contains a Zn2+ binding site without a catalytic role and discuss the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme.