Penicillin binding protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae

Abstract

The invention provides isolated nucleic acid compounds encoding a novel high molecular weight PBP of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Also provided are vectors and transformed heterologous host cells for expressing the PBP and a method for identifying compounds that bind and/or inhibit the enzymatic activity of the PBP.

We claim:  
     
       1. An isolated Penicillin Binding Protein Nv (PBP-Nv) from  Streptococcus pneumoniae  having the amino acid sequence which is a SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       2. An isolated Penicillin Binding Protein Nv S  (PBP-Nv S ) − from  Streptococcus pneumoniae  having the amino acid sequence which is defined by residues 78 through 731 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       3. A method for identifying compounds that bind a  Streptococcus pneumoniae  PBP-Nv, comprising the steps of: 
       a) admixing:  
       i) a substantially pure PBP wherein said PBP is PBP-Nv or PBP-Nv S ; and  
       ii) a suitable test compound;  
       b) measuring by any suitable means a binding by said compound to said PBP.  
     
     
       4. A method for identifying compounds that inhibit the transglycosylase activity of a  Streptococcus pneumoniae  PBP-Nv, comprising the steps of: 
       a) admixing:  
       i) a substantially pure PBP wherein said PBP is PBP-Nv or PBP-Nv S ; and  
       ii) a suitable substrate and test compound;  
       b) measuring by any suitable means inhibition of said transglycosylase activity.  
     
     
       5. A method for identifying compounds that inhibit the transpeptidation activity of a  Streptococcus pneumoniae  PBP-Nv, comprising the steps of: 
       a) admixing:  
       i) a substantially pure PBP wherein said PBP is PBP-Nv or PBP-Nv S ; and  
       ii) a suitable substrate and test compound;  
       b) measuring by any suitable means inhibition of said transpeptidation activity.