Ribbon Diagram (IMAGE)
Caption
This ribbon diagram shows two views of the structure of the enzyme Tps2 as it removes a phosphate from a sugar molecule (yellow, orange and red). The result of this process is a sugar called trehalose which forms a tough coating on pathogenic fungi, enabling them to make the transition from the ambient temperature of the environment to the much hotter temperature inside a human host. Duke researchers hope that by interfering with Tps2's operation, they can prevent pathogens such as Cryptococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus from establishing an infection.
Credit
Yi Miao, Duke University
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