The Crystal Structure Of Peptidase Toward Drug Discovery

Dipeptidyl amino peptidase is well known as a drug target of diabetes. Therefore, the existence of many types of DPPs in many organisms has been often overlooked by clinical researchers. Human DPP4 is involved in the inactivation of incretin for the control of blood glucose levels. Meanwhile, some bacterial DPPs are involved in energy metabolism in Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Rods (NFGNRs). NFGNRs utilize peptides or proteins as energy and carbon sources instead of carbohydrates. Bacterial DPPs are composed of two families (Clan SC S9, Clan PA S46). Clan SC S9 family DPPs are also seen in animals. By contrast, Clan PA S46 family DPPs are only found in bacteria. Additionally, substrate specificity of Clan PA S46 DPPs are completely different from Clan SC S9 DPPs. Considering these features together, bacterial DPPs may be potential target molecules for antimicrobials.