Crystal structure of maize serine racemase with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Serine racemase (SR) is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that is responsible for D-serine biosynthesis in vivo. The first X-ray crystal structure of maize SR was determined to 2.1 A resolution and PLP binding was confirmed in solution by UV-Vis absorption spectrometry. Maize SR belongs to the type II PLP-dependent enzymes and differs from the SR of a vancomycin-resistant bacterium. The PLP is bound to each monomer by forming a Schiff base with Lys67. Structural comparison with rat and fission yeast SRs reveals a similar arrangement of active-site residues but a different orientation of the C-terminal helix.