Highly dynamic metal exchange in anthrax lethal factor involves the occupation of an inhibitory metal binding site

Abstract

Metal exchange is a common strategy to replace the zinc ion of many zinc proteins with other transition metals amenable to spectroscopic investigations. We here demonstrate that in anthrax lethal factor (and likely other zinc proteases), metal exchange is a fast process, and involves the occupation of an inhibitory metal site by the incoming ion prior to the release of zinc.