Structure and Function of Sedoheptulose-7-phosphate Isomerase, a Critical Enzyme for Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis and a Target for Antibiotic Adjuvants*

The barrier imposed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria presents a significant challenge in treatment of these organisms with otherwise effective hydrophobic antibiotics. The absence of L-glycero-D-manno-heptose in the LPS molecule is associated with a dramatically increased bacterial susceptibility to hydrophobic antibiotics and thus enzymes in the ADP-heptose biosynthesis pathway are of significant …