Multiple active site conformations revealed by distant site mutation in ornithine decarboxylase

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is an obligate homodimer that catalyzes the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent decarboxylation of L-ornithine to putrescine in polyamine biosynthesis. It is reported that ODC is investigated as a therapeutic target for a number of proliferative diseases and has proved to be an effective target in the treatment of African sleeping sickness, a fatal tropical disease.