The Reaction Coordinate of a Bacterial GH47 α‐Mannosidase: A Combined Quantum Mechanical and Structural Approach

Mannosides in the southern hemisphere: Conformational analysis of enzymatic mannoside hydrolysis informs strategies for enzyme inhibition and inspires solutions to mannoside synthesis. Atomic resolution structures along the reaction coordinate of an inverting α-mannosidase show how the enzyme distorts the substrate and transition state. QM/MM calculations reveal how the free energy landscape of isolated α-D-mannose is molded on enzyme to only allow one conformationally accessible reaction coordinate.