Take a look at the mechanism of viral neuraminidase cleaving a sialic acid from some OR group.

a. What are the amino acids directly involved in catalysis of this reaction?

b. What role does each amino acid play?

c. Look up the structure of Tamiflu. What are the similarities to sialic acid? What are the differences? How does the idea of a transition-state inhibitor apply to this structure?

272 CHAPTER E Eriymes Bological Catahsts