“…Lying close to Asp151, but outside the substrate-binding site, is a second sulfate anion that forms a hydrogen bond with the N 1 atom of His150 (SBS2). The distance of closest approach between the carboxylate O atom of the side chain of Asp151 and an O atom of this sulfate falls in the range 2.71-3.41 Å in the four monomers; these distances are consistent with a neutral carboxyl group (Vilminot et al, 1974;Cano & Martínez-Carrera, 1974;Vilminot & Philippot, 1976;Capasso et al, 1983;Nagashima et al, 1992;Srinivasan et al, 2001a,b). Sequence analysis of clinical isolates of influenza virus have identified Asp151 as the most variable of the conserved residues (McKimm-Breschkin et al, 2003); substitution by residues incapable of acting as an acid (asparagine, valine and glycine), however, deny Asp151 a critical role in catalysis.…”