Anthrax edema factor (EF) is a key virulence factor secreted by Bacillus anthracis. Here, we report a structure, at 3.0 Angstrom resolution, of the catalytic domain of EF (EF3) in complex with calmodulin (CaM) and adenosine 5'-(alpha,beta-methylene)-triphosphate (AMPCPP). Although the binding of the triphosphate of AMPCPP to EF3 can be superimposed on that of previously determined 3'deoxy-ATP (3'dATP) and 2'deoxy 3'anthraniloyl-ATP (2'd3'ANT-ATP) in EF3-CaM, the ribose and the adenine rings of AMPCPP are rotated approximately 105 and 180degrees, respectively, relative to those of 3'dATP and 2'd3'ANT-ATP. Based on this model, K382 and F586 should play key roles in the recognition of adenine. However, mutations of these residues to alanine either separately or together cause only modest changes in Michaelis-Menten constants and IC50 values of AMPCPP and cAMP. Therefore, this alternate binding mode of the adenosine of AMPCPP binds to EF likely playing only a minor role in ATP binding and in catalysis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.