The present invention provides the three-dimensional structure of human mitochondrial Homo sapiens peptide deformylase (HsPDF) protein, and HsPDF complexed to a binding compound, such as a PDF inhibitor. This crystallographic information will aid in the identification and development of novel binding compounds of HsPDF and other PDF family members which have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitical, anti-inflammatory, and/or anti-cancer activity.