Interaction of zinc ions with arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A

The interaction between arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A ([(Azo-CPD)Zn]) and excess zinc ions has been studied by stopped-flow and spectrophotometric methods at pH 8.2 and 7.7, I = 0.5 M (NaCl), and 25 degrees C. When excess zinc ions bind to arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A, the characteristic red color, which arises from the intramolecular complex of the arsanilazotyrosine-248 residue with the active site zinc of the enzyme, changes to yellow with the inhibition of peptidase activity of the enzyme. Excess zinc ions have two binding sites for arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A, and the binding constants of the first site (3.9 X 10(5) M-1 at pH 8.2; 7.1 X 10(4) M-1 at pH 7.7) are much larger than those of the second site (1.8 X 10(3) M-1 at pH 8.2; 7 X 10(2) M-1 at pH 7.7). The binding of excess zinc ions to the first site is completely correlated with the inhibition of the enzyme peptidase activity and the color change of the enzyme. The results can be understood in terms of zinc ions reacting with only one of three conformational states of arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A [Harrison, L. W., Auld, D. S., & Vallee, B. L. (1975) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72, 4356].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differences between the conformations of nitrotyrosyl-248 carboxypeptidase A in the crystalline state and in solution

In solution, nitrocarboxypeptidase A, modified at tyrosyl-248, exhibits a nitrotyrosyl pK apparent of 6.3. In the crystalline state, the pK apparent is about 8.2. This change in ionization is consistent with the hypothesis that crystallization of the enzyme causes a displacement of tyrosine-248 away from the active site zinc ion.     

alpha-Methyl substrates of carboxypeptidase A. A steric probe of the active site.

Although optical resolution of alpha-methylphenylalanine (alpha-Me-Phe) has been achieved by the action of carboxypeptidase A on the N-trifluoroacetyl derivative of the amino acid (TFA-alpha-Me-Phe), it is improbable that an alpha-methyl substrate could bind in the same orientation as glycyl-L-tyrosine, due to steric interaction of the alpha-methyl group with an atom in the imidazole ring of zinc ligand His-196. The kinetic parameters for TFA-alpha-Me-Phe and for an ester substrate bearing an alpha-methyl group (beta-hippuryl-alpha-methylphenyllactic acid, HMPL) have been determined and compared to those for the appropriate nonmethylated control substrates. Both TFA-alpha-Me-Phe and HMPL appear to be bound nearly as well as are their respective controls, and HMPL is hydrolyzed nearly as rapidly as its control. TFA-alpha-Me-Phe, however, is hydrolyzed only about one-fiftieth as rapidly as is the nonmethylated substrate. These findings are consistent with the possibilities that: (1) the proposed substrate-induced conformational shift of Tyr-248 is hindered when the methylated substrates are bound; (2) the orientation in which alpha-methyl substrates are bound precludes optimal positioning of Tyr-248 and the scissile bond even after the rotation of Tyr-248 has occurred; (3) amides and esters are bound in different orientations, and in the amide orientation an alpha-methyl group is so directed as to interfere with the approach of Glu-270 to the scissile bond.     

Crystal structure of the complex between carboxypeptidase A and the biproduct analog inhibitor L-benzylsuccinate at 2.0 A resolution.

The X-ray crystal structure of the carboxypeptidase A-L-benzylsuccinate complex has been refined at 2.0 A resolution to a final R-factor of 0.166. One molecule of the inhibitor binds to the enzyme active site. The terminal carboxylate forms a salt link with the guanidinium group of Arg145 and hydrogen bonds with Tyr248 and Asn144. The second carboxylate group binds to the zinc ion in an asymmetric bidentate fashion replacing the water molecule of the native structure. The zinc ion moves 0.5 A from its position in the native structure to accommodate the inhibitor binding. The overall stereochemistry around the zinc can be considered a distorted tetrahedron, although six atoms of the co-ordinated groups lie within 3.0 A from the zinc ion. The key for the strong inhibitory properties of L-benzylsuccinate can be found in its ability both to co-ordinate the zinc and to form a short carboxyl-carboxylate-type hydrogen bond (2.5 A) with Glu270.     

Crystal structures of the cadmium- and mercury-substituted metallo-beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis.

The metallo-beta-lactamases require zinc or cadmium for hydrolyzing beta-lactam antibiotics and are inhibited by mercurial compounds. To data, there are no clinically useful inhibitors of this class of enzymes. The crystal structure of the Zn(2+)-bound enzyme from Bacteroides fragilis contains a binuclear zinc center in the active site. A hydroxide, coordinated to both zinc atoms, is proposed as the moiety that mounts the nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl carbon atom of the beta-lactam ring. To study the metal coordination further, the crystal structures of a Cd(2+)-bound enzyme and of an Hg(2+)-soaked zinc-containing enzyme have been determined at 2.1 A and 2.7 A, respectively. Given the diffraction resolution, the Cd(2+)-bound enzyme exhibits the same active-site architecture as that of the Zn(2+)-bound enzyme, consistent with the fact that both forms are enzymatically active. The 10-fold reduction in activity of the Cd(2+)-bound molecule compared with the Zn(2+)-bound enzyme is attributed to fine differences in the charge distribution due to the difference in the ionic radii of the two metals. In contrast, in the Hg(2+)-bound structure, one of the zinc ions, Zn2, was ejected, and the other zinc ion, Zn1, remained in the same site as in the 2-Zn(2+)-bound structure. Instead of the ejected zinc, a mercury ion binds between Cys 104 and Cys 181, 4.8 A away from Zn1 and 3.9 A away from the site where Zn2 is located in the 2-Zn(2+)-bound molecule. The perturbed binuclear metal cluster explains the inactivation of the enzyme by mercury compounds.     

Functional tyrosyl residues of carboxypeptidase A. The effect of protein structure on the reactivity of tyrosine-198

Coupling of bovine carboxypeptidase A with diazotized 5-amino-1H-tetrazole increases esterase activity, decreases peptidase activity slightly, and modifies one tyrosyl residue. Subsequent nitration of the azoenzyme has no further effect on esterase activity, decreases peptidase activity markedly, and modifies a second tyrosyl residue. Analysis of the azopeptides isolated from a chymotrypsin digest of the doubly modified enzyme by affinity, ion exchange, and high pressure liquid chromatography indicates that the principal residue modified by diazo-1H-tetrazole is Tyr-248. Analysis of the nitropeptides isolated by similar procedures indicates that nitration occurs mainly at Tyr-198. This residue becomes susceptible to modification only as a consequence of a conformational change that accompanies azo coupling of Tyr-248. These results describe a unique example of the influence of protein structure on the reactivity of functional amino acid residues and illustrate an important aspect of chemical modification of enzymes.     

Circular dichroism-inhibitor titrations of arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A.

Coupling of carboxypeptidase with diazotized arsanilic acid specifically modifies a single tyrosyl residue. Yet, owing to the fact that the resultant azoTyr-248 can form an intramolecular chelate with zinc, two different circular dichroism probes result: azoTyr-248 itself and the azoTyr-248-Zn chelate. Both are environmentally sensitive and, characteristically, each can signal the same or different perturbations, as is apparent from circular dichroic spectra. This dual probe function greatly magnifies the scope of these chromophores in mapping the topography of the active center with respect to sites of interaction of inhibitors (or substrates). Titration of the azoenzyme with a series of synthetic, competitive inhibitors, e.g., L-benzylsuccinate, L-phenyllactate, and L-Phe, and with the pseudosubstrate, Gly-L-Tyr, in turn generates characteristic circular dichroic spectra. Their analysis yields a single binding constant for each of these agents, one molecule of each binding to the active center. Mixed inhibitions, as seen with beta-phenylpropionate and phenylacetate, resolved previously into competitive and noncompetitive components, are characterized by different spectral effects. Two molecules of these agents bind to the enzyme, consistent with both thermodynamic and enzymatic studies. The interactions leading to competitive and noncompetitive inhibition, respectively, can be recognized and assigned, based on the manner in which the extrema at 340 and 420 nm, reflecting azoTyr-248, and the negative 510-nm circular dichroism band, typical of its chelate with zinc, are affected and on the pH dependence of spectral and kinetic data. Certai4 noncompetitive inhibitors and modifiers induce yet other spectral features. Each probe is very sensitive to changes in its particular active center environment, though both can be relatively insensitive to inhibitors interacting at a distance from the active center.     

Insight into the stereochemistry in the inhibition of carboxypeptidase A with N-(hydroxyaminocarbonyl)phenylalanine: binding modes of an enantiomeric pair of the inhibitor to carboxypeptidase A

Both D- and L-isomers of N-(hydroxyaminocarbonyl)phenylalanine () were shown to have strong binding affinity towards carboxypeptidase A (CPA) with D- being more potent than its enantiomer by 3-fold (Chung, S. J.; Kim, D. H. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2001, 9, 185.). In order to understand the reversed stereochemical preference shown in the CPA inhibition, we have solved the crystal structures of CPA complexed with each enantiometer of up to 1.75 A resolution. Inhibitor L- whose stereochemistry belongs to the stereochemical series of substrate binds CPA like substrate does with its carbonyl oxygen coordinating to the active site zinc ion. Its hydroxyl is engaged in hydrogen bonding with the carboxylate of Glu-270. On the other hand, in binding of D- to CPA, its terminal hydroxyl group is involved in interactions with the active site zinc ion and the carboxylate of Glu-270. In both CPA small middle dot complexes, the phenyl ring in is fitted in the substrate recognition pocket at the S(1)' subsite, and the carboxylate of the inhibitors forms bifurcated hydrogen bonds with the guanidinium moiety of Arg-145 and a hydrogen bond with the guanidinium of Arg-127. In the complex of CPA small middle dotD-, the carboxylate of the inhibitor is engaged in hydrogen bonding with the phenolic hydroxyl of the down-positioned Tyr-248. While the L- binding induces a concerted movement of the backbone amino acid residues at the active site, only the downward movement of Tyr-248 was noted when D- binds to CPA.     

The crystal structure of complexes between horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and the coenzyme analogues 3-iodopyridine-adenine dinucleotide and pyridine-adenine dinucleotide.

We have studied the binding of the enzymatically active NAD+ analogue, 3-iodopyridine-adenine dinucleotide, and the inactive analogue, pyridine-adenine dinucleotide to the enzyme horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase using X-ray crystallographic methods. These studies were made under such conditions that crystals of the complexes were isomorphous to apoenzyme crystals. Both analogues bind in the same conformation. The binding of the adenosine moiety is very similar to that of ADP-ribose or NADH bound to the enzyme. The conformation and mode of binding of the remaining portions of the analogue molecules is, however, quite different. The pyridine ring is not situated in the active-site pocket as the nicotinamide group in the isomorphous enzyme-NADH-imidazole complex but lies at the surface of the crevice between the two domains of the subunit, approximately 1.5 nm away from the catalytically active zinc atom. Lys-228 which has been shown to be important for NADH dissociation is in this region of the molecule.     

Metal-directed affinity labeling of zinc(II), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) horse liver alcohol dehydrogenases

The active site metal in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase has been studied by metal-directed affinity labeling of the native zinc(II) enzyme and that substituted with cobalt(II) or cadmium(II). Reversible binding of bromoimidazolyl propionic acid to the cobalt enzyme blueshifts the visible absorption band originating from the catalytic cobalt atom at 655 to 630 nm. Binding of imidazole to the cobalt(II) enzyme redshifts the 655 nm band to 667 nm. Addition of bromoimidazolyl propionic acid blueshifts this 667 nm band back to 630 nm. This proves direct binding of the label to the active site metal in competition with imidazole. The affinity of the label for the reversible binding site in the three enzymes follows the order Zn ? Cd ? Co. After reversible complex formation, bromoimidazolyl propionic acid alkylates cysteine-46, one of the protein ligands to the active site metal. The nucleophilic reactivity of this metal-mercaptide bond in each reversible complex follows the order Co ? Zn ? Cd.     

Structure of the complex of active site metal-depleted horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and NADH.

The complex between active site-specific metal-depleted horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and NADH has been studied with X-ray crystallographic methods to 2.9 A resolution. The electron density maps revealed that only the catalytic zinc ions are removed, whereas the non-catalytic zinc sites ae fully occupied. A gross conformational change in the protein induced by co-enzyme binding takes place in this enzyme species despite the absence of the metal ion in the catalytic center. This circumstance is of great importance in the understanding and further analysis of the trigger mechanisms operating during the conformation transition in alcohol dehydrogenase, since the catalytic center is located at the hinge region for a domain rotation in the subunit, and the metal atom is essential for catalysis. The overall protein structure is the same as that of an NADH complex of the native zinc enzyme and the co-enzyme is bound in a similar manner. The local structural changes observed are restricted to the empty metal binding site.     

Crystal structure of peroxynitrite-modified bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase.

The crystal structure of bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase modified with peroxynitrite (ONOO-) was determined by X-ray diffraction, utilizing the existing three-dimensional model of the native structure deposited in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank (J. A. Tainer et al., J. Mol. Biol. 160, 181-217, 1982). The native structure and the modified derivative were refined to R factors of 19.0 and 18.7% respectively using diffraction data from 6.0 to 2.5 A. The major result after reaction with peroxynitrite was the appearance of electron density 1.45 A from a single epsilon carbon of Tyr-108, the only tyrosine residue in the sequence. Tyr-108 is a solvent-exposed residue 18 A from the copper atom in the active site. The electron density was consistent with nitration of Tyr-108 at one of the epsilon carbons to form 3-nitrotyrosine. We propose that the nitration occurs in solution by transfer of a nitronium-like species from the active site on one superoxide dismutase dimer to the Tyr-108 of a second dimer.     

A catalytic mechanism revealed by the crystal structures of the imidazolonepropionase from Bacillus subtilis

Imidazolonepropionase (EC 3.5.2.7) catalyzes the third step in the universal histidine degradation pathway, hydrolyzing the carbon-nitrogen bonds in 4-imidazolone-5-propionic acid to yield N-formimino-l-glutamic acid. Here we report the crystal structures of the Bacillus subtilis imidazolonepropionase and its complex at 2.0-A resolution with substrate analog imidazole-4-acetic acid sodium (I4AA). The structure of the native enzyme contains two domains, a TIM (triose-phosphate isomerase) barrel domain with two insertions and a small beta-sandwich domain. The TIM barrel domain is quite similar to the members of the alpha/beta barrel metallo-dependent hydrolase superfamily, especially to Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase. A metal ion was found in the central cavity of the TIM barrel and was tightly coordinated to residues His-80, His-82, His-249, Asp-324, and a water molecule. X-ray fluorescence scan analysis confirmed that the bound metal ion was a zinc ion. An acetate ion, 6 A away from the zinc ion, was also found in the potential active site. In the complex structure with I4AA, a substrate analog, I4AA replaced the acetate ion and contacted with Arg-89, Try-102, Tyr-152, His-185, and Glu-252, further defining and confirming the active site. The detailed structural studies allowed us to propose a zinc-activated nucleophilic attack mechanism for the hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by the enzyme.     

Similarities in active center geometries of zinc-containing enzymes, proteases and dehydrogenases.

The spatial environment of the active centers for the four zinc-containing enzymes carbonic anhydrase, liver alcohol dehydrogenase, thermolysin and carboxypeptidase were compared and contrasted. The zinc is co-ordinated by three protein groups. In addition, a water molecule and substrate carbonyl may assume a fourth or fifth position. A group whose function is to abstract a proton from water during catalysis was found to have a constant spatial arrangement with respect to the zinc atom. The co-ordination sphere around the zinc is systematically distorted from a regular tetrahedral geometry with one specific ligand position being invariably occupied by a histidine residue. The orientation of the imidazole ring is moderately constant with respect to the Zn pyramid, a constraint possibly imposed by the adjacent substrate to permit its positioning suitable for catalysis.The comparison of carboxypeptidase and thermolysin was previously reported (Kester and Matthews, 1977a). The position of the water molecule as found in liver alcohol dehydrogenase when placed in thermolysin or carboxypeptidase would be consistent with a transient pentagonal Zn co-ordination during catalysis.Comparison of carboxypeptidase and carbonic anhydrase showed that the specificity pocket of carboxypeptidase superimposed onto a hydrophobic cavity of unknown function in carbonic anhydrase. The glycyl-l-tyrosine pseudo-substrate of carboxypeptidase fits well into the cavity, suggesting a probable binding site for esters in carbonic anhydrase. The excellent esterase activity of both these enzymes can thus be explained by a common binding mode and arrangement of catalytic groups.A comparison of trypsin and thermolysin demonstrates that, although their functional groups differ in character, the peptidase activity could be catalyzed in a similar manner. The proton-abstracting function of His57 in trypsin is generated by Glul43 acting on the Zn co-ordinated water, while the proton donor function of His57 in trypsin is generated by His231 in thermolysin.A comparison of liver alcohol dehydrogenase with other dehydrogenases suggests that His51 is not only a proton sink but also electronically provides an essential positive charge at crucial moments during catalysis. In contrast Arg 109 of lactafce dehydrogenase performs the same function by virtue of a conformational change. The superposition indicates that the zinc co-ordinated water oxygen has the proton acceptor function in liver alcohol dehydrogenase corresponding to the essential histidine groups in lactate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.A compendium of the handedness of the catalytic configuration about the reactive atoms for ten different enzymes has been tabulated.     

The functional role of tyrosine-200 in human testis angiotensin-converting enzyme.

The active site of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been shown by chemical modification to contain a critical tyrosine residue, identified as Tyr-200 in human testis ACE (hTACE). We have expressed a mutant hTACE containing a Tyr-200 to Phe mutation. The mutant exhibits a marked decrease in kcat: 15-fold and 7-fold for the hydrolysis of furanacryloyl-Phe-Gly-Gly and angiotensin I, respectively, whereas its Km increases by only 1.6- and 2.2-fold, respectively. We conclude that Tyr-200 is not required for substrate binding. Instead, the effect on kcat together with a 100-fold decrease in affinity for the ACE inhibitor lisinopril indicates that Tyr-200 may participate in catalysis by stabilizing the transition state complex. Thus, Tyr-200 in hTACE has a role analogous to that of Tyr-198 in carboxypeptidase A.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of ribonuclease T1: comparison of the free enzyme and the 2' GMP-enzyme complex

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on free RNase T1 and the 2'GMP-RNase T1 complex in vacuum and with water in the active site along with crystallographically identified waters, allowing analysis of both active site and overall structural and dynamics changes due to the presence of 2'GMP. Differences in the active site include a closing in the presence of 2'GMP, which is accompanied by a decrease in mobility of active site residues. The functional relevance of the active site fluctuations is discussed. 2'GMP alters the motion of Tyr-45, suggesting a role for that residue in providing a hydrophobic environment for the protein-nucleic acid interactions responsible for the specificity of RNase T1. The presence of 2'GMP causes a structural change of the C-terminus of the alpha-helix, indicating the transmission of structural changes from the active site through the protein matrix. Overall fluctuations of both the free and 2'GMP enzyme forms are in good agreement with X-ray temperature factors. The motion of Trp-59 is influenced by 2'GMP, indicating differences in enzyme dynamics away from the active site, with the calculated changes following those previously seen in time-resolved fluorescence experiments.     

pK values for active site residues of carboxypeptidase A

The phenolic group of active site residue Tyr-248 in carboxypeptidase A has a pKa value of 10.06, as determined from the pH dependence of its rate of nitration by tetranitromethane. The decrease in enzyme activity (kcat/Km) in alkaline solution, characterized by a pKa value of approximately 9.0 (for cobalt carboxypeptidase A), is associated with the protonation state of an imidazole ligand of the active-site metal ion, as indicated by a selective pH dependence of the 1H NMR spectrum of the enzyme. Inhibition of the cobalt-substituted enzyme by 2-(1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl)phenol and its 4,6-dichloro- and 4-phenylazo-derivatives confirms that the decrease in enzyme activity (kcat/Km) in acidic solution, characterized by a pKa value of 5.8, is due to the protonation state of a water molecule bound to the active-site metal ion in the absence of substrate. Changes in the coordination number of the active-site metal ion are seen in its visible absorption spectrum as a consequence of binding of the phenolic inhibitors. Conventional concepts regarding the mechanisms of the enzyme are brought into question.     

Affinity chromatographic sorting of carboxypeptidase a and its chemically modified derivatives

Carboxypeptidase A and derivatives obtained by chemical modification of various active center components were subjected to affinity chromatography on a p-aminobenzylsuccinic acid-Sepharose 4B conjugate. Tetardation of the enzyme on the column was dependent on the residue modified when elution was carried out with 0.3 m NaCl at pH 7.0. Both the functional zinc atom and the active site residue Glu-270 are essential for effective adsorption while alteration of residues involved in hydrophobic interaction with substrate or in recognition of its terminal carboxyl group decreased retention on the affinity matrix. Elution of native carboxypeptidase with competing soluble benzylsuccinic acid indicated that only active center binding of the immobilized inhibitor accounts for retardation of the enzyme on the column. Hence, affinity chromatography on this biospecific adsorbent using mild elution conditions (which do not distort protein structure) provides an excellent tool for the rapid isolation and purification of active center modified enzyme even from a complex mixture of reaction products.     

The role of protein dynamics in thymidylate synthase catalysis: variants of conserved 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (dUMP)-binding Tyr-261

The enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS) catalyzes the reductive methylation of 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (dUMP) to 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-monophosphate. Using kinetic and X-ray crystallography experiments, we have examined the role of the highly conserved Tyr-261 in the catalytic mechanism of TS. While Tyr-261 is distant from the site of methyl transfer, mutants at this position show a marked decrease in enzymatic activity. Given that Tyr-261 forms a hydrogen bond with the dUMP 3'-O, we hypothesized that this interaction would be important for substrate binding, orientation, and specificity. Our results, surprisingly, show that Tyr-261 contributes little to these features of the mechanism of TS. However, the residue is part of the structural core of closed ternary complexes of TS, and conservation of the size and shape of the Tyr side chain is essential for maintaining wild-type values of kcat/Km. Moderate increases in Km values for both the substrate and cofactor upon mutation of Tyr-261 arise mainly from destabilization of the active conformation of a loop containing a dUMP-binding arginine. Besides binding dUMP, this loop has a key role in stabilizing the closed conformation of the enzyme and in shielding the active site from the bulk solvent during catalysis. Changes to atomic vibrations in crystals of a ternary complex of Escherichia coli Tyr261Trp are associated with a greater than 2000-fold drop in kcat/Km. These results underline the important contribution of dynamics to catalysis in TS.     

Crystal structure of the stromelysin catalytic domain at 2.0 A resolution: inhibitor-induced conformational changes.

Matrix metalloproteinases are believed to play an important role in pathological conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and tumor invasion. Stromelysin is a zinc-dependent proteinase and a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family. We have solved the crystal structure of an active uninhibited form of truncated stromelysin and a complex with a hydroxamate-based inhibitor. The catalytic domain of the enzyme of residues 83-255 is an active fragment. Two crystallographically independent molecules, A and B, associate as a dimer in the crystals. There are three alpha-helices and one twisted, five-strand beta-sheet in each molecule, as well as one catalytic Zn, one structural Zn and three structural Ca ions. The active site of stromelysin is located in a large, hydrophobic cleft. In particular, the S1' specificity site is a deep and highly hydrophobic cavity. The structure of a hydroxamate-phosphinamide-type inhibitor-bound stromelysin complex, formed by diffusion soaking, has been solved as part of our structure-based design strategy. The most important feature we observed is an inhibitor-induced conformational change in the S1' cavity which is triggered by Tyr223. In the uninhibited enzyme structure, Tyr223 completely covers the S1' cavity, while in the complex, the P1' group of the inhibitor displaces the Tyr223 in order to fit into the S1' cavity. Furthermore, the displacement of Tyr223 induces a major conformational change of the entire loop from residue 222 to residue 231. This finding provides direct evidence that Tyr223 plays the role of gatekeeper of the S1' cavity. Another important intermolecular interaction occurs at the active sit of molecule A, in which the C-terminal tail (residues 251-255) from molecule B inserts. The C-terminal tail interacts extensively with the active site of molecule A, and the last residue (Thr255) coordinated to the catalytic zinc as the fourth ligand, much like a product inhibitor would. The inhibitor-induced conformational change and the intermolecular C-terminal-zinc coordination are significant in understanding the structure-activity relationships of the enzyme.