Identifying common metalloprotease inhibitors by protein fold types using Fourier transform mass spectrometry

Fourteen natural products, known to inhibit other proteins of the Zincin-like fold class, were screened for inhibition of the Zincin-like fold metalloprotease thermolysin using mass spectrometry. Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry was successful in identifying actinonin, a known inhibitor of astacin and stromelysin, to be an inhibitor of thermolysin. Molecular modelling studies have shown that specificity within the Zincin-like fold is determined by Protein Fold Topology.     

Aluminium(III), chromium(III) and iron(III) complexes with 5-iodouracil and 5-iodouracil-histidine and their antitumour activity

Complexes of the type [Al(HL)(OH)Cl(2)], [M(HL)(OH)(2)Cl] and [M'(HL)(L')(OH)Cl], where HL = 5-iodouracil; HL' = histidine; M = Cr(III), Fe(III) and M' = Al(III), Cr(III), Fe(III), were synthesized and characterized. The complexes are polymeric showing high decomposition points and are insoluble in water and common organic solvents. The mu(eff) values, electronic spectral bands and ESR spectra suggest a polymeric 6-coordinate spin-free octahedral stereochemistry for the Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes. 5-Iodouracil acts as a monodentate ligand coordinating to the metal ion through the O atom of C((4)) = O while histidine through the O atom of -COO(- ) and the N atom of -NH(2) group. In vivo antitumour effect of 5-iodouracil and its complexes was examined on C(3)H /He mice against P815 murine mastocytoma. As evident from their T/C values, Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes display significant and higher antitumour activity compared to the 5-iodouracil ligand. The in vitro results of the complexes on the same cells indicate that Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes show higher inhibition on (3)H-thymidine and (3)H-uridine incorporation in DNA and RNA replication, respectively, at a dose of 5 microg/mL.     

α2-Macroglobulin-like protein 1 can conjugate and inhibit proteases through their hydroxyl groups,because of an enhanced reactivity of its thiol ester

Proteins in the α-macroglobulin (αM) superfamily use thiol esters to form covalent conjugation products upon their proteolytic activation. αM protease inhibitors use theirs to conjugate proteases and preferentially react with primary amines (e.g. on lysine side chains), whereas those of αM complement components C3 and C4B have an increased hydroxyl reactivity that is conveyed by a conserved histidine residue and allows conjugation to cell surface glycans. Human α₂-macroglobulin–like protein 1 (A2ML1) is a monomeric protease inhibitor but has the hydroxyl reactivity–conveying histidine residue. Here, we have investigated the role of hydroxyl reactivity in a protease inhibitor by comparing recombinant WT A2ML1 and the A2ML1 H1084N mutant in which this histidine is removed. Both of A2ML1s'' thiol esters were reactive toward the amine substrate glycine, but only WT A2ML1 reacted with the hydroxyl substrate glycerol, demonstrating that His-1084 increases the hydroxyl reactivity of A2ML1''s thiol ester. Although both A2ML1s conjugated and inhibited thermolysin, His-1084 was required for the conjugation and inhibition of acetylated thermolysin, which lacks primary amines. Using MS, we identified an ester bond formed between a thermolysin serine residue and the A2ML1 thiol ester. These results demonstrate that a histidine-enhanced hydroxyl reactivity can contribute to protease inhibition by an αM protein. His-1084 did not improve A2ML1''s protease inhibition at pH 5, indicating that A2ML1''s hydroxyl reactivity is not an adaption to its acidic epidermal environment.     

Porphyria-induced hepatic porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase inhibitor and its interaction with the active site(s) of the enzyme.

Porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase is an enzyme that sequentially decarboxylates uroporphyrinogen III (8-COOH) to yield coproporphyrinogen III (4-COOH). In mammals this enzyme activity is impaired by hexachlorobenzene treatment, through generation of an enzyme inhibitor. The interaction of porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase inhibitor, extracted from the liver of hexachlorobenzene-treated rats, with substrate decarboxylation sites on the enzyme, was studied using four different carboxylated substrates belonging to the isomeric III series of naturally-formed porphyrinogens containing 8-,7-,6- and 5-COOH. Similar inhibitor effects were elicited against all the substrates assayed, with the exception of pentacarboxyporphyrinogen III in which decarboxylation was not inhibited to same extent. Enzyme protection assays in the presence of the different substrates, indicated that each porphyrinogen protects its own decarboxylation from inhibitor action. Preincubation of the inhibitor with normal enzyme increased its inhibitory effect. On the other hand, preincubation of both enzyme and inhibitor with superoxide dismutase or mannitol, did not alter inhibitory activity. Preincubation of the inhibitor with a number of amino acids showed that only arginine and its derivative N alpha-Benzoyl-L-Arginine ethyl ester interact with the inhibitor, noticeably reducing its ability to inhibit porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase. Albumin, histidine, serine, cysteine and imidazol, were unable to quench inhibitor activity. The present results indicate that the inhibitor acts at the binding site of each porphyrinogen. Taking into account that arginine is related to enzyme activity, and that histidine is found at the binding site of the substrates, the results suggest that the inhibitor could bind to arginine residues, blocking the access of substrates to histidine and altering the adequate orientation for decarboxylation by masking the positively charged active site necessary for porphyrinogen binding to the enzyme. In addition an indirect effect of the inhibitor mediated through free radicals could be discarded.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of irreversible inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase?2 by a Co(III) Schiff base complex

Cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes have been used as potent inhibitors of protein function through the coordination to histidine residues essential for activity. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the binding mechanism of Co(acacen)(NH(3))(2)Cl [Co(acacen); where H(2)acacen?is?bis(acetylacetone)ethylenediimine] enzyme inhibition has been examined through the inactivation of matrix metalloproteinase?2 (MMP-2) protease activity. Co(acacen) is an irreversible inhibitor that exhibits time- and concentration-dependent inactivation of MMP-2. Co(acacen) inhibition of MMP-2 is temperature-dependent, with the inactivation increasing with temperature. Examination of the formation of the transition state for the MMP-2/Co(acacen) complex was determined to have a positive entropy component indicative of greater disorder in the MMP-2/Co(acacen) complex than in the reactants. With further insight into the mechanism of Co(acacen) complexes, Co(III) Schiff base complex protein inactivators can be designed to include features regulating activity and protein specificity. This approach is widely applicable to protein targets that have been identified to have clinical significance, including matrix metalloproteinases. The mechanistic information elucidated here further emphasizes the versatility and utility of Co(III) Schiff base complexes as customizable protein inhibitors.     

Purification and properties of a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylase from Morganella morganii AM-15

A pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent histidine decarboxylase from Morganella morganii AM-15 was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is a tetramer (Mr 170,000) of identical subunits and binds 4 pyridoxal-P/tetramer; it is resolved by dialysis against cysteine at pH 6.8. Between pH 6.2 and 8.8, the holoenzyme shows pH-independent absorbance maxima at 333 and 416 nm. Vmax/Km is highest at pH 6.5; this optimum reflects chiefly increased Km values for histidine at lower or higher pH values, whereas Vmax is highest at pH 5.0 and decreases only moderately between pH 5.0 and 8.0. The enzyme also decarboxylates beta-(2-pyridyl)alanine and N tau-methylhistidine (but not N pi-methylhistidine); arginine, lysine, and ornithine are neither substrates nor inhibitors. The hydrazine analogue of histidine, 2-hydrazino-3-(4-imidazolyl)propionic acid, is a very potent competitive inhibitor; other carbonyl reagents and a variety of carboxyl- or amino-substituted histidines also inhibit competitively. alpha-Fluoromethylhistidine is a potent irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme; alpha-methylhistidine is a competitive inhibitor/substrate that is decarboxylated slowly and undergoes a slow decarboxylation-dependent transamination that converts the holoenzyme to pyridoxamine-P and apoenzyme. Dithiothreitol and other simple thiols are mixed-type inhibitors that interact with pyridoxal-P at the active site to form complexes (lambda max congruent to 340 nm), presumably the corresponding thioalkylamines, without resolving the holoenzyme. This histidine decarboxylase (Vmax = 72 mumol X min-1 X mg-1) is much more active than "homogeneous" preparations of mammalian pyridoxal-P-dependent histidine decarboxylase (Vmax congruent to 1.0) and is about equal in activity to the pyruvoyl-dependent histidine decarboxylases from Gram-positive bacteria.     

A novel inhibitor of mammalian collagenase

N-[[[(5-chloro-2-benzothiazolyl)thiolphenyllacetyll-L-cysteine (WY-45,368) is a potent inhibitor of human skin fibroblast collagenase. Kinetic data show that the inhibition is competitive, with a Ki of 3.5 microM. WY-45,368 inhibits neither of two other metalloproteinases, thermolysin and angiotensin converting enzyme, nor does it inhibit clostridial collagenase--thus indicating specificity for mammalian collagenase.     

Effect of electron withdrawing substituents on substrate hydrolysis by and inhibition of rat neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (enkephalinase) and thermolysin

A series of N-acylphenylalanylglycine dipeptides were synthesized and examined as substrates for neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) and thermolysin. Those N-acyl dipeptides containing an N-acyl group derived from an acid whose pKa is below 3.5 were considerably more reactive with both enzymes than those peptides containing an N-acyl group derived from an acid whose pKa is above 4. The data are interpreted to suggest that electron withdrawal at the scissile bond increases kappa cat for both NEP and thermolysin. The pH dependence for inhibition by the dipeptides Phe-Ala, Phe-Gly, and Leu-Ala showed binding dependent upon the basic form of an enzyme residue with a pKa of 7 for NEP and a pKa of 6 for thermolysin. In the case of thermolysin this pKa was decreased to 5.3 in the enzyme-inhibitor complex. When examined as alternate substrate inhibitors of NEP, N-acyl dipeptides showed three distinct profiles for the dependence of Ki on pH. With N-trifluoroacetyl-Phe-Gly as inhibitor, binding is dependent upon the basic form of an enzyme residue with a pKa value of 6.2. N-methoxyacetyl-Phe-Gly inhibition appears pH independent, while N-acetyl-Phe-Gly inhibition is dependent upon the acidic form of an enzyme residue with a pKa of approximately 7. All inhibitions of thermolysin by N-acyl dipeptides exhibit a dependence on the acidic form of an enzyme residue with a pKa of 5.3 to 5.8. These results suggest that with NEP, binding interactions at the active site involve one or more histidine residues while with thermolysin binding involves an active site glutamic acid residue.     

Effects of mechanism-based reversible inhibitors on the metal environment of cobalt(II)carboxypeptidase A: an electronic spectral study

Electronic absorption, circular dichroic (CD), and magnetic circular dichroic (MCD) spectra have been determined for complexes of cobalt(II)-substituted carboxypeptidase A and five reversible inhibitors. Three of the inhibitors, N-(1-carboxy-5-butyloxycarbonylaminopentyl)-L-phenylalanine, (I); (R,S)-2-benzyl-4-oxobutanoic acid, (III); and 2-benzyl-4-oxo-5,5,5-trifluoropentanoic acid, (IV) are mechanism-based inhibitors. Another, N-(1-carboxy-5-carbobenzoxyaminopentyl)-glycyl-L-phenylalanine, (II), is a tight binding, slowly hydrolyzed substrate. The fifth, phosphoramidon, (V), is a mechanism-based inhibitor of thermolysin, and may also bind to carboxypeptidase in a mechanism-based mode. The absorption and CD spectra of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes all differ from the spectrum of the free enzyme and from each other. The MCD spectra indicate that the tetrahedral coordination geometry of cobalt, which is distorted in the free enzyme, is also distorted in the inhibitor complexes, although to various degrees. The complexes of I and III are spectrally similar despite being structurally dissimilar, and that of IV, whose structure resembles III, is spectrally distinct, indicating that I and III, but not IV, may perturb the metal in nearly the same way. The absorption spectrum of IV is identical to that, at high pH, of Co(II)carboxypeptidase in which Glu-270 has been modified by a carbodiimide reagent, possibly pointing to a common perturbation of this residue. The absorption and CD spectra of II are similar to those of the catalytic intermediate that precedes the rate-limiting step in peptide hydrolysis [D. S. Auld, A. Galdes, K. F. Geoghegan, B. Holmquist, R. Martinelli, and B. L. Vallee, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 4675-4681 (1984)]. Since II is a substrate, the steady-state bound species that it generates may therefore be a true productive intermediate rather than a nonproductive mimic of an intermediate. The spectra of the complexes with II and V differ considerably despite structural similarities. The negative CD ellipticity of the free enzyme is reversed in sign in the presence of V, a phenomenon previously observed with complexes of Co(II)carboxypeptidase and dipeptides. This resemblance may result from a similar interaction of cobalt with the phosphoramidate group of phosphoramidon and the N-terminal amine of dipeptides. The spectra of reversible, mechanism-based inhibitors permit general structural predictions about true intermediates but require caution when used for assigning precise conformation and ligands of bound catalytic species.     

Binding of N-carboxymethyl dipeptide inhibitors to thermolysin determined by X-ray crystallography: a novel class of transition-state analogues for zinc peptidases

The mode of binding of the specific thermolysin inhibitor N-(1-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)-L-leucyl-L-tryptophan (KI approximately 5 X 10(-8) M) [Maycock, A. L., DeSousa, D. M., Payne, L. G., ten Broeke, J., Wu, M. T., & Patchett, A. A. (1981) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 102, 963-969] has been determined by X-ray crystallography and refined to an R value of 17.1% at 1.9-A resolution. The inhibitor binds to thermolysin with both oxygens of the N-carboxymethyl group liganded to the zinc to give overall pentacoordination of the metal. The bidentate ligation of the inhibitor differs from the monodentate binding seen previously for carboxylate-zinc interactions in thermolysin and is closer to the bidentate geometry observed for the binding of hydroxamates [Holmes, M. A., & Matthews, B. W. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 6912-6920]. The geometry of the inhibitor and its interactions with the protein have a number of elements in common with the presumed transition state formed during peptide hydrolysis. The observed zinc ligation supports the previous suggestion that a pentacoordinate intermediate participates in the mechanism of catalysis. However, the alpha-amino nitrogen of the inhibitor is close to Glu-143, suggesting that this residue might accept a proton from an attacking water molecule (as proposed before) and subsequently donate this proton to the leaving nitrogen. By analogy with thermolysin, it is proposed that a related mechanism should be considered for peptide cleavage by carboxypeptidase A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibitory effects of alcohols on thermolysin activity as examined using a fluorescent substrate

Alcohols inhibit the thermolysin-catalyzed hydrolysis of N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-Gly-L-Leu-NH(2) and decrease the NaCl-induced activation of thermolysin in a concentration-dependent manner [K. Inouye et al. (1997) J. Biochem. 122, 358-364]. In this study, the inhibitory effects of alcohols on thermolysin activity were examined in detail using 10 different alcohols and a fluorescent substrate, (7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl) acetyl-L-Pro-L-Leu-Gly-L-Leu-[N(3)-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-L-2,3-diamino-propionyl]-L-Ala-L-Arg-NH(2). The inhibition by all alcohols examined is completely reversible, and thermolysin activity is recovered by dilution. The inhibitor constants (K(i)) are in the range of 35-430 mM, and the order of the inhibitory effect is 1-pentanol, 1-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol > 1-butanol > 2-propanol > ethanol, tert-amyl alcohol > tert-butyl alcohol > methanol. Linear and secondary alcohols whose mains chains consist of more than 3 carbons inhibit thermolysin effectively. Thermolysin activity is decreased by decreasing the dielectric constant, D, of the reaction medium containing the alcohol, and the decrease depending on the D value was almost the same manner for all alcohols except methanol, tert-butyl alcohol, and tert-amyl alcohol. Alcohols may inhibit thermolysin activity both by binding to the active site, most possibly to the S1' subsite, of thermolysin and by altering the electrostatic and hydrophobic environment around the thermolysin molecule.     

Identification of serine and histidine adducts in complexes of trypsin and trypsinogen with peptide and nonpeptide boronic acid inhibitors by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

We have previously shown, in 15N NMR studies of the enzyme's active site histidine residue, that boronic acid inhibitors can form two distinct types of complexes with alpha-lytic protease. Inhibitors that are structural analogs of good alpha-lytic protease substrates form transition-state-like tetrahedral complexes with the active site serine whereas those that are not form complexes in which N epsilon 2 of the active site histidine is covalently bonded to the boron of the inhibitor. This study also demonstrated that the serine and histidine adduct complexes exhibit quite distinctive and characteristic low-field 1H NMR spectra [Bachovchin, W. W., Wong, W. Y. L., Farr-Jones, S., Shenvi, A. B., & Kettner, C. A. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 7689-7697]. Here we have used low-field 1H NMR diagnostically for a series of boronic acid inhibitor complexes of trypsin and trypsinogen. The results show that H-D-Val-Leu-boroArg and Ac-Gly-boroArg, analogs of good trypsin substrates, form transition-state-like serine adducts with trypsin, whereas the nonsubstrate analog inhibitors boric acid, methane boronic acid, butane boronic acid, and triethanolamine borate all form histidine adducts, thereby paralleling the previous results obtained with alpha-lytic protease. However, with trypsinogen, Ac-Gly-boroArg forms predominantly a histidine adduct while H-D-Val-Leu-boroArg forms both histidine and serine adducts, with the histidine adduct predominating below pH 8.0 and the serine adduct predominating above pH 8.0.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metal coordination core of bleomycin : comparison of metal complexes between bleomycin and its biosynthetic intermediate.

On the basis of electron spin resonance results, the 1:1 Cu(II), Co(II), Co(II)-O₂, and Ni(III) complexes of bleomycin(BLM) have been compared with the corresponding metal complexes of its biosynthetic intermediate(P-3A). The present study suggests that (1) P-3A is an useful ligand for the clarification of metal-binding sites of BLM; (2) the secondary amine, pyrimidine ring nitrogen, deprotonated peptide nitrogen of histidine residue, and histidine imidazole groups as planar ligand donors, and the α-amino group as axial donor, are substantially important for metal-coordination of BLM; and (3) the sugar and bithiazole portions of BLM probably contribute to stabilization of Co(II)-O₂ adduct complex and axial sixth coordination of Cu(II) and Ni(III) complexes.     

Presence of a histidine at the active site of the neutral endopeptidase-24.11

Diethylpyrocarbonate treatment of the neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) inhibits both catalytic activity and binding of the inhibitor [3H]-N(R,S)-3-hydroxyaminocarbonyl-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl]-glycine. The loss of activity can be reversed by hydroxylamine and almost completely prevented by the competitive inhibitor phenylalanyl-leucine suggesting the presence, as in thermolysin, of a histidine residue at the active site. Butanedione treatment also reduces both catalytic activity and [3H] inhibitor binding. Phenylalanyl-leucine completely protects from the butanedione induced loss of activity, providing further evidence for an essential arginine at the active site. In contrast, the tyrosine modifying agent N-acetylimidazole has no apparent effect on enzyme activity.     

Structural analysis of silanediols as transition-state-analogue inhibitors of the benchmark metalloprotease thermolysin

Dialkylsilanediols have been found to be an effective functional group for the design of active-site-directed protease inhibitors, including aspartic (HIV protease) and metallo (ACE and thermolysin) proteases. The use of silanediols is predicated on its resemblance to the hydrated carbonyl transition-state structure of amide hydrolysis. This concept has been tested by replacing the presumed tetrahedral carbon of a thermolysin substrate with a silanediol group, resulting in an inhibitor with an inhibition constant K(i) = 40 nM. The structure of the silanediol bound to the active site of thermolysin was found to have a conformation very similar to that of a corresponding phosphonamidate inhibitor (K(i) = 10 nM). In both cases, a single oxygen is within bonding distance to the active-site zinc ion, mimicking the presumed tetrahedral transition state. There are binding differences that appear to be related to the presence or absence of protons on the oxygens attached to the silicon or phosphorus. This is the first crystal structure of an organosilane bound to the active site of a protease.     

The cellular chaperone heat shock protein 90 facilitates Flock House virus RNA replication in Drosophila cells

The assembly of viral RNA replication complexes on intracellular membranes represents a critical step in the life cycle of positive-strand RNA viruses. We investigated the role of the cellular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in viral RNA replication complex assembly and function using Flock House virus (FHV), an alphanodavirus whose RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, protein A, is essential for viral RNA replication complex assembly on mitochondrial outer membranes. The Hsp90 chaperone complex transports cellular mitochondrial proteins to the outer mitochondrial membrane import receptors, and thus we hypothesized that Hsp90 may also facilitate FHV RNA replication complex assembly or function. Treatment of FHV-infected Drosophila S2 cells with the Hsp90-specific inhibitor geldanamycin or radicicol potently suppressed the production of infectious virions and the accumulation of protein A and genomic, subgenomic, and template viral RNA. In contrast, geldanamycin did not inhibit the activity of preformed FHV RNA replication complexes. Hsp90 inhibitors also suppressed viral RNA and protein A accumulation in S2 cells expressing an FHV RNA replicon. Furthermore, Hsp90 inhibition with either geldanamycin or RNAi-mediated chaperone downregulation suppressed protein A accumulation in the absence of viral RNA replication. These results identify Hsp90 as a host factor involved in FHV RNA replication and suggest that FHV uses established cellular chaperone pathways to assemble its RNA replication complexes on intracellular membranes.     

A comparison of the thermodynamics of O–O bond cleavage for dicopper complexes in enzymes and synthetic systems

The preferred state, the peroxide Cu(2)(II,II) or the bis-mu-oxo Cu(2)(III,III) states, for oxygen-bridged copper dimers with nitrogen donors is reinvestigated. Experiments have indicated that for the enzymatic complexes with histidine ligands the peroxide state should be favored, at least for hemocyanin, while for the synthetic complexes with strained ligands the bis-mu-xo state should be intrinsically favored. The present B3LYP study essentially agrees with these results. The quite different results obtained in CASPT2 and some previous B3LYP studies for these systems are investigated and discussed. The conclusion, drawn in an earlier study, that the Cu(2)(III,III) state is an unlikely intermediate in the enzyme mechanisms of tyrosinase and catechol oxidase, still remains.     

Initiation of DNA replication in Bacillus subtilis. IV. The effect of an intercalating dye, ethidium bromide

Summary The effects of an intercalating dye, ethidium bromide (EtBr), on the initiation of chromosome replication in Bacillus subtilis were studied. Spores of a thymine requiring mutant acquired the ability to initiate one round of replication in the absence of RNA and protein synthesis (initiation potential) during germination in a thymine starved medium. When EtBr was added after the initiation potential was fully established, initiation of replication was completely inhibited. This inhibition was reversible, and initiation was resumed when the drug was removed. The recovery of initiation occurred in the absence of protein synthesis but did require RNA synthesis and an active dna gene product.During germination both a DNA-protein complex and a DNA-membrane complex were formed at the replication origin in parallel with the establishment of initiation potential. EtBr destroyed both of these complexes at the concentration which inhibited initiation.The first round of replication of a plasmid DNA, pSL103, during spore germination was also prevented by EtBr. However a higher concentration was required to inhibit plasmid replication. It was found that the plasmid formed two complexes identical to the S- and M-complex of the chromosome origin. Compared to the chromosome complexes the plasmid complexes were less sensitive to EtBr. The loss of sensitivity was equivalent to that for the initiation of the plasmid compared to the chromosome. These results indicate that the target of EtBr is the DNA in the S- and M-complexes whose conformation is essential for the initiation of chromosome and plasmid replication.III of this series is Murakami et al. 1976     

Mechanism of the binding of Z-L-tryptophan and Z-L-phenylalanine to thermolysin and stromelysin-1 in aqueous solutions

The chemical shift of the carboxylate carbon of Z-tryptophan is increased from 179.85 to 182.82 ppm and 182.87 ppm on binding to thermolysin and stromelysin-1 respectively. The chemical shift of Z-phenylalanine is also increased from 179.5 ppm to 182.9 ppm on binding to thermolysin. From pH studies we conclude that the pK(a) of the inhibitor carboxylate group is lowered by at least 1.5 pK(a) units when it binds to either enzyme. The signal at ~183 ppm is no longer observed when the active site zinc atom of thermolysin or stromelysin-1 is replaced by cobalt. We estimate that the distance of the carboxylate carbon of Z-[1-(13)C]-L-tryptophan is ≤3.71? from the active site cobalt atom of thermolysin. We conclude that the side chain of Z-[1-(13)C]-L-tryptophan is not bound in the S(2)' subsite of thermolysin. As the chemical shifts of the carboxylate carbons of the bound inhibitors are all ~183 ppm we conclude that they are all bound in a similar way most probably with the inhibitor carboxylate group directly coordinated to the active site zinc atom. Our spectrophotometric results confirm that the active site zinc atom is tetrahedrally coordinated when the inhibitors Z-tryptophan or Z-phenylalanine are bound to thermolysin.     

Antithrombin III regulates complement activity in vitro

Heparin, a polyion, exerts its main activity to inhibit coagulation through a serine protease inhibitor, antithrombin III. Previous studies have clearly shown that heparin in the absence of antithrombin III also has the capacity to regulate C activity. The present studies examined the ability of purified human antithrombin III to regulate classical and alternative pathways of C, alone and in the presence of heparin. Antithrombin III alone inhibited generation of both pathways in a dose-related manner; antithrombin III at 8 micrograms/10(7) cellular intermediates inhibited generation of the classical and alternative pathway convertases by 60 and 42%, respectively. Antithrombin III and heparin augmented each other's capacity to inhibit generation of both convertases in a dose-related manner. Antithrombin III did not appear to inhibit on the basis of charge because it is only slightly anionic (isoelectric pH value, 5.0); instead, antithrombin III may have acted as a serine protease inhibitor of the proteolytic enzymes of the C cascades. Antithrombin III acted only to inhibit formation of the alternative pathway convertase but had no activity on terminal lysis by this pathway; similarly, antithrombin III inhibited preformed EAC1,4b,2a,3b but had no activity on classical pathway cellular intermediates containing additional components. Finally, antithrombin III inhibited consumption of factor B hemolytic activity in a reaction mixture that also contained factor D and C3b, suggesting that factor D activity was also inhibited. These studies demonstrate the capacity of antithrombin III to regulate C and suggest that, in concert with heparin, antithrombin III may play an important role in the regulation of C in vivo.