Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: X-ray crystal structure of a benzenesulfonamide strong CA II and CA IX inhibitor bearing a pentafluorophenylaminothioureido tail in complex with isozyme II

N-1-(4-Sulfamoylphenyl)-N-4-pentafluorophenyl-thiosemicarbazide was prepared by the reaction of 4-isothiocyanato-benzenesulfonamide with pentafluorophenyl hydrazine, and proved to be an effective inhibitor of several isozymes of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), such as CA I, II, and IX. Against the physiologically relevant isozymes hCA II and hCA IX, the compound showed inhibition constants in the range of 15-19 nM, whereas it was less effective as a hCA I inhibitor (K(I) of 78 nM). The high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of its adduct with hCA II showed the inhibitor to bind within the hydrophobic half of the enzyme active site, making extensive and strong van der Waals contacts with amino acid residues Gln92, Val121, Phe131, Leu198, Thr200, Pro202, in addition to the coordination of the sulfonamide nitrogen to the Zn(II) ion of the active site, and participation of the SO(2)NH(2) group to a network of hydrogen bonds involving residues Thr199 and Glu106. These results are helpful for the design of better CA II or CA IX inhibitors based on the thioureido-benzenesulfonamide motif, with potential applications as anti-glaucoma or anti-cancer drugs.     

Purification and characterization of proteinase inhibitors from adzuki beans (Phaseolus angularis).

Two proteinase inhibitors, designated as inhibitors I and II, were purified from adzuki beans (Phaseolus angularis) by chromatographies on DEAE- and CM-cellulose, and gel filtration on a Sephadex G-100 column. Each inhibitor shows unique inhibitory activities. Inhibitor I was a powerful inhibitor of trypsin [EC 3.4.21.4], but essentially not of chymotrypsin ]EC 3.4.21.1]. On the other hand, inhibitor II inhibited chymotrypsin more strongly than trypsin. The molecular weights estimated from the enzyme inhibition were 3,750 and 9,700 for inhibitors I and II, respectively, assuming that the inhibitions were stoichiometric and in 1 : 1 molar ratio. The amino acid compositions of both inhibitors closely resemble those of low molecular weight inhibitors of other leguminous seeds: they contain large amounts of half-cystine, aspartic acid and serine, and little or no hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. Inhibitor I lacks both tyrosine and tryptophan residues. The molecular weights were calculated to be 7,894 and 8,620 for inhibitors I and II, respectively. The reliability of these molecular weights was confirmed by the sedimentation equilibrium and 6 M guanidine gel filtration methods. On comparison with the values obtained from enzyme inhibition, it was concluded that inhibitor I and two trypsin inhibitory sites on the molecule, whereas inhibitor II had one chymotrypsin and one trypsin inhibitory sites on the molecule.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: E7070, a sulfonamide anticancer agent, potently inhibits cytosolic isozymes I and II, and transmembrane, tumor-associated isozyme IX

E7070 [N-(3-chloro-7-indolyl)-1,4-benzenedisulfonamide] is an anticancer drug candidate under clinical development for the treatment of several types of cancers. We prove here that this compound also acts as a potent carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor. Similarly to the clinically used drugs acetazolamide, methazolamide and topiramate, E7070 showed inhibition constants in the range of 15-31nM against isozymes I, II and IX, being slightly less effective as a CA IV inhibitor (K(i) of 65nM). The X-ray crystal structure of the adduct of hCA II with E7070 revealed unprecedented interactions between the inhibitor and the active site, with three different conformations of the chloroindole fragment of the inhibitor interacting with different amino acid residues/water molecules of the enzyme. A superimposition of these conformations with those of other sulfonamide/sulfamate CA inhibitors indicated that similar regions of the hCA II active site could be involved in the interaction with inhibitors.     

Activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by Ca2+-dependent neutral protease, calpain

Two molecular species of Ca2+-dependent neutral protease (calpains I and II) and its endogenous inhibitor (calpastatin) in cytosol fraction of bovine adrenal medulla were separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Both calpains I and II, having low and high Ca2+ requirements for casein hydrolysis, respectively, were found to activate tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) that had been purified from cytosol fraction of bovine adrenal medulla. This activation of TH by calpain was inhibited by leupeptin and the endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin. The activated TH with calpain II, characterized by high-performance gel permeation chromatography, had a reduced Mr of 120,000 from the Mr of 230,000 of native enzyme.     

Crystal structure of FabG4 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals the importance of C-terminal residues in ketoreductase activity

Rv0242c, also known as FabG4, is a beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The crystal structure of C-terminal truncated FabG4 is solved at 2.5? resolution which shows the presence of two distinct domains, domain I and II. Domain I partially resembles "flavodoxin type domain" and the domain II is a typical "ketoacyl CoA reductase (KAR) domain". The enzyme exhibits ketoacyl CoA reductase activity by reducing acetoacyl CoA to 3-hydroxyacyl CoA in presence of NADH. Conserved catalytic triad Ser347, Tyr360, and Lys364 constitute the active site residues of the KAR domain. Presence of the Tyr and the Lys residues in the triad in a particular orientation is imperative for effective catalytic mechanism. The importance of loop I and II and the role of the C-terminal residues of KAR domain are highlighted. Comparative structural analyses clearly demonstrate that loop II is stabilized by hydrophobic interaction with C-terminal residues to sustain the orientation of Tyr360. Loop I interacts with loop II via H-bonding network to restrict the active site residue Lys364 in a catalytically favorable orientation.     

Hybrid ubiquinone: novel inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I

We synthesized novel ubiquinone analogs by hybridizing the natural ubiquinone ring (2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) and hydrophobic phenoxybenzamide unit, and named them hybrid ubiquinones (HUs). The HUs worked as electron transfer substrates with bovine heart mitochondrial succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex II) and ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (complex III), but not with NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). With complex I, they acted as inhibitors in a noncompetitive manner against exogenous short-chain ubiquinones irrespective of the presence of the natural ubiquinone ring. Elongation of the distance between the ubiquinone ring and the phenoxybenzamide unit did not recover the electron accepting activity. The structure/activity study showed that high structural specificity of the phenoxybenzamide moiety is required to act as a potent inhibitor of complex I. These findings indicate that binding of the HUs to complex I is mainly decided by some specific interaction of the phenoxybenzamide moiety with the enzyme. It is of interest that an analogous bulky and hydrophobic substructure can be commonly found in recently registered synthetic pesticides the action site of which is mitochondrial complex I.     

Inhibition of lipid peroxide decomposition by compounds which bind with cytochrome p-450

The kinetics of lipid peroxide decomposition catalysed by microsomal enzymes and inhibited by SKF-525 A, hexobarbital, phenobarbital and aniline were investigated. The results indicate that the in vitro interaction of hexobarbital and SKF-525 A (type I binding compounds) with microsomal cytochrome p-450 inhibits the peroxidase activity while the in vitro interaction of aniline (type II binding compound) only slightly affect the peroxidase activity. It is suggested that LAHPO and type I binding compounds are competing for the hydrophobic binding site on cytochrome p-450, while type II binding compounds such as aniline negate electron transfer non-competitively by combining with the heme.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: X-ray crystallographic structure of the adduct of human isozyme II with a topically acting antiglaucoma sulfonamide

The X-ray crystal structure for the adduct of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) II with a topically acting antiglaucoma sulfonamide (the 2-N,N-diethylaminoethylamide of 5-(4-carboxybenzenesulfonamido-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamide), has been resolved at a resolution of 1.6A. This compound is a very potent inhibitor of the physiologically most relevant isozyme hCA II for the secretion of aqueous humor within the eye K(I) of 1.4 nM), and in animal models of glaucoma showed very effective intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering after topical administration. Surprisingly, the inhibitor bound within the enzyme active site is in the sulfonylimido-4H- delta(2)-1,3,4-thiadiazoline tautomeric form. The inhibitor is directly bound to the Zn(II) ion of the enzyme through the deprotonated primary sulfonamide moiety, participating to the classical hydrogen bond network involving residues of the zinc-binding function and Thr 199 and Glu 106. The 1,3,4-thiadiazoline fragment of the inhibitor makes two hydrogen bonds with the active site residue Thr 200, the secondary sulfonamide moiety makes two hydrogen bonds involving a water molecule and the residue Gln 92, whereas the phenyl ring of the inhibitor participates to an edge-to-face interaction with the phenyl ring of Phe 131, the two cycles being almost perfectly perpendicular to each other. The tertiary amine fragment of the carboxamido tail and the carboxamido moiety itself make hydrogen bonds with water molecules present at the rim of the active site entrance and van der Waals contacts with His 4, Trp 5, and Phe 20. All these multiple interactions never evidenced previously in CA-sulfonamide complexes, explain the very high affinity of this inhibitor for the hCA II active site and may allow further optimization of this class of inhibitors.     

Crystal structures of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genotype 2a of hepatitis C virus reveal two conformations and suggest mechanisms of inhibition by non-nucleoside inhibitors

Crystal structures of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genotype 2a of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from two crystal forms have been determined. Similar to the three-dimensional structures of HCV polymerase genotype 1b and other known polymerases, the structures of the HCV polymerase genotype 2a in both crystal forms can be depicted in the classical right-hand arrangement with fingers, palm, and thumb domains. The main structural differences between the molecules in the two crystal forms lie at the interface of the fingers and thumb domains. The relative orientation of the thumb domain with respect to the fingers and palm domains and the beta-flap region is altered. Structural analysis reveals that the NS5B polymerase in crystal form I adopts a "closed" conformation that is believed to be the active form, whereas NS5B in crystal form II adopts an "open" conformation and is thus in the inactive form. In addition, we have determined the structures of two NS5B polymerase/non-nucleoside inhibitor complexes. Both inhibitors bind at a common binding site, which is nearly 35 A away from the polymerase active site and is located in the thumb domain. The binding pocket is predominantly hydrophobic in nature, and the enzyme inhibitor complexes are stabilized by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. Inhibitors can only be soaked in crystal form I and not in form II; examination of the enzyme-inhibitor complex reveals that the enzyme has undergone a dramatic conformational change from the form I (active) complex to the form II (inactive).     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Valdecoxib binds to a different active site region of the human isoform II as compared to the structurally related cyclooxygenase II "selective" inhibitor celecoxib

The high resolution X-ray crystal structure of the adduct of human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoform II (hCA II) with the clinically used painkiller valdecoxib, acting as a potent CA II and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, is reported. The ionized sulfonamide moiety of valdecoxib is coordinated to the catalytic Zn(II) ion with a tetrahedral geometry. The phenyl-isoxazole moiety of the inhibitor fills the active site channel and interacts with the side chains of Gln92, Val121, Leu198, Thr200, and Pro202. Its 3-phenyl group is located into a hydrophobic pocket, simultaneously establishing van der Waals interactions with the aliphatic side chain of various hydrophobic residues (Val135, Ile91, Val121, Leu198, and Leu141) and a strong offset face-to-face stacking interaction with the aromatic ring of Phe131 (the chi1 angle of which is rotated about 90 degrees with respect to what was observed in the structure of the native enzyme and those of other sulfonamide complexes). Celecoxib, a structurally related COX-2 inhibitor for which the X-ray crystal structure was reported earlier, binds in a completely different manner to hCA II as compared to valdecoxib. Celecoxib completely fills the entire CA II active site, with its trifluoromethyl group in the hydrophobic part of the active site and the p-tolyl moiety in the hydrophilic one, not establishing any interaction with Phe131. In contrast to celecoxib, valdecoxib was rotated about 90 degrees around the chemical bond connecting the benzensulfonamide and the substituted isoxazole ring allowing for these multiple favorable interactions. These different binding modes allow for the further drug design of various CA inhibitors belonging to the benzenesulfonamide class.     

Ethanol-acetylcholinesterase-inhibitor interactions: inhibitor hydrophobicity and site specificity dependence.

1. Depending on the hydrophobicity and the site specificity of an inhibitor, striking differences were found in ethanol-acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibitor interactions. 2. AChE used was from electric eel and was purified by affinity chromatography. 3. Ethanol at 10-200 mM reduced the inhibitory ability of tetrabutylammonium bromide (Bu4NBr). 4. The observed reduction might be a result of Bu4NBr inhibition being partially compensated for by an ethanol activation effect. 5. In contrast to Bu4NBr, propidium and edrophonium are not involved in hydrophobic interaction with AChE. 6. Their abilities to inhibit AChE activity were enhanced by ethanol. 7. Such an enhancement could not result from combining individual perturbations from ethanol and propidium or edrophonium, since ethanol itself increased the AChE activity. 8. In the presence of ethanol, propidium which binds to the peripheral site of the enzyme remained as an uncompetitive inhibitor, while edrophonium which binds to the active site was changed from a competitive inhibitor to a mixed one. 9. The effect of ethanol was therefore greater in the inhibitor which is involved with the active-site binding. 10. Fluorescence quenching studies of propidium-bound enzyme and edrophonium-bound enzyme revealed that ethanol in the concentration less than or equal to 400 mM did not cause significant conformational change at both the peripheral and the active sites of the enzyme.     

An essential role of active site arginine residue in iodide binding and histidine residue in electron transfer for iodide oxidation by horseradish peroxidase

The objective of the present study is to delineate the role of active site arginine and histidine residues of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in controlling iodide oxidation using chemical modification technique. The arginine specific reagent, phenylglyoxal (PGO) irreversibly blocks iodide oxidation following pseudofirst order kinetics with second order rate constant of 25.12 min^-1 M^-1. Radiolabelled PGO incorporation studies indicate an essential role of a single arginine residue in enzyme inactivation. The enzyme can be protected both by iodide and an aromatic donor such as guaiacol. Moreover, guaiacol-protected enzyme can oxidise iodide and iodide-protected enzyme can oxidise guaiacol suggesting the regulatory role of the same active site arginine residue in both iodide and guaiacol binding. The protection constant (K_p) for iodide and guaiacol are 500 and 10 M respectively indicating higher affinity of guaiacol than iodide at this site. Donor binding studies indicate that guaiacol competitively inhibits iodide binding suggesting their interaction at the same binding site. Arginine-modified enzyme shows significant loss of iodide binding as shown by increased K_d value to 571 mM from the native enzyme (K_d = 150 mM). Although arginine-modified enzyme reacts with H₂O₂ to form compound II presumably at a slow rate, the latter is not reduced by iodide presumably due to low affinity binding.The role of the active site histidine residue in iodide oxidation was also studied after disubstitution reaction of the histidine imidazole nitrogens with diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC), a histidine specific reagent. DEPC blocks iodide oxidation following pseudofirst order kinetics with second order rate constant of 0.66 min^-1 M^-1. Both the nitrogens (, ) of histidine imidazole were modified as evidenced by the characteristic peak at 222 nm. The enzyme is not protected by iodide suggesting that imidazolium ion is not involved in iodide binding. Moreover, DEPC-modified enzyme binds iodide similar to the native enzyme. However, the modified enzyme does not form compound II but forms compound I only with higher concentration of H₂O₂ suggesting the catalytic role of this histidine in the formation and autoreduction of compound I. Interestingly, compound I thus formed is not reduced by iodide indicating block of electron transport from the donor to the compound I. We suggest that an active site arginine residue regulates iodide binding while the histidine residue controls the electron transfer to the heme ferryl group during oxidation.     

Inhibition by glutathione derivatives of bovine liver glyoxalase II (hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase) as a probe of the N- and S-sites for substrate binding

The nature of the binding determinants used in the interaction of glutathione-based derivatives and bovine liver glyoxalase II (S-(2-hydroxyacyl)glutathione hydrolase, EC 3.1.2.6) has been investigated. Linear competitive inhibition was observed for S-blocked and S,N-blocked glutathiones with bovine liver glyoxalase II (molecular weight 22 500 by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; pI = 7.48 by analytical isoelectric focussing). There is a significant hydrophobic region on the enzyme to bind substituents around the sulphydryl-derived moiety of the substrate--a hydrophobic S-site. However, there is no evidence for binding of the N-site of the substrate (or inhibitor) to glyoxalase II. In contrast to glyoxalase I, there is no linkage between binding forces used at the S- and N-sites. Binding of S,N-dicarbobenzoxyglutathione is pH-dependent, showing dependence on an ionisation with pKapp approximately equal to 7.2 (binding more tightly at higher pH), as is the kcat value (pKapp approximately equal to 7.8) for S-D-lactoylglutathione.     

Kinetic studies on the reaction of compound II of myeloperoxidase with ascorbic acid. Role of ascorbic acid in myeloperoxidase function

Ascorbic acid is known to stimulate leukocyte functions. In a recent publication it was suggested that the role of ascorbic acid is to reduce compound II of myeloperoxidase back to the native enzyme (Bolscher, B. G. J. M., Zoutberg, G. R., Cuperus, R. A., and Wever, R. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 784, 189-191). In this paper we report rapid spectral scan and transient state kinetic results on the reaction of three myeloperoxidase compounds II, namely, human neutrophil myeloperoxidase, canine myeloperoxidase, and bovine spleen heme protein with ascorbate. We show by rapid scan spectra that compound II does not pass through any other intermediate when ascorbic acid reduces it back to native form. We also show that the reactions of all three compounds II involve a simple binding interaction before enzyme reduction with an apparent dissociation constant of 6.3 +/- 0.9 x 10(-4) to 2.0 +/- 0.3 x 10(-3)M and a first-order rate constant for reduction of 12.6 +/- 0.6 to 18.8 +/- 1.3 s-1. The optimum pH is 4.5, and at this pH the activation energy for the reaction is 13.2 kJ mol-1. Results of this work lend further evidence that the spleen green heme protein is very similar if not identical to leukocyte myeloperoxidase based on a comparison of spectral scans, pH-rate profiles, and kinetic parameters. We demonstrate that chloride cannot reduce compound II whereas iodide reduces compound II to native enzyme at a rate comparable to that of ascorbate. This explains why ascorbate accelerates chlorination but inhibits iodination. Formation of compound II is a dead end for the generation of hypochlorous acid; ascorbate regenerates more native enzyme to enhance the chlorination reaction namely: myeloperoxidase + peroxide----compound I followed by compound I + chloride----HOCl. On the other hand, ascorbate is a competitor with iodide for both compounds I and II and so inhibits iodination.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: X-ray crystallographic structure of the adduct of human isozyme II with the antipsychotic drug sulpiride

The X-ray crystal structure for the adduct of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) II with sulpiride, a sulfonamide derivative clinically used as antipsychotic drug, has been resolved at a resolution of 1.6 A. This compound is an effective inhibitor of the physiologically most relevant isozyme hCA II (K(i) of 40 nM), being only a moderate or moderate-weak inhibitor of the cytosolic isozyme hCA I (K(i) of 1200 nM) and the membrane-bound isozyme hCA IV (K(i) of 620 nM). Sulpiride shows CA inhibitory properties of the same magnitude as dichlorophenamide, a clinically used antiglaucoma sulfonamide, or valdecoxib, a COX-2 selective inhibitor recently shown to inhibit CA. The binding of sulpiride to the hCA II active site is similar to that of other sulfonamide inhibitors, considering the interactions of the sulfonamide zinc anchoring group, but differs considerably when the organic scaffold of the molecule is analyzed. Indeed, one unprecedented hydrogen bond involving the imino moiety of the carboxamido group of sulpiride and a water molecule was observed, together with a unique stacking interaction of the N-methyl-pyrrolidine ring of the inhibitor and the aromatic ring of Phe 131 of the enzyme active site, which has been observed only recently in another CA-sulfonamide complex.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationship study on some 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been made on some lipoxygenase inhibitors belonging to the series of omega-phenylalkyl hydroxamic acids, omega-naphthylalkyl hydroxamic acids, eicosatetraenoic acids, and 1H.benzimidazole-4-ols. It was found that the hydrophobic character of the molecules and the size of their substituents selectively govern their lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. The enzyme active site possesses a non-heme ferric ion, a hydrophobic domain, and a carboxylic acid binding site. It was found that while the functional group of inhibitors must interact with the ferric ion, the substituent on one side of it would be involved in hydrophobic interaction and that on the other side in van der Waals interaction with the enzyme so leading to an enhancement in the inhibitory activity of the inhibitors.     

Production in Large Quantities of Actinorhodin and Undecyl-prodigiosin Induced by afsB in Streptomyces lividans

Paraquat inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity of human erythrocytes and electric organs of Electrophorus electricus. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity was reversible, as shown from the following two experimental results: [I] The degree of inhibition was not affected by changing the preincubation time of the enzyme and paraquat before the addition of the substrate. [II] The enzyme, preincubated with paraquat and subsequently freed from inhibitor by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, showed the same activity as the untreated enzyme. Paraquat gave effective protection against the inhibition by an irreversible anionic site inhibitor, dibenamine, but not by irreversible esteratic site inhibitors, dichlorvos and methanesulfonyl chloride. These results indicate that paraquat functions as a reversible inhibitor for the anionic site. The inhibitory powers and Hill coefficients of paraquat and diquat were compared with the other quaternary ammonium compounds. Although secondary to edrophonium, paraquat strongly inhibited acetylcholinesterases of human erythrocytes and electric eel, and showed higher inhibition selectivity for both acetylcholinesterases than for human plasma butyrylcholinesterase. The Hill coefficients concerning the interaction of paraquat with acetylcholinesterases of human erythrocytes and electric eel were given as 0.83 and 0.73, respectively. This indicates negative cooperativity between these enzymes and paraquat, which is similar to the case with d-tubocurarine. On the other hand, diquat showed weak inhibitory power and low inhibition selectivity, and its Hill coefficients were almost 1.0, indicating a competitive inhibition mode.     

Kinetics of the inhibition by naphtholsulfonate compounds of AMP deaminase from chicken erythrocytes

The effect of a variety of naphthalene sulfonate compounds on the chicken erythrocyte AMP deaminase (AMP aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.6) reaction was analyzed kinetically. Of the naphthalene sulfonate derivatives tested, the compounds with hydroxyl, sulfonate and nitrogen groups such as amino, anilino or azo groups showed an inhibitory effect. The cooperative effect of AMP, analyzed in terms of Hill coefficient, was increased from about 2 to 4 and the maximal velocity was unchanged with the addition of these compounds, suggesting the ligands as an allosteric inhibitor of the enzyme. The inhibition of AMP deaminase by naphtholsulfonate compounds can be qualitatively and quantitatively accounted for by the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model. Theoretical curves yield a satisfactory fit of all experimental saturation and inhibition curves, assuming four binding sites for AMP and the inhibitor, and various KT(I) values. The structure-activity analysis of the interaction of the naphtholsulfonate compounds with AMP deaminase has demonstrated that the affinity of the enzyme for naphtholsulfonates as the inhibitors is correlated with electronic properties of the nitrogen atoms attached to naphthalene moiety: the delocalization of lone electron pair on nitrogen through naphtholsulfonate group makes the compound less basic, resulting in more tight binding of the ligand to the enzyme. Introduction of hydrophobic group to naphtholsulfonate moiety increases the binding affinity for the enzyme, and of the inhibition. These results suggest the location of hydrophobic regions as the allosteric inhibitory sites of the enzyme for the binding of naphtholsulfonate compounds.     

Prostaglandin H synthase kinetics. The effect of substituted phenols on cyclooxygenase activity and the substituent effect on phenolic peroxidatic activity.

A series of p- and m-substituted phenols were examined for their effect on the cyclooxygenase activity of prostaglandin H synthase in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 8.0 and 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. A biphasic response was observed. At low concentrations phenols stimulate, but at higher concentrations inhibit, cyclooxygenase activity. Both enhancement and inhibition are increased by phenolic substituents which are electron-donating, quantified by Hammett sigma constants, and hydrophobic, quantified by Hantsch tau constants. The same series of substituted phenols was also reacted with compound II of prostaglandin H synthase at 4.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C. The compound II data fit the Hammett rho sigma equation; no hydrophobicity factors are required. Phenols inhibit cyclooxygenase activity by interfering with the binding of arachidonic acid to compound I and by competing directly with arachidonic acid as reducing substrates for compound I. Phenols stimulate cyclooxygenase activity by acting as reducing substrates for compound II, thereby accelerating the peroxidatic cycle. Phenols also protect the enzyme from self-catalyzed inactivation, most likely by removing the free radical of prostaglandin G2 by reducing it to prostaglandin G2. Kinetic parameters Km and kcat for cyclooxygenase activity were determined in the presence of phenols. Identical values of Km (15.3 +/- 0.5 mM) and kcat (89 +/- 2 s-1) were obtained regardless of which phenol was employed. Therefore these represent the true Km and kcat values for cyclooxygenase activity.     

Strategy to design peptide inhibitors: structure of a complex of proteinase K with a designed octapeptide inhibitor N-Ac-Pro-Ala-Pro-Phe-DAla-Ala-Ala-Ala-NH2 at 2.5 A resolution.

The crystal structure of a complex formed by the interaction between proteinase K and a designed octapeptide amide, N-Ac-Pro-Ala-Pro-Phe-DAla-Ala-Ala-Ala-NH2, has been determined at 2.5 A resolution and refined to an R-factor of 16.7% for 7,430 reflections in the resolution range of 8.0-2.50 A. The inhibitor forms a stable complex through a series of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the protein atoms and water molecules. The inhibitor is hydrolyzed between Phe4I and DAla5I (I indicates the inhibitor). The two fragments are separated by a distance of 3.2 A between the carbonyl carbon of Phe4I and the main-chain nitrogen of DAla5I. The N-terminal tetrapeptide occupies subsites S1-S5 (S5 for acetyl group), whereas the C-terminal part fits into S1'-S5' region (S5' for amide group). It is the first time that such an extended electron density for a designed synthetic peptide inhibitor has been observed in the prime region of an enzyme of the subtilisin family. In fact, the inhibitor fills the recognition site completely. There is only a slight rearrangement of the protein residues to accommodate the inhibitor. Superposition of the present octapeptide inhibitor on the hexapeptide inhibitor studied previously shows an overall homology of the two inhibitors, although the individual atoms are displaced significantly. It suggests the existence of a recognition site with flexible dimensions. Kinetic studies indicate an inhibition rate of 100% by this specifically designed peptide inhibitor.