What can the structures of enzyme-inhibitor complexes tell us about the structures of enzyme substrate complexes?

Proteinases perform many beneficial functions that are essential to life, but they are also dangerous and must be controlled. Here we focus on one of the control mechanisms: the ubiquitous presence of protein proteinase inhibitors. We deal only with a subset of these: the standard mechanism, canonical protein inhibitors of serine proteinases. Each of the inhibitory domains of such inhibitors has one reactive site peptide bond, which serves all the cognate enzymes as a substrate. The reactive site peptide bond is in a combining loop which has an identical conformation in all inhibitors and in all enzyme-inhibitor complexes. There are at least 18 families of such inhibitors. They all share the conformation of the combining loops but each has its own global three-dimensional structure. Many three-dimensional structures of enzyme-inhibitor complexes were determined. They are frequently used to predict the conformation of substrates in very short-lived enzyme-substrate transition state complexes. Turkey ovomucoid third domain and eglin c have a Leu residue at P(1). In complexes with chymotrypsin, these P(1) Leu residues assume the same conformation. The relative free energies of binding of P(1) Leu (relative to either P(1) Gly or P(1) Ala) are within experimental error, the same for complexes of turkey ovomucoid third domain, eglin c, P(1) Leu variant of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and of a substrate with chymotrypsin. Therefore, the P(1) Leu conformation in transition state complexes is predictable. In contrast, the conformation of P(1) Lys(+) is strikingly different in the complexes of Lys(18) turkey ovomucoid third domain and of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor with chymotrypsin. The relative free energies of binding are also quite different. Yet, the relative free energies of binding are nearly identical for Lys(+) in turkey ovomucoid third domain and in a substrate, thus allowing us to know the structure of the latter. Similar reasoning is applied to a few other systems.     

Thermodynamic criterion for the conformation of P1 residues of substrates and of inhibitors in complexes with serine proteinases.

Eglin c, turkey ovomucoid third domain, and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz) are all standard mechanism, canonical protein inhibitors of serine proteinases. Each of the three belongs to a different inhibitor family. Therefore, all three have the same canonical conformation in their combining loops but differ in their scaffoldings. Eglin c (Leu45 at P1) binds to chymotrypsin much better than its Ala45 variant (the difference in standard free energy changes on binding is -5.00 kcal/mol). Similarly, turkey ovomucoid third domain (Leu18 at P1) binds to chymotrypsin much better than its Ala18 variant (the difference in standard free energy changes on binding is -4.70 kcal/mol). As these two differences are within the +/-400 cal/mol bandwidth (expected from the experimental error), one can conclude that the system is additive. On the basis that isoenergetic is isostructural, we expect that within both the P1 Ala pair and the P1 Leu pair, the conformation of the inhibitor's P1 side chain and of the enzyme's specificity pocket will be identical. This is confirmed, within the experimental error, by the available X-ray structures of complexes of bovine chymotrypsin Aalpha with eglin c () and with turkey ovomucoid third domain (). A comparison can also be made between the structures of P1 (Lys+)15 of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz) ( and ) and of the P1 (Lys+)18 variant of turkey ovomucoid third domain (), both interacting with chymotrypsin. In this case, the conformation of the side chains is strikingly different. Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor with (Lys+)15 at P1 binds to chymotrypsin more strongly than its Ala15 variant (the difference in standard free energy changes on binding is -1.90 kcal/mol). In contrast, turkey ovomucoid third domain variant with (Lys+)18 at P1 binds to chymotrypsin less strongly than its Ala18 variant (the difference in standard free energies of association is 0.95 kcal/mol). In this case, P1 Lys+ is neither isostructural nor isoenergetic. Thus, a thermodynamic criterion for whether the conformation of a P1 side chain in the complex matches that of an already determined one is at hand. Such a criterion may be useful in reducing the number of required X-ray crystallographic structure determinations. More importantly, the criterion can be applied to situations where direct determination of the structure is extremely difficult. Here, we apply it to determine the conformation of the Lys+ side chain in the transition state complex of a substrate with chymotrypsin. On the basis of kcat/KM measurements, the difference in free energies of activation for Suc-AAPX-pna when X is Lys+ and X is Ala is 1.29 kcal/mol. This is in good agreement with the corresponding difference for turkey ovomucoid third domain variants but in sharp contrast to the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz) data. Therefore, we expect that in the transition state complex of this substrate with chymotrypsin, the P1 Lys+ side chain is deeply inserted into the enzyme's specificity pocket as it is in the (Lys+)18 turkey ovomucoid third domain complex with chymotrypsin.     

Turkey ovomucoid third domain inhibits eight different serine proteinases of varied specificity on the same ...Leu18-Glu19 ... reactive site

We show that eight different serine proteinases--bovine chymotrypsins A and B, porcine pancreatic elastase I, proteinase K, Streptomyces griseus proteinases A and B, and subtilisins BPN' and Carlsberg--interact with turkey ovomucoid third domain at the same Leu18-Glu19 peptide bond, the reactive site of the inhibitor. Turkey ovomucoid third domain was converted to modified (the reactive site peptide bond hydrolyzed) form as documented by sequencing. Complexes of all eight enzymes both with virgin and with modified inhibitor were prepared. All 16 complexes were subjected to kinetically controlled dissociation, and all 16 produced predominantly virgin (greater than 90%) inhibitor, thus proving our point. During this investigation, we found that both alpha-chymotrypsin and especially S. griseus proteinase B convert virgin to modified turkey ovomucoid third domain, even in the pH range 1-2, a much lower pH than we expected. We have also measured rate constants kon and kon* for the association of virgin and modified turkey ovomucoid third domain with several serine proteinases. The kon/kon* ratio is 4.8 X 10(6) for chymotrypsin, but it is only 1.5 for subtilisin Carlsberg. A number of generalizations concerning reactive sites of protein proteinase inhibitor are proposed and discussed.     

Conformation of the third domain of turkey ovomucoid in solution. Structural analysis by two-dimensional Overhauser nuclear effect spectroscopy]

The conformations of a polypeptide chain of turkey ovomucoid third domain and its modified form with split reactive site peptide bond Leu-18--Glu-19 have been determined by the literary two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy data using an earlier suggested method. It has been found that the polypeptide domain backbone contains an alpha-helical fragment (residues 32-47), five segments having extended conformation (1-5, 11-17, 19-25, 29-31, 48-50) and beta-turn type 1 (26-29). Segments 23-26, 28-31 and 50-51 form an antiparallel beta-structure. Conformational states of the residues entering irregular domain segments have been analysed. Splitting of the reactive site peptide bond Leu-18--Glu-19 is shown to cause insignificant changes in the conformations of a number of amino acid residues except for Val-6 and Asp-7 ones which undergo essential conformational alterations. The conformations of domain in solution and of japanese quail ovomucoid third domain in crystal have been compared. The root-mean-square deviations for phi and psi angles indicate their high similarity. The conformations of turkey ovomucoid third domain and proteinase inhibitor BUSI IIA in solution have been analysed. In spite of moderate (50%) homology of primary structures, some 75% of amino acid residues are shown to have close conformational phi and psi parameters.     

Crystal and molecular structures of the complex of alpha-chymotrypsin with its inhibitor turkey ovomucoid third domain at 1.8 A resolution

The molecular structure of the complex between bovine pancreatic alpha-chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.4.5) and the third domain of the Kazal-type ovomucoid from Turkey (OMTKY3) has been determined crystallographically by the molecular replacement method. Restrained-parameter least-squares refinement of the molecular model of the complex has led to a conventional agreement factor R of 0.168 for the 19,466 reflections in the 1.8 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) resolution shell [I greater than or equal to sigma (I)]. The reactive site loop of OMTKY3, from Lys13I to Arg21I (I indicates inhibitor), is highly complementary to the surface of alpha-chymotrypsin in the complex. A total of 13 residues on the inhibitor make 113 contacts of less than 4.0 A with 21 residues of the enzyme. A short contact (2.95 A) from O gamma of Ser195 to the carbonyl-carbon atom of the scissile bond between Leu18I and Glu19I is present; in spite of it, this peptide remains planar and undistorted. Analysis of the interactions of the inhibitor with chymotrypsin explains the enhanced specificity that chymotrypsin has for P'3 arginine residues. There is a water-mediated ion pair between the guanidinium group on this residue and the carboxylate of Asp64. Comparison of the structure of the alpha-chymotrypsin portion of this complex with the several structures of alpha and gamma-chymotrypsin in the uncomplexed form shows a high degree of structural equivalence (root-mean-square deviation of the 234 common alpha-carbon atoms averages 0.38 A). Significant differences occur mainly in two regions Lys36 to Phe39 and Ser75 to Lys79. Among the 21 residues that are in contact with the ovomucoid domain, only Phe39 and Tyr146 change their conformations significantly as a result of forming the complex. Comparison of the structure of the OMTKY3 domain in this complex to that of the same inhibitor bound to a serine proteinase from Streptomyces griseus (SGPB) shows a central core of 44 amino acids (the central alpha-helix and flanking small 3-stranded beta-sheet) that have alpha-carbon atoms fitting to within 1.0 A (root-mean-square deviation of 0.45 A) whereas the residues of the reactive-site loop differ in position by up to 1.9 A (C alpha of Leu18I). The ovomucoid domain has a built-in conformational flexibility that allows it to adapt to the active sites of different enzymes. A comparison of the SGPB and alpha-chymotrypsin molecules is made and the water molecules bound at the inhibitor-enzyme interface in both complexes are analysed for similarities and differences.     

Three-dimensional structure of soybean trypsin/chymotrypsin Bowman-Birk inhibitor in solution.

The three-dimensional structure of soybean trypsin/chymotrypsin Bowman-Birk inhibitor in solution has been determined by two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dynamical simulated annealing using the program XPLOR. The structure was defined by 907 NOEs involving intra- and interresidue contacts which served as distance constraints for a protocol of dynamical simulated annealing. In addition, 48 phi angle constraints involving non-proline amino acids, 29 chi angle constraints, six omega angle constraints for the X-Pro peptide bond, and 35 stereoassignments for prochiral centers were incorporated during the course of the calculation. The protein is characterized by two distinct binding domains for serine protease. Each domain is comprised of a beta-hairpin (antiparallel beta-sheet and a cis-proline-containing type VIb reverse turn) with a short segment making a third strand of antiparallel beta-sheet. The structure determination and refinement are described, and the structure is compared to other structures of Bowman-Birk inhibitors as well as other families of serine protease inhibitors.     

The 2.5 A X-ray crystal structure of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor from human mucous secretions analysed in its complex with bovine alpha-chymotrypsin.

Orthorhombic crystals of the complex formed between bovine alpha-chymotrypsin and a recombinant human mucous proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) were grown. Data to 2.3 A resolution were collected on the area-detector diffractometer FAST. The crystal structure of the complex was solved by Patterson search techniques using chymotrypsin as a search model. A cyclic procedure of modeling and crystallographic refinement enabled the determination of the SLPI structure. The current crystallographic R-value is 0.19. SLPI has a boomerang-like shape with both wings comprising two well separated domains of similar architecture. In each domain the polypeptide chain is arranged like a stretched spiral. Two internal strands form a regular beta-hairpin loop which is accompanied by two external strands linked by the proteinase binding segment. The polypeptide segment of each domain is interconnected by four disulfide bridges with a connectivity pattern hitherto unobserved. The reactive site loop of the second domain has elastase and chymotrypsin binding properties. It contains the scissile peptide bond between Leu72I and Met73I and has a similar conformation to that observed in other serine proteinase protein inhibitors. Eight residues of this loop, two of the adjacent hairpin loop, the C-terminal segment and Trp30I are in direct contact with the cognate enzyme. The binding loop of the first domain (probably with anti-trypsin activity) is disordered due to proteolytic cleavage occurring in the course of crystallization.     

1H assignments and secondary structure determination of the soybean trypsin/chymotrypsin Bowman-Birk inhibitor

The 1H resonance assignments and secondary structure of the trypsin/chymotrypsin Bowman-Birk inhibitor from soybeans were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) at 600 MHz in an 18% acetonitrile-d3/aqueous cosolvent. Resonances from 69 of 71 amino acids were assigned sequence specifically. Residues Q11-T15 form an antiparallel beta-sheet with residues Q21-S25 in the tryptic inhibitory domain and an analogous region of antiparallel sheet forms between residues S38-A42 and Q48-V52 in the chymotryptic inhibitory domain. The inhibitory sites of each fragment (K16-S17 for trypsin, L43-S44 for chymotrypsin) are each part of a type VI like turn at one end of their respective region of the antiparallel beta-sheet. These structural elements are compared to those found in other Bowman-Birk inhibitors.     

Crystallographic refinement of Japanese quail ovomucoid, a Kazal-type inhibitor, and model building studies of complexes with serine proteases

Japanese quail ovomucoid third domain (OMJPQ3), a Kazal-type inhibitor, was crystallographically refined with energy constraints. The final R-value is 0.20 at 1.9 Å resolution. The four molecules in the asymmetric unit are very similar, with deviations of main-chain atoms between 0.2 and 0.3 Å. An analysis of the side-chain hydrogen-bonding pattern and amino acid variability in the Kazal family shows a high correlation between hydrogen-bonding and conservation.The conformation of the reactive site loop (P2-P2′) of OMJPQ3 is similar to those of basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor, and soybean trypsin inhibitor. This suggests a common binding mode and justifies model-building studies of complexes.Complexes of OMJPQ3 with trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase were modelled on the basis of the trypsin-basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor complex structure and inspected by use of a computer graphics system. Stereochemically satisfying models were constructed in each case and detailed interactions are proposed. The complex with elastase is of particular interest, showing that leucine and methionine are good P1 residues. A good correlation is observed between functional properties of ovomucoid variants and the position of the exchanged residues with respect to the modelled inhibitor-protease contact.     

Replacement of P1 Leu18 by Glu18 in the reactive site of turkey ovomucoid third domain converts it into a strong inhibitor of Glu-specific Streptomyces griseus proteinase (GluSGP).

Turkey ovomucoid third domain with P1 Leu18 at its reactive site is an excellent inhibitor of chymotrypsin and elastase and of many other serine proteinases with related specificities. Semisynthetic replacement of P1 Leu18 by Lys18 causes the expected change into a trypsin inhibitor. Strikingly, semisynthetic replacement P1 Leu18 to Glu18 changes turkey ovomucoid third domain into a powerful inhibitor of Glu-specific Streptomyces griseus proteinase, GluSGP. Of the 131 natural avian ovomucoid third domains we have sequenced none have P1 Glu18, but several avian ovomucoid first domains have P1 Glu24. They are weak to moderate inhibitors of GluSGP.     

Inhibitory specificity change of the ovomucoid third domain of the silver pheasant upon introduction of an engineered Cys14-Cys39 bond

The ovomucoid third domain from silver pheasant (OMSVP3), a typical Kazal-type inhibitor, strongly inhibits different serine proteases of various specificities, i.e., chymotrypsin, Streptomyces griseus protease, subtilisin, and elastase. Structural studies have suggested that conformational flexibility in the reactive site loop of the free inhibitor may be related to broad specificity of the ovomucoid. On the basis of the structural homology between OMSVP3 and ascidian trypsin inhibitor (ATI), which has a cystine-stabilized alpha-helical (CSH) motif in the sequence, we prepared the disulfide variant of OMSVP3, introducing an engineered disulfide bond between positions 14 and 39 near the reactive site (Met18-Glu19) by site-directed mutagenesis. The disulfide variant P14C/N39C retained potent inhibitory activities toward alpha-chymotrypsin (CHT) and S. griseus proteases A and B (SGPA and SGPB), while this variant lost most of its inhibitory activity toward porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). We determined the solution structure of P14C/N39C, as well as that of wild-type OMSVP3, by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) methods and compared their structures to elucidate the structural basis of the inhibitory specificity change. For the molecular core consisting of a central alpha-helix and a three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, essentially no structural difference was detected between the two (pairwise rmsd value = 0.41 A). In contrast to this, a significant difference was detected in the loop from Cys8 to Thr17, where in P14C/N39C it has drawn approximately 4 A nearer the central helix to form the engineered Cys14-Cys39 bond. Concomitantly, the Tyr11-Pro12 cis-peptide linkage, which is highly conserved in ovomucoid third domains, was isomerized to the trans configuration. Such structural change in the loop near the reactive site may possibly affect the inhibitory specificity of P14C/N39C for the corresponding proteases.     

Solution structure of ascidian trypsin inhibitor determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The three-dimensional solution structure of ascidian trypsin inhibitor (ATI), a 55 amino acid residue protein with four disulfide bridges, was determined by means of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) spectroscopy. The resulting structure of ATI was characterized by an alpha-helical conformation in residues 35-42 and a three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet in residues 22-26, 29-32, and 48-50. The presence of an alpha-helical conformation was predicted from the consensus sequences of the cystine-stabilized alpha-helical (CSH) motif, which is characterized by an alpha-helix structure in the Cys-X(1)-X(2)-X(3)-Cys portion (corresponding to residues 37-41), linking to the Cys-X-Cys portion (corresponding to residues 12-14) folded in an extended structure. The secondary structure and the overall folding of the main chain of ATI were very similar to those of the Kazal-type inhibitors, such as Japanese quail ovomucoid third domain (OMJPQ3) and leech-derived tryptase inhibitor form C (LDTI-C), although ATI does not show extensive sequence homology to these inhibitors except for a few amino acid residues and six of eight half-cystines. On the basis of these findings, we realign the amino acid sequences of representative Kazal-type inhibitors including ATI and discuss the unique structure of ATI with four disulfide bridges.     

Amino acid sequence of thePhaseolus vulgaris var. “Fogo na Serra” inhibitor and interactive surface modeling for the enzyme-inhibitor complex

A trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor from seeds ofPhaseolus vulgaris var. “Fogo na Serra” (PFSI) was purified and its complete amino acid sequence was determined using Edman degradation methods. The inhibitor was found to belong to the Bowman-Birk family of enzymatic inhibitors; it has 82 amino acid residues and a 8.985-kDa molecular mass. The PFSI/α-chymotrypsin binary complex has been modeled using the Turkey ovomucoid inhibitor third domain (OMTKY3) bound toα-chymotrypsin [Fujinagaet al. (1987),J. Mol. Biol.,195, 397–418. template. The model allowed identification of the binding surface.     

Design and characterization of a hybrid miniprotein that specifically inhibits porcine pancreatic elastase

Studying protease/peptide inhibitor interactions is a useful tool for understanding molecular recognition in general and is particularly relevant for the rational design of inhibitors with therapeutic potential. An inhibitory peptide (PMTLEYR) derived from the third domain of turkey ovomucoid inhibitor and optimized for specific porcine pancreatic elastase inhibition was introduced into an inhibitor scaffold to increase the proteolytic stability of the peptide. The trypsin-specific squash inhibitor EETI II from Ecballium elaterium was chosen as the scaffold. The resulting hybrid inhibitor HEI-TOE I (hybrid inhibitor from E. elaterium and the optimized binding loop of the third domain of turkey ovomucoid inhibitor) shows a specificity and affinity to porcine pancreatic elastase similar to the free inhibitory peptide but with significantly higher proteolytic stability. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that elastase binding of HEI-TOE I occurs with a small unfavorable positive enthalpy contribution, a large favorable positive entropy change, and a large negative heat capacity change. In addition, the inhibitory peptide and the hybrid inhibitor HEI-TOE I protected endothelial cells against degradation following treatment with porcine pancreatic elastase.     

Chemical modification of proteinsby “smart” polymers

The modification of duck ovomucoid, a proteinaceous proteinase inhibitor from egg white, by poly-N,N-diethylacrylamide possessing a low critical solution temperature (LCST) has been investigated. The free amino groups of the lysine residues and the N-terminal residue of the ovomucoid molecule were modified; as a result, the inhibitor activity towards trypsin decreased significantly and that towards chymotrypsin decreased slightly. The transformation of ovomucoid antitryptic centers into antichymotryptic centers was observed upon the heating of the solutions of the modified protein above the LCST. The hydrophobization of the lysine residues situated in the reactive centers of the inhibitor was shown to cause this phenomenon. The structure of the binding loop was not distorted and the modified lysine residues could be recognized by chymotrypsin molecules, similarly to the hydrophobic amino acid residues of the antichymotryptic center.     

Two-dimensional NMR studies of Kazal proteinase inhibitors. 1. Sequence-specific assignments and secondary structure of turkey ovomucoid third domain

Two-dimensional proton NMR experiments have been used to sequentially assign resonances to all of the peptide backbone protons of turkey ovomucoid third domain (OMTKY3) except those of the N-terminal alpha-amino group whose signal was not resolved owing to exchange with the solvent. Assignments also have been made for more than 80% of the side-chain protons. Two-dimensional chemical shift correlated spectroscopy (COSY), relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy (RELAY), and two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy (HOHAHA) were used to identify the spin systems of almost half of the residues prior to sequential assignment. Assignments were based on two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancements observed between adjacent residues. The secondary structure of OMTKY3 in solution was determined from additional assigned NOESY cross-peaks; it closely resembles the secondary structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of OMTKY3 in complex with Streptomyces griseus proteinase B [Fujinaga, M., Read, R.J., Sielecki, A., Ardelt, W., Laskowski, M., Jr., & James, M.N.G. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 4868-4872]. The NMR data provide evidence for three slowly exchanging amide protons that were not identified as hydrogen-bond donors in the crystal structure.     

Two-dimensional NMR studies of Kazal proteinase inhibitors. 2. Sequence-specific assignments and secondary structure of reactive site modified turkey ovomucoid third domain

The solution structure of modified turkey ovomucoid third domain (OMTKY3*) was investigated by high-resolution proton NMR techniques. OMTKY3* was obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of the scissile reactive site peptide bond (Leu18-Glu19) in turkey ovomucoid third domain (OMTKY3). All of the backbone proton resonances were assigned to sequence-specific residues except the NH's of Leu1 and Glu19, which were not observed. Over 80% of the side-chain protons also were assigned. The secondary structure of OMTKY3*, as determined from assigned NOESY cross-peaks and identification of slowly exchanging amide protons, contains antiparallel beta-sheet consisting of three strands (residues 21-25, 28-32, and 49-54), one alpha-helix (residues 33-44), and one reverse turn (residues 26-28). This secondary structure closely resembles that of OMTKY3 in solution [Robertson, A. D., Westler, W. M., & Markley, J. L. (1988) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. On the other hand, changes in the tertiary structure of the protein near to and remote from the cleavage site are indicated by differences in the chemical shifts of numerous backbone protons of OMTKY3 and OMTKY3*.     

Amide proton exchange of a dynamic loop in cell extracts

Intrinsic rates of exchange are essential parameters for obtaining protein stabilities from amide ¹H exchange data. To understand the influence of the intracellular environment on stability, one must know the effect of the cytoplasm on these rates. We probed exchange rates in buffer and in Escherichia coli lysates for the dynamic loop in the small globular protein chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 using a modified form of the nuclear magnetic resonance experiment, SOLEXSY. No significant changes were observed, even in 100 g dry weight L⁻¹ lysate. Our results suggest that intrinsic rates from studies conducted in buffers are applicable to studies conducted under cellular conditions.     

NMR chemical shift mapping of the binding site of a protein proteinase inhibitor: changes in the (1)H, (13)C and (15)N NMR chemical shifts of turkey ovomucoid third domain upon binding to bovine chymotrypsin A(alpha)

The substrate-like inhibition of serine proteinases by avian ovomucoid domains has provided an excellent model for protein inhibitor-proteinase interactions of the standard type. 1H,15N and 13C NMR studies have been undertaken on complexes formed between turkey ovomucoid third domain (OMTKY3)2 and chymotrypsin A(alpha) (Ctr) in order to characterize structural changes occurring in the Ctr binding site of OMTKY3. 15N and 13C were incorporated uniformly into OMTKY3, allowing backbone resonances to be assigned for OMTKY3 in both its free and complex states. Chemical shift perturbation mapping indicates that the two regions, K13-P22 and N33-A40, are the primary sites in OMTKY3 involved in Ctr binding, in full agreement with the 12 consensus proteinase-contact residues of OMTKY3 defined previously on the basis of X-ray crystallographic and mutational analysis. Smaller chemical shift perturbations in selected other regions may result from minor structural changes on binding. Through-bond 15N-13C correlations between P1-13C' and P1'-15N in two-dimensional H(N)CO and HN(CO) NMR spectra of selectively labeled OMTKY3 complexed with Ctr indicate that the scissile peptide bond between L18 and E19 of the inhibitor is intact in the complex. The chemical shifts of the reactive site peptide bond indicate that it is predominantly trigonal, although the data are not inconsistent with a slight perturbation of the hybridization of the peptide bond toward the first tetrahedral state along the reaction coordinate.     

Studies on soybean trypsin inhibitors. XIII. Preparation and characterization of active fragments from Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor.

Soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitor, a double-headed inhibitor of trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, was treated with cyanogen bromide and then pepsin to yield two inhibitory active fragments. Structural investigation showed that one of the fragments was derived from the trypsin inhibitory domain and the other from the chymotrypsin inhibitory domain of the inhibitor. In contrast to the unusual stability of the native inhibitor, the separated domains were less stable and could be inactivated with excess proteinases. These results suggest that the legume double-headed inhibitors acquired their unusual stability by duplicating an ancestral single-headed structure.