Synthesis and evaluation of an inhibitor of carboxypeptidase A with a Ki value in the femtomolar range

Comparative studies among a series of tripeptide phosphonate inhibitors of the zinc peptidase carboxypeptidase A indicate that incorporation of the phosphonic acid analogue of valine at the P1 position results in significantly higher affinity than the glycine, alanine, or phenylalanine analogues. When applied to the tripeptide analogue Cbz-Phe-ValP-(O)Phe [ZFVP(O)F], determination of the inhibition constant Ki was complicated by the very slow rate of dissociation. The rate of exchange of [3H]ZFVP(O)F with enzyme-bound [14C]ZFVP(O)F was followed for periods of 3-4 months to measure dissociation rate constants in the range of (1.7-4.4) x 10(-9) s-1, corresponding to half-lives of 5-13 years. Although the on- and off-rate constants differ for different carboxypeptidase isozymes, their ratios, corresponding to the inhibition constants Ki, are consistently in the range of 10-27 fM. Both the inhibition constants and the dissociation rate constants appear to be the lowest values yet determined for an enzyme-small inhibitor interaction.     

Crystal structure of the complex of carboxypeptidase A with a strongly bound phosphonate in a new crystalline form: comparison with structures of other complexes

O-[[(1R)-[[N-(Phenylmethoxycarbonyl)-L-alanyl]amino]ethyl] hydroxyphosphinyl]-L-3-phenyllacetate [ZAAP(O)F], an analogue of (benzyloxycarbonyl)-Ala-Ala-Phe or (benzyloxycarbonyl)-Ala-Ala-phenyllactate, binds to carboxypeptidase A with great affinity (Ki = 3 pM). Similar phosphonates have been shown to be transition-state analogues of the CPA-catalyzed hydrolysis [Hanson, J. E., Kaplan, A. P., & Bartlett, P. A. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 6294-6305]. In the present study, the structure of the complex of this phosphonate with carboxypeptidase A has been determined by X-ray crystallography to a resolution of 2.0 A. The complex crystallizes in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell dimensions a = 61.9 A, b = 67.2 A, and c = 76.2 A. The structure of the complex was solved by molecular replacement. Refinement of the structure against 20,776 unique reflections between 10.0 and 2.0 A yields a crystallographic residual of 0.193, including 140 water molecules. The two phosphinyl oxygens of the inhibitor bind to the active-site zinc at 2.2 A on the electrophilic (Arg-127) side and 3.1 A on the nucleophilic (Glu-270) side. Various features of the binding mode of this phosphonate inhibitor are consistent with the hypothesis that carboxypeptidase A catalyzed hydrolysis proceeds through a general-base mechanism in which the carbonyl carbon of the substrate is attacked by Zn-hydroxyl (or Zn-water). An unexpected feature of the bound inhibitor, the cis carbamoyl ester bond at the benzyloxycarbonyl linkage to alanine, allows the benzyloxycarbonyl phenyl ring of the inhibitor to interact favorably with Tyr-198. This complex structure is compared with previous structures of carboxypeptidase A, including the complexes with the potato inhibitor, a hydrated keto methylene substrate analogue, and a phosphonamidate inhibitor. Comparisons are also made with the complexes of thermolysin with some phosphonamidate inhibitors.     

Crystallographic analysis of transition-state mimics bound to penicillopepsin: phosphorus-containing peptide analogues.

The molecular structures of three phosphorus-based peptide inhibitors of aspartyl proteinases complexed with penicillopepsin [1, Iva-L-Val-L-Val-StaPOEt [Iva = isovaleryl, StaP = the phosphinic acid analogue of statine [(S)-4-amino-(S)-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoic acid] (IvaVVStaPOEt)]; 2, Iva-L-Val-L-Val-L-LeuP-(O)Phe-OMe [LeuP = the phosphinic acid analogue of L-leucine; (O)Phe = L-3-phenyllactic acid; OMe = methyl ester] [Iva VVLP(O)FOMe]; and 3, Cbz-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-LeuP-(O)-Phe-OMe (Cbz = benzyloxycarbonyl) [CbzAALP(O)FOMe]] have been determined by X-ray crystallography and refined to crystallographic agreement factors, R ( = sigma parallel to F0 magnitude of - Fc parallel to/sigma magnitude of F0), of 0.132, 0.131, and 0.134, respectively. These inhibitors were designed to be structural mimics of the tetrahederal transition-state intermediate encountered during aspartic proteinase catalysis. They are potent inhibitors of penicillopepsin with Ki values of 1, 22 nM; 2, 2.8 nM; and 3, 1600 nM, respectively [Bartlett, P. A., Hanson, J. E., & Giannousis, P. P. (1990) J. Org. Chem. 55, 6268-6274]. All three of these phosphorus-based inhibitors bind virtually identically in the active site of penicillopepsin in a manner that closely approximates that expected for the transition state [James, M. N. G., Sielecki, A.R., Hayakawa, K., & Gelb, M. H. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 3872-3886]. The pro-S oxygen atom of the two phosphonate inhibitors and of the phosphinate group of the StaP inhibitor make very short contact distances (approximately 2.4 A) to the carboxyl oxygen atom, O delta 1, of Asp33 on penicillopepsin. We have interpreted this distance and the stereochemical environment of the carboxyl and phosphonate groups in terms of a hydrogen bond that most probably has a symmetric single-well potential energy function. The pro-R oxygen atom is the recipient of a hydrogen bond from the carboxyl group of Asp213. Thus, we are able to assign a neutral status to Asp213 and a partially negatively charged status to Asp33 with reasonable confidence. Similar very short hydrogen bonds involving the active site glutamic acid residues of thermolysin and carboxypeptidase A and the pro-R oxygen of bound phosphonate inhibitors have been reported [Holden, H. M., Tronrud, D. E., Monzingo, A. F., Weaver, L. H., & Matthews, B. W. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 8542-8553; Kim, H., & Lipscomb, W. N. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 8171-8180].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Comparison of the structures of three carboxypeptidase A-phosphonate complexes determined by X-ray crystallography

The structures of the complexes of carboxypeptidase A (CPA) with two tight-binding phosphonate inhibitors have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The inhibitors, Cbz-Phe-ValP-(O)-Phe[ZFVP(O)F] and Cbz-Ala-GlyP-(O)-Phe[ZAGP(O)F], bind noncovalently to CPA with dissociation constants (Ki's) of 11 fM and 710 pM, respectively. The CPA-ZFVP(O)F complex crystallizes in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell parameters a = 65.3 A, b = 63.4 A, and c = 76.0 A, and the CPA-ZAGP(O)F complex crystallizes in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell parameters a = 63.4 A, b = 65.9 A, and c = 74.4 A. Both structures were determined by molecular replacement to a resolution of 2.0 A. The final crystallographic residuals are 0.189 for the CPA-ZFVP(O)F complex and 0.191 for the CPA-ZAGP(O)F complex. The CPA-ZFVP(O)F complex exhibits the lowest Ki yet determined for an enzyme-inhibitor interaction. Comparison of the CPA-ZFVP(O)F structure with that of the CPA-ZAAP(O)F complex [Kim, H., & Lipscomb, W.N. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 5546-5555] indicates the likely important contributions of hydrophobic and weakly polar enzyme-inhibitor interactions to the exceptional stability of the CPA-ZFVP(O)F complex. Among these interactions is a network of four aromatic rings of CPA and ZFVP(O)F in a configuration that allows stabilizing aromatic-aromatic edge-to-face interactions from one ring to the next. A comparison of the structures of the CPA-ZFVP(O)F, CPA-ZAAP(O)F and CPA-ZAGP(O)F complexes shows that all three phosphonates assume a similar binding mode in the active-site binding groove of CPA. For ZAGP(O)F, the glycyl P1 residue does not lead to an anomalous or a partially disordered binding mode as seen in some previous complexes of CPA involving dipeptide analogue inhibitors with glycyl P1 residues. The additional enzyme-inhibitor interactions for these tripeptide phosphonates secure a binding mode in which a Pi portion of the inhibitor is clearly bound by the corresponding Si binding subsite. These three phosphonates have been implicated as transition-state analogues of the CPA-catalyzed reaction. The phosphinyl groups of these phosphonates coordinate to the active-site zinc in a manner that has been proposed as a characteristic feature of the general-base (Zn-hydroxyl or Zn-water) mechanism for the CPA-catalyzed reaction. Further mechanistic proposals are made for Arg-127, whose probable role in binding substrates is apparent in these CPA-phosphonate complexes.     

Crystal structures of alpha-lytic protease complexes with irreversibly bound phosphonate esters

The structures of the complexes with alpha-lytic protease of both phosphorus stereoisomers of N-[(2S)-2-[[[(1R)-1-[N-[(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-alanyl-L-alanyl- L-prolyl]amino]-2-methylpropyl]-phenoxyphosphinyl]oxy]propanoyl]- L-alanine methyl ester, an analogue of the peptide Boc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-Ala-Ala where Val is replaced with an analogous phosphonate phenyl ester and the subsequent Ala is replaced with lactate, have been determined to high resolution (1.9 A) by X-ray crystallography. Both stereoisomers inactivate the enzyme but differ by a factor of 2 in the second-order rate constant for inactivation [Sampson, N. S., & Bartlett, P. A. (1991) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. One isomer (B) forms a tetrahedral adduct in which the phosphonate phenyl ester is displaced by the active site serine (S195) and interacts with the enzyme across seven substrate recognition sites that span both sides of the scissile bond. Seven hydrogen bonds are formed with the enzyme, and 510 A2 of hydrophobic surface area is buried when the inhibitor interacts with the enzyme. Although two hydrogen bonds are gained by incorporation of two residues on the C-terminal side of the scissile bond into the inhibitor, there is very little adjustment in the structure of the enzyme in this region. Surprisingly, the active site histidine (H57) does not interact with the phosphonate, apparently because the phosphonate lacks negative charge in or near the oxyanion hole, and instead, the side chain rotates out of the active site cleft and hydrogen bonds with solvent. The other isomer (A) forms a mixture of two different tetrahedral adducts in the active site, both covalently bonded to Ser 195. One adduct, at approximately 58% occupancy, is exactly the same in structure as the complex formed with isomer B, and the other adduct, at 42% occupancy, has lost the two residues C-terminal to the scissile bond by hydrolysis. In the lower occupancy structure, His 57 does not rotate out of the active site and forms a hydrogen bond with the phosphonate oxygen instead. The structures of both complexes were insensitive to pH. As very little change in structure accompanies the histidine rotation, the complex with isomer B provides an excellent mimic for the structure of the transition state (or high-energy reaction intermediate) that spans both sides of the scissile bond.     

Stereoselective inhibition of glutamate carboxypeptidase by chiral phosphonothioic acids

A series of phosphonothioic acid derivatives of (S)-2-hydroxyglutarate with various alkyl or aryl ligands to the central phosphorus atom was examined for stereoselective inhibition of the glutamate carboxypeptidase, carboxypeptidase G. The inhibitory potencies of these stereoisomers were compared to corresponding synthetic phosphonic acid analogues in order to reveal the significance of the sulfur ligand of the phosphonothioic acid motif upon the inhibition of this metallopeptidase. The acquisition of the individual phosphonothioic acid diastereomers was achieved through the resolution of the respective phosphonate ester precursors. In all cases, the (+)p-diastereomers of these phosphonothioic acid derivatives of (S)-2-hydroxyglutarate were found to be more potent inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase than the corresponding (-)p antipodes with the most dramatic difference observed for the butyl isomers (13.6-fold). Based upon Ki values obtained, the most potent inhibitor of the series by nearly an order of magnitude was the (+)p-n-butylphosphonothioic acid derivative, revealing specific structural and stereochemical requirements by this glutamate carboxypeptidase. With the exception of the (+)p-n-butyl analogue, the isosteric replacement of oxygen with sulfur of the phosphonic acid moiety did not enhance inhibitory potency.     

Possible role for water dissociation in the slow binding of phosphorus-containing transition-state-analogue inhibitors of thermolysin

A number of phosphonamidate and phosphonate tripeptide analogues have been studied as transition-state-analogue inhibitors of the zinc endopeptidase thermolysin. Those with the form Cbz-GlyP(Y)Leu-X [ZGP(Y)LX, X = NH2 or amino acid, Y = NH or O linkage] are potent (Ki = 9-760 nM for X = NH, 9-660 microM for X = O) but otherwise ordinary in their binding behavior, with second-order rate constants for association (kon) greater than 10(5) M-1 s-1. Those with the form Cbz-XP(Y)-Leu-Ala [ZXP(Y)LA,XP = alpha-substituted phosphorus amino acid analogue] are similarly potent (Ki for ZFPLA = 68 pM) but slow binding (kon less than or equal to 1300 M-1 s-1). Several kinetic mechanisms for slow binding behavior are considered, including two-step processes and those that require prior isomerization of inhibitor or enzyme to a rare form. The association rates of ZFPLA and ZFP(O)LA are first order in inhibitor concentration up to 1-2 mM, indicating that any loose complex along the binding pathway must have a dissociation constant above this value. The crystallographic investigation described in the preceding paper [Holden, H. M., Tronrud, D. E., Monzingo, A. F., Weaver, L. H., & Matthews, B. W. (1987) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)] identifies a specific water molecule in the active site that may hinder binding of the alpha-substituted inhibitors. The implication of this observation for a mechanism for slow binding is discussed.     

Kinetic properties of the binding of alpha-lytic protease to peptide boronic acids

The kinetic parameters for peptide boronic acids in their interaction with alpha-lytic protease were determined and found to be similar to those of other serine proteases [Kettner, C., & Shenvi, A. B. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 15106-15114]. alpha-Lytic protease hydrolyzes substrates with either alanine or valine in the P1 site and has a preference for substrate with a P1 alanine. The most effective inhibitors are tri- and tetrapeptide analogues that have a -boroVal-OH residue in the P1 site. At pH 7.5, MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-boroVal-OH has a Ki of 6.4 nM and Boc-Ala-Pro-boroVal-OH has a Ki of 0.35 nM. Ac-boroVal-OH and Ac-Pro-boroVal-OH are 220,000- and 500-fold less effective, respectively, than the tetrapeptide analogue. The kinetic properties of the tri- and tetrapeptide analogues are consistent with the mechanism for slow-binding inhibition, E + I in equilibrium EI in equilibrium EI*, while the less effective inhibitors are simple competitive inhibitors. MeO-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-boroAla-OH is a simple competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 67 nM at pH 7.5. Other peptide boronic acids, which are analogues of nonsubstrates, are less effective than substrate analogues but still are effective competitive inhibitors. For example, MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-boroPhe-OH has a Ki of 0.54 microM although substrates with a phenylalanine in the P1 position are not hydrolyzed. Binding for boronic acid analogues of both substrate and nonsubstrate analogues is pH dependent with higher affinity near pH 7.5. Similar binding properties have been observed for pancreatic elastase. Both enzymes have almost identical requirements for an extended peptide inhibitor sequence in order to exhibit highly effective binding and slow-binding characteristics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Local structural features around the C-terminal segment of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor studied by carbonyl carbon nuclear magnetic resonances three phenylalanyl residues

The carbonyl carbon NMR signals of the Phe residues in Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI) were selectively observed for [F]SSI, in which all phenylalanines were uniformly labeled with [1-13C]Phe. The three enhanced resonances in the spectrum of [F]SSI were unambiguously assigned to the specific sites in the amino acid sequence by means of 15N,13C double-labeling techniques. Namely, the resonances at 174.9 and 172.6 ppm (in D2O, pH 7.3, 50 degrees C) showed the satellite peaks due to 13C-15N spin coupling in the spectra of [F,GS]SSI and [F,A]SSI, in which Ser/Gly and Ala residues were labeled with [15N]Gly/Ser and [15N]Ala, respectively, together with [1-13C]Phe. The carbonyl groups of Phe-97 and Phe-111 are involved in peptide bonds with the amino nitrogens of Ser-98 and Ala-112, respectively. These results clearly indicate that the signals at 174.5 and 172.6 ppm are due to Phe-97 and Phe-111, respectively. The signal at the lowest field (177.1 ppm) was thus assigned to the carboxyl carbon of the C-terminal Phe-113. The lifetimes of the amide hydrogens of the three Phe residues and their C-terminal-side neighbors (Ser-98 and Ala-112) were investigated by using the effect of deuterium-hydrogen exchange of amide on the line shapes (DEALS) for the Phe carbonyl carbon resonances. In this method, the NMR spectra of [F]SSI dissolved in 50% D2O (pH 7.3) were measured at various temperatures, and the line shape changes caused by deuteriation isotope shifts were analyzed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and characterization of enkephalin convertase, an enkephalin-synthesizing carboxypeptidase

Enkephalin convertase, an enkephalin-synthesizing carboxypeptidase present in adrenal medulla chromaffin granules, has also been detected in brain and pituitary. To determine whether these three carboxypeptidase activities represent the same enzyme, we purified and characterized enkephalin convertase from adrenal medulla, whole brain, and whole pituitary. Enzyme from all three tissues co-purifies on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration, concanavalin A, and L-arginine affinity columns, resulting in a 135,000-fold, 110,000-fold, and 2,800-fold purification for bovine adrenal medulla, brain, and pituitary, respectively. Purified enkephalin convertase appears homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showing a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 50,000 for enzyme isolated from all three tissues. Adrenal, brain, and pituitary enkephalin convertase are similarly inhibited by hexapeptide enkephalin precursors and active site-directed inhibitors. Both [Met]-and [Leu]enkephalin-Arg6 inhibit enkephalin convertase with Ki values between 50 and 80 microM, while [Met]-and [Leu]enkephalin-Lys6 are 3-fold less potent. Two active site-directed inhibitors, guanidinopropylsuccinic acid and guanidinoethylmercaptosuccinic acid, are potent inhibitors of all three enzymes with Ki values of 8-9 nM. A series of dansylated di-, tri-, and tetrapeptide substrates are hydrolyzed by enkephalin convertase with similar kinetic properties (Km, Vmax, and Kcat/Km) for the three enzymes. This evidence suggests that enkephalin convertase activity represents the same enzyme in adrenal medulla, brain, and pituitary. Enkephalin convertase may be involved in the production of other peptide neurotransmitters and hormones besides enkephalin.     

Optically active 2-benzyl-3-methanesulfinylpropanoic acid: Synthesis and evaluation as inhibitors for carboxypeptidase A

All four possible stereomers of 2-benzyl-3-methanesulfinylpropanoic acid were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors for carboxypeptidase A to find that the isomer having the (2S,4S)-configuration is most potent followed by isomers of (2R,4S)- and (2S,4R)-configurations. The stereochemical preferences shown by the isomers of the inhibitor in binding to the enzyme suggest that the sulfoxide oxygen in the inhibitor fails to ligate the active site zinc ion but may form a hydrogen bond with the guanidinium moiety of Arg-127 like the carbonyl oxygen of scissile peptide bond of oligopeptide substrate of the enzyme does. It may thus be inferred that a sulfoxide moiety may serve as an isosterer of a carboxamide moiety.     

Hydroxyethylene isostere inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus-1 protease: structure-activity analysis using enzyme kinetics, X-ray crystallography, and infected T-cell assays.

Analogues of peptides ranging in size from three to six amino acids and containing the hydroxyethylene dipeptide isosteres Phe psi Gly, Phe psi Ala, Phe psi NorVal, Phe psi Leu, and Phe psi Phe, where psi denotes replacement of CONH by (S)-CH(OH)CH2, were synthesized and studied as HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Inhibition constants (Ki) with purified HIV-1 protease depend strongly on the isostere in the order Phe psi Gly greater than Phe psi Ala greater than Phe psi NorVal greater than Phe psi Leu greater than Phe psi Phe and decrease with increasing length of the peptide analogue, converging to a value of 0.4 nM. Ki values are progressively less dependent on inhibitor length as the size of the P1' side chain within the isostere increases. The structures of HIV-1 protease complexed with the inhibitors Ala-Ala-X-Val-Val-OMe, where X is Phe psi Gly, Phe psi Ala, Phe psi NorVal, and Phe psi Phe, have been determined by X-ray crystallography (resolution 2.3-3.2 A). The crystals exhibit symmetry consistent with space group P6(1) with strong noncrystallographic 2-fold symmetry, and the inhibitors all exhibit 2-fold disorder. The inhibitors bind in similar conformations, forming conserved hydrogen bonds with the enzyme. The Phe psi Gly inhibitor adopts an altered conformation that places its P3' valine side chain partially in the hydrophobic S1' pocket, thus suggesting an explanation for the greater dependence of the Ki value on inhibitor length in the Phe psi Gly series. From the kinetic and crystallographic data, a minimal inhibitor model for tight-binding inhibition is derived in which the enzyme subsites S2-S2' are optimally occupied. The Ki values for several compounds are compared with their potencies as inhibitors of proteolytic processing in T-cell cultures chronically infected with HIV-1 (MIC values) and as inhibitors of acute infectivity (IC50 values). There is a rank-order correspondence, but a 20-1000-fold difference, between the values of Ki and those of MIC or IC50. IC50 values can approach those of Ki but are highly dependent on the conditions of the acute infectivity assay and are influenced by physiochemical properties of the inhibitors such as solubility.     

A novel site-directed mutant of myoglobin with an unusually high O2 affinity and low autooxidation rate.

Mutants of sperm whale myoglobin were constructed at position 29 (B10 in helix notation) to examine the effects of distal pocket size on the rates of ligand binding and autooxidation. Leu29 was replaced with Ala, Val, and Phe using the synthetic gene and Escherichia coli expression system of Springer and Sligar (Springer, B. A., and Sligar, S. G. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 84, 8961-8965). Structures of the ferric forms of Val29 and Phe29, and the oxy form of Phe29 myoglobin were determined to 1.7 A by x-ray crystallography. The ferric mutant proteins are remarkably isomorphous with the wild type protein except in the immediate vicinity of residue 29. Thus, the protein structure in the distal pocket of myoglobin can accommodate either a large "hole" (i.e. Ala or Val) or a large side chain (i.e. Phe) at position 29 without perturbation of tertiary structure. Phe29 oxymyoglobin is also identical to the native oxy protein in terms of overall structure and interactions between the bound O2 and His64, Val68, Phe43, and Ile107. The distance between the nearest side chain atom of residue 29 and the second atom of the bound oxygen molecule is 3.2 A in the Phe29 protein and 4.9 A in native myoglobin. The equilibrium constants for O2 binding to Ala29, Val29, and Leu29 (native) myoglobin are the same, approximately 1.0 x 10(6) M-1 at 20 degrees C, whereas that for the Phe29 protein is markedly greater, 15 x 10(6) M-1. This increase in affinity is due primarily to a 10-fold decrease in the O2 dissociation rate constant for the Phe29 mutant and appears to be the result of stabilizing interactions between the negative portion of the bound O2 dipole and the partially positive edge of the phenyl ring. Increasing the size of residue 29 causes large decreases in the rate of autooxidation of myoglobin: k(ox) = 0.24, 0.23, 0.055, and 0.005 h-1 for Ala29, Val29, Leu29 (native), and Phe29 myoglobin, respectively, in air at 37 degrees C. Thus, the Leu29----Phe mutation produces a reduced protein that is remarkably stable and is expressed in E. coli as 100% MbO2. The selective pressure to conserve Leu29 at the B10 position probably represents a compromise between reducing the rate of autooxidation and maintaining a large enough O2 dissociation rate constant to allow rapid oxygen release during respiration.     

Transition-state characterization: a new approach combining inhibitor analogues and variation in enzyme structure.

A new strategy of potentially broad application for probing transition-state (TS) analogy in enzymatic systems is described in this paper. The degree to which a series of phosphonate inhibitors act as TS analogues of rat carboxypeptidase A1 has been determined for the wild-type enzyme, for the R127K, R127M, and R127A mutants, and for the R127A mutant in the presence of 0.5 M guanidine hydrochloride. The impact that the mutations have on the inverse second-order rate constants (Km/kcat) for substrate hydrolysis is mirrored by the effect on the inhibition constants (Ki) for the corresponding phosphonate inhibitors. These results demonstrate that the phosphonate moiety mimics some of the electronic as well as the geometric characteristics of the TS. A similar but distinctly separate correlation is observed for tripeptide analogues in comparison to analogues of the dipeptide Cbz-Gly-Phe, reflecting an anomalous mode of binding for the latter system. The selective rate increases and corresponding enhancement in inhibitor binding observed on addition of 0.5 M guanidine hydrochloride to the R127A mutant indicate that the exogenous cation can assume the role played by Arg-127 in stabilizing the TS and in providing substrate selectivity at the P2 position.     

Inhibition of serine proteases by peptidyl fluoromethyl ketones

We have synthesized peptidyl fluoromethyl ketones that are specific inhibitors of the serine proteases alpha-chymotrypsin and porcine pancreatic elastase. By analogy with the corresponding aldehydes it is assumed that the fluoromethyl ketones react with the gamma-OH group of the active site serine to form a stable hemiacetal [Lowe, G., & Nurse, D. (1977) J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 815; Chen, R., Gorenstein, D.G., Kennedy, W.P., Lowe, G., Nurse, D., & Schultz, R.M. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 921; Shah, D.O., Lai, K., & Gorenstein, D.G. (1984) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106, 4272]. 19F NMR studies of the chymotrypsin-bound trifluoromethyl ketone inhibitors Ac-Leu-ambo-Phe-CF3 and Ac-ambo-Phe-CF3 clearly indicate that the carbonyl carbon is tetrahedral at the active site of the enzyme. The inhibitor is bound as either the stable hydrate or the hemiacetal, involving the active site serine. The effect of varying the number of amino acid residues in the peptidyl portion of the inhibitor and the number of fluorines in the fluoromethyl ketone moiety is examined. In the series of trifluoromethyl ketone elastase inhibitors, the lowering of Ki concomitant with the change from a dipeptide analogue to a tetrapeptide analogue (Ac-Pro-ambo-Ala-CF3, Ki = 3 X 10(-3) M; Ac-Ala-Ala-Pro-ambo-Ala-CF3, Ki = 0.34 X 10(-6) M) correlates well with the variation in V/K for hydrolysis of the corresponding amide substrates. This trend is indicative of the inhibitors acting as transition-state analogues [Bartlett, P.A., & Marlowe, C.K. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 4618; Thompson, R.C. (1973) Biochemistry 12, 47].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A catalytic function for the structurally conserved residue Phe 100 of ribonuclease T1.

The function of the conserved Phe 100 residue of RNase T1 (EC 3.1.27.3) has been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography. Replacement of Phe 100 by alanine results in a mutant enzyme with kcat reduced 75-fold and a small increase in Km for the dinucleoside phosphate substrate GpC. The Phe 100 Ala substitution has similar effects on the turnover rates of GpC and its minimal analogue GpOMe, in which the leaving cytidine is replaced by methanol. The contribution to catalysis is independent of the nature of the leaving group, indicating that Phe 100 belongs to the primary site. The contribution of Phe 100 to catalysis may result from a direct van der Waals contact between its aromatic ring and the phosphate moiety of the substrate. Phe 100 may also contribute to the positioning of the pentacovalent phosphorus of the transition state, relative to other catalytic residues. If compared to the corresponding wild-type data, the structural implications of the mutation in the present crystal structure of Phe 100 Ala RNase T1 complexed with the specific inhibitor 2'-GMP are restricted to the active site. Repositioning of 2'-GMP, caused by the Phe 100 Ala mutation, generates new or improved contacts of the phosphate moiety with Arg 77 and His 92. In contrast, interactions with the Glu 58 carboxylate appear to be weakened. The effects of the His 92 Gln and Phe 100 Ala mutations on GpC turnover are additive in the corresponding double mutant, indicating that the contribution of Phe 100 to catalysis is independent of the catalytic acid His 92. The present results lead to the conclusion that apolar residues may contribute considerably to catalyze conversions of charged molecules to charged products, involving even more polar transition states.     

Principles of hydroxamate inhibition of metalloproteases: carboxypeptidase A

Hydroxamic acids of structure RCON(OH)CH(2)CH(CH(2)C(6)H(5))CO(2)H induce micromolar competitive inhibition of catalysis for the enzyme carboxypeptidase A. Enzyme affinity depends on the nature of the acyl group, for RCO equaling HCO, CH(3)CO, FCH(2)CO, F(2)CHCO, F(3)CCO, CH(3)OCH(2)CO, or CH(3)OCO. In acid dissociation these residues yield hydroxamic acid pK(a) values that vary from 7.6 to 10.3. Profiles of inhibitory pK(i) plotted versus pH indicate characteristically a maximum effectiveness near neutrality. Weaker binding to enzyme is generally displayed in either acidic or alkaline solution, with the position of the alkaline limb of the profiles depending on the pK(a) of the inhibitor. A reverse-protonation pattern of association with the enzyme is indicated, in which the hydroxamate anion of the inhibitor displaces a relatively acidic H(2)O ligand (pK(a) of 6) from the active-site zinc ion of carboxypeptidase A. The metal-coordinating, N-substituted hydroxamic acid functional groups exist in solution as a mixture of syn and anti rotamers, with relative abundances that depend on their pK(a). A pyrrolidinone analogue having a conformationally syn-fixed cyclohydroxamic acid was not an especially potent inhibitor. Structure-activity relationships suggest design criteria for hydroxamic acid inhibitors in order to provide most effective binding with metalloenzymes.     

Phosphonate inhibitors of antigen 85C, a crucial enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall

The first phosphonate inhibitors of antigen 85C--a major protein component of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall possessing mycolyltransferase activity were prepared using structure-based design. These potential novel antituberculosis agents, consisting of a phosphonate moiety, hydrophobic alkyl chain and a simple trehalose-mimicking aromatic structure, were designed as tetrahedral transition-state analogue inhibitors of antigen 85C, which catalyzes the key mycolyltransferase reaction involved in cell wall biosynthesis.     

Novel pseudosymmetric inhibitors of HIV-1 protease

Compounds containing the easily accessible Phe[CH(OH)CH₂N(NH)Phe dipeptide isostere as a non-hydrolyzable replacement of the scissile amide bond in the natural substrate are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 protease. The expected symmetric binding pattern of the most potent inhibitor in this series (CGP 53280, IC₅₀ = 9 nM) is illustrated by the X-ray analysis performed with the corresponding enzyme-inhibitor complex.     

The roles of Tyr(CD1) and Trp(G8) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis truncated hemoglobin O in ligand binding and on the heme distal site architecture

The crystal structure of the cyano-met form of Mt-trHbO revealed two unusual distal residues Y(CD1) and W(G8) forming a hydrogen-bond network with the heme-bound ligand [Milani, M., et al. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100, 5766-5771]. W(G8) is an invariant residue in group II and group III trHbs and has no counterpart in other globins. A previous study reported that changing Y(CD1) for a Phe causes a significant increase in the O2 combination rate, but almost no change in the O2 dissociation rate [Ouellet, H., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 5764-5774]. Here we investigated the role of the W(G8) in ligand binding by using resonance Raman spectroscopy, stopped-flow spectrophotometry, and X-ray crystallography. For this purpose, W(G8) was changed, by site-directed mutagenesis, to a Phe in both the wild-type protein and the mutant Y(CD1)F to create the single mutant W(G8)F and the double mutant Y(CD1)F/W(G8)F, respectively. Resonance Raman results suggest that W(G8) interacts with the heme-bound O2 and CO, as evidenced by the increase of the Fe-O2 stretching mode from 559 to 564 cm-1 and by the lower frequency of the Fe-CO stretching modes (514 and 497 cm-1) compared to that of the wild-type protein. Mutation of W(G8) to Phe indicates that this residue controls ligand binding, as evidenced by a dramatic increase of the combination rates of both O2 and CO. Also, the rate of O2 dissociation showed a 90-1000-fold increase in the W(G8)F and Y(CD1)F/W(G8)F mutants, that is in sharp contrast with the values obtained for the other distal mutants Y(B10)F and Y(CD1)F [Ouellet, H., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 5764-5774]. Taken together, these data indicate a pivotal role for the W(G8) residue in O2 binding and stabilization.