Structural and functional consequences of peptide-carbohydrate mimicry. Crystal structure of a carbohydrate-mimicking peptide bound to concanavalin A

The functional consequences of peptide-carbohydrate mimicry were analyzed on the basis of the crystal structure of concanavalin A (ConA) in complex with a carbohydrate-mimicking peptide, DVFYPYPYASGS. The peptide binds to the non-crystallographically related monomers of two independent dimers of ConA in two different modes, in slightly different conformations, demonstrating structural adaptability in ConA-peptide recognition. In one mode, the peptide has maximum interactions with ConA, and in the other, it shows relatively fewer contacts within this site but significant contacts with the symmetry-related subunit. Neither of the peptide binding sites overlaps with the structurally characterized mannose and trimannose binding sites on ConA. Despite this, the functional mimicry between the peptide and carbohydrate ligands was evident. The peptide-inhibited ConA induced T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of the designed analogs of the peptide on ConA-induced T cell proliferation and their recognition by the antibody response against alpha-d-mannopyranoside indicate a role for aromatic residues in functional mimicry. Although the functional mimicry was observed between the peptide and carbohydrate moieties, the crystal structure of the ConA-peptide complex revealed that the two peptide binding sites are independent of the methyl alpha-d-mannopyranoside binding site.     

Plasticity in protein-peptide recognition: crystal structures of two different peptides bound to concanavalin A

The structures of concanavalin A (ConA) in complex with two carbohydrate-mimicking peptides, 10-mer (MYWYPYASGS) and 15-mer (RVWYPYGSYLTASGS) have been determined at 2.75 A resolution. In both crystal structures four independent peptide molecules bind to each of the crystallographically independent subunits of ConA tetramer. The peptides exhibit small but significant variability in conformations and interactions while binding to ConA. The crystal structure of another similar peptide, 12-mer (DVFYPYPYASGS), in complex with ConA has been determined (Jain, D., K. J. Kaur, B. Sundaravadivel, and D. M. Salunke. 2000. Structural and functional consequences of peptide-carbohydrate mimicry. J. Biol. Chem. 275:16098-16102). Comparison of the three complexes shows that the peptides bind to ConA at a common binding site, using different contacting residues and interactions depending on their sequence and the local environment at the binding site. The binding is also optimized by corresponding plasticity of the peptide binding site on ConA. The diversity in conformation and interactions observed here are in agreement with the structural leeway concerning plasticity of specific molecular recognition in biological processes. The adaptability of peptide-ConA interactions may also be correlated with the carbohydrate-mimicking property of these peptides.     

A water channel in the core of the vitamin B(12) RNA aptamer

BACKGROUND: The 3.0 A crystal structure of the vitamin B(12) RNA aptamer revealed an unusual tertiary structure that is rich in novel RNA structural motifs. Important details of the interactions that stabilize noncanonical base pairing and the role of solvent in the structure were not apparent owing to the limited resolution. RESULTS: The structure of the vitamin B(12) RNA aptamer in complex with its ligand has been determined at 2.3 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. The crystallographic asymmetric unit contains five independent copies of the aptamer-vitamin B(12) complex, making it possible to accurately define well-conserved features. The core of the aptamer contains an unusual water-filled channel that is buried between the three strands of an RNA triplex. Well-ordered water molecules positioned within this channel form bridging hydrogen bonds and stabilize planar base triples that otherwise lack significant direct base-base contacts. The water channel terminates at the interface between the RNA and the bound ligand, leaving a pair of water molecules appropriately positioned to hydrogen bond with the highly polarized cyanide nitrogen of vitamin B(12). Analysis of the general solvation patterns for each nucleotide suggests that water molecules are not precisely positioned, as observed in previous RNA duplex structures, but instead might adjust in response to the varying local environment. Unusual intermolecular base pairing contributes to the formation of three different dimerization contacts that drive formation of the crystal lattice. CONCLUSIONS: The structure demonstrates the important role of water molecules and noncanonical base pairing in driving the formation of RNA tertiary structure and facilitating specific interactions of RNAs with other molecules.     

Crystal structures of the PNA-porphyrin complex in the presence and absence of lactose: mapping the conformational changes on lactose binding, interacting surfaces, and supramolecular aggregations

The extraordinary recognition specificity of lectins for carbohydrate ligands appears to be violated as they also bind to porphyrins and other noncarbohydrate ligands. In this study, crystal structures of meso-tetrasulfonatophenylporphyrin (H(2)TPPS) bound to peanut agglutinin (PNA) in the presence and absence of lactose were determined. The binding of H(2)TPPS with PNA involved 11 molecules of H(2)TPPS in different supramolecular stacking arrangements associated with a tetramer of PNA in the crystals of the PNA-H(2)TPPS binary complex as well as the PNA-H(2)TPPS-lactose ternary complex. The ternary complex involved lactose binding only to two subunits of the PNA tetramer, which did not have porphyrin interacting in the vicinity of the carbohydrate-binding site. Comparison of the two structures highlighted the plasticity of the carbohydrate-binding site expressed in terms of the conformational change in lactose binding. The unusual quaternary structure of PNA, which results in exposed protein-protein interaction sites, might be responsible for the porphyrin binding. The association of porphyrin in diverse oligomeric stacking arrangements observed in the PNA-H(2)TPPS complex suggested the possibility of protein-porphyrin aggregation under abnormal physiological conditions. The structures described here provide a possible native conformation of the carbohydrate-binding site of PNA in the absence of the ligand, highlight mapping of the unsaturated binding surfaces of PNA using porphyrin interactions, indicate new leads toward possible application of this lectin in photodynamic therapy, and exhibit diverse modes of porphyrin-lectin interactions with implications to porphyria, a disease that results from abnormal accumulation of porphyrins.     

WaterScore: a novel method for distinguishing between bound and displaceable water molecules in the crystal structure of the binding site of protein-ligand complexes

We have performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a statistical correlation between the structural properties of water molecules in the binding site of a free protein crystal structure, with the probability of observing the water molecules in the same location in the crystal structure of the ligand-complexed form. The temperature B-factor, the solvent-contact surface area, the total hydrogen bond energy and the number of protein-water contacts were found to discriminate between bound and displaceable water molecules in the best regression functions obtained. These functions may be used to identify those bound water molecules that should be included in structure-based drug design and ligand docking algorithms.FIGURE The binding site ( thin sticks) of penicillopepsin (3app) with its crystallographically determined water molecules ( spheres) and superimposed ligand (in thick sticks, from complexed structure 1ppk). Water molecules sterically displaced by the ligand upon complexation are shown in cyan. Bound water molecules are shown in blue. Displaced water molecules are shown in yellow. Water molecules removed from the analysis due to a lack of hydrogen bonds to the protein are shown in white. WaterScore correctly predicted waters in blue as Probability=1 to remain bound and waters in yellow as Probability<1x10(-20) to remain bound.     

Strong and weak hydrogen bonds in protein-ligand complexes of kinases: a comparative study

Strong and weak hydrogen bonds between protein and ligand are analyzed in a group of 233 X-ray crystal structures of the kinase family. These kinases are from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. The dataset comprises of 44 sub-families, out of which 35 are of human origin and the rest belong to other organisms. Interaction analysis was carried out in the active sites, defined here as a sphere of 10 A radius around the ligand. A majority of the interactions are observed between the main chain of the protein and the ligand atoms. As a donor, the ligand frequently interacts with amino acid residues like Leu, Glu and His. As an acceptor, the ligand interacts often with Gly, and Leu. Strong hydrogen bonds N-H...O, O-H...O, N-H...N and weak bonds C-H...O, C-H...N are common between the protein and ligand. The hydrogen bond donor capacity of Gly in N-H...O and C-H...O interactions is noteworthy. Similarly, the acceptor capacity of main chain Glu is ubiquitous in several kinase sub-families. Hydrogen bonds between protein and ligand form characteristic hydrogen bond patterns (supramolecular synthons). These synthon patterns are unique to each sub-family. The synthon locations are conserved across sub-families due to a higher percentage of conserved sequences in the active sites. The nature of active site water molecules was studied through a novel classification scheme, based on the extent of exposure of water molecules. Water which is least exposed usually participates in hydrogen bond formation with the ligand. These findings will help structural biologists, crystallographers and medicinal chemists to design better kinase inhibitors.     

Molecular modelling of protein-carbohydrate interactions. Docking of monosaccharides in the binding site of concanavalin A.

A general procedure is described for addressing the computer simulation of protein-carbohydrate interactions. First, a molecular mechanical force field capable of performing conformational analysis of oligosaccharides has been derived by the addition of new parameters to the Tripos force field; it is also compatible with the simulation of protein. Second, a docking procedure which allows for a systematic exploration of the orientations and positions of a ligand into a protein cavity has been designed. This so-called 'crankshaft' method uses rotations and variations about/of virtual bonds connecting, via dummy atoms, the ligand to the protein binding site. Third, calculation of the relative stability of protein ligand complexes is performed. This strategy has been applied to search for all favourable interactions occurring between a lectin [concanavalin A (ConA)] and methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside or methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside. For each monosaccharide, different stable orientations and positions within the binding site can be distinguished. Among them, one corresponds to very favourable interactions, not only in terms of hydrogen bonding, but also in terms of van der Waals interactions. It corresponds precisely to the binding mode of methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside into ConA as revealed by the 2.9 A resolution of the crystalline complex (Derewenda et al., 1989). Some implications of the present modelling study with respect to the molecular basis of the specificity of the interaction of lectins with various monosaccharides are presented.     

Human myeloperoxidase: structure of a cyanide complex and its interaction with bromide and thiocyanate substrates at 1.9 A resolution

The 1.9 A X-ray crystal structure of human myeloperoxidase complexed with cyanide (R = 0.175, R(free) = 0.215) indicates that cyanide binds to the heme iron with a bent Fe-C-N angle of approximately 157 degrees, and binding is accompanied by movement of the iron atom by 0.2 A into the porphyrin plane. The bent orientation of the cyanide allows the formation of three hydrogen bonds between its nitrogen atom and the distal histidine as well as two water molecules in the distal cavity. The 1.85 A X-ray crystal structure of an inhibitory complex with thiocyanate (R = 0.178, R(free) = 0.210) indicates replacement of chloride at a proximal helix halide binding site in addition to binding in the distal cavity in an orientation parallel with the heme. The thiocyanate replaces two water molecules in the distal cavity and is hydrogen bonded to Gln 91. The 1.9 A structures of the complexes formed by bromide (R = 0.215, R(free) = 0.270) and thiocyanate (R = 0.198, R(free) = 0.224) with the cyanide complex of myeloperoxidase show how the presence of bound cyanide alters the binding site for bromide in the distal heme cavity, while having little effect on thiocyanate binding. These results support a model for a single common binding site for halides and thiocyanate as substrates or as inhibitors near the delta-meso carbon of the porphyrin ring in myeloperoxidase.     

Structural evidence for guanidine-protein side chain interactions: crystal structure of CutA from Pyrococcus horikoshii in 3 M guanidine hydrochloride

This study was carried out to investigate the structural perturbation of the protein's local structure by the denaturants under non-denaturing conditions. Crystal structure of CutA from an archaeon Pyrococcus horikosii (PhoCutA), a heavy-metal binding protein, was determined at 1.6-angstroms resolution in the presence of 3 M guanidine HCl (GdnHCl). Native PhoCutA has a large number of short intramolecular hydrogen bonds and salt bridges on the protein surface, of which greater than 90% of hydrogen bonds and all salt bridges were retained in 3 M GdnHCl. Hydrogen bonds that disappeared in the GdnHCl crystal structure were mainly located on the protein surface, especially around the structurally perturbed loop, suggesting interactions between peptide groups and GdnHCl. Only a few GdnH+ ions were observed in the crystal structure, although none at the surface, of the protein. Two GdnH+ ions were observed in the center of the trimeric structure, replacing water molecules, and were hydrogen bonded with Asp84 and Asp86 of each chain. The exterior loop from Tyr39 to Lys44, including Trp40-Trp41, was perturbed structurally. Decreases in temperature factors were observed in beta strand 5 and the N terminus of helix 3. These results suggest the specific bindings of GdnH+ with some acidic residues and the non-specific bindings around Trp residues and peptide groups on the protein surface and that binding of GdnHCl to the native protein is limited, resulting in local structural perturbation.     

Structural basis of functional mimicry between carbohydrate and peptide ligands of con A

Crystallographic studies have shown independent binding sites for sugar and peptide ligands of concanavalin A, although they were considered functional mimics based on biochemical experiments. The topological correlation of 12-residue peptide with different carbohydrate ligands of concanavalin A showed similarity between trimannose and the YPY region of the peptide establishing structural mimicry. Molecular docking of trimannose and the YPY motif on the reciprocal binding sites revealed equivalent interactions and energetics implying that the peptide-binding sites may constitute additional sugar-binding subsites of concanavalin A. The binding of a mannose-rich neoglycoprotein with significantly higher affinity compared with that of the methyl alpha-d-mannopyranoside is consistent with this interpretation.     

C-H...O hydrogen bonds in the nuclear receptor RARgamma--a potential tool for drug selectivity

Hydrogen bonds between polarized atoms play a crucial role in protein interactions and are often used in drug design, which usually neglects the potential of C-H...O hydrogen bonds. The 1.4 A resolution crystal structure of the ligand binding domain of the retinoic acid receptor RARgamma complexed with the retinoid SR11254 reveals several types of C-H...O hydrogen bonds. A striking example is the hydroxyl group of the ligand that acts as an H bond donor and acceptor, leading to a synergy between classical and C-H...O hydrogen bonds. This interaction introduces both specificity and affinity within the hydrophobic ligand pocket. The similarity of intraprotein and protein-ligand C-H...O interactions suggests that such bonds should be considered in rational drug design approaches.     

N-H...O, O-H...O, and C-H...O hydrogen bonds in protein-ligand complexes: strong and weak interactions in molecular recognition

The characteristics of N-H...O, O-H...O, and C-H...O hydrogen bonds are examined in a group of 28 high-resolution crystal structures of protein-ligand complexes from the Protein Data Bank and compared with interactions found in small-molecule crystal structures from the Cambridge Structural Database. It is found that both strong and weak hydrogen bonds are involved in ligand binding. Because of the prevalence of multifurcation, the restrictive geometrical criteria set up for hydrogen bonds in small-molecule crystal structures may need to be relaxed in macromolecular structures. For example, there are definite deviations from linearity for the hydrogen bonds in protein-ligand complexes. The formation of C-H...O hydrogen bonds is influenced by the activation of the C(alpha)-H atoms and by the flexibility of the side-chain atoms. In contrast to small-molecule structures, anticooperative geometries are common in the macromolecular structures studied here, and there is a gradual lengthening as the extent of furcation increases. C-H...O bonds formed by Gly, Phe, and Tyr residues are noteworthy. The numbers of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors agree with Lipinski's "rule of five" that predicts drug-like properties. Hydrogen bonds formed by water are also seen to be relevant in ligand binding. Ligand C-H...O(w) interactions are abundant when compared to N-H...O(w) and O-H...O(w). This suggests that ligands prefer to use their stronger hydrogen bond capabilities for use with the protein residues, leaving the weaker interactions to bind with water. In summary, the interplay between strong and weak interactions in ligand binding possibly leads to a satisfactory enthalpy-entropy balance. The implications of these results to crystallographic refinement and molecular dynamics software are discussed.     

Computational analysis of BACE1-ligand complex crystal structures and linear discriminant analysis for identification of BACE1 inhibitors with anti P-glycoprotein binding property

More than 100 years of research on Alzheimer’s disease didn’t yield a potential cure for this dreadful disease. Poor Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability and P-glycoprotein binding of BACE1 inhibitors are the major causes for the failure of these molecules during clinical trials. The design of BACE1 inhibitors with a balance of sufficient affinity to the binding site and little or no interaction with P-glycoproteins is indispensable. Identification and understanding of protein–ligand interactions are essential for ligand optimization process. Structure-based drug design (SBDD) efforts led to a steady accumulation of BACE1-ligand crystal complexes in the PDB. This study focuses on analyses of 153 BACE1-ligand complexes for the direct contacts (hydrogen bonds and weak interactions) observed between protein and ligand and indirect contacts (water-mediated hydrogen bonds), observed in BACE1-ligand complex crystal structures. Intraligand hydrogen bonds were analyzed, with focus on ligand P-glycoprotein efflux. The interactions are dissected specific to subsites in the active site and discussed. The observed protein-ligand and intraligand interactions were used to develop the linear discriminant model for the identification of BACE1 inhibitors with less or no P-glycoprotein binding property. Excellent statistical results and model’s ability to correctly predict a new data-set with an accuracy of 92% is achieved. The results are retrospectively analyzed to give input for the design of potential BACE1 inhibitors.     

Analysis of structural water and CH···π interactions in HIV-1 protease and PTP1B complexes using a hydrogen bond prediction tool,HBPredicT

A hydrogen bond prediction tool HBPredicT is developed for detecting structural water molecules and CH···π interactions in PDB files of protein-ligand complexes. The program adds the missing hydrogen atoms to the protein, ligands, and oxygen atoms of water molecules and subsequently all the hydrogen bonds in the complex are located using specific geometrical criteria. Hydrogen bonds are classified into various types based on (i) donor and acceptor atoms, and interactions such as (ii) protein-protein, (iii) protein-ligand, (iv) protein-water, (v) ligand-water, (vi) water-water, and (vii) protein-water-ligand. Using the information in category (vii), the water molecules which form hydrogen bonds with the ligand and the protein simultaneously–the structural water–is identified and retrieved along with the associated ligand and protein residues. For CH···π interactions, the relevant portions of the corresponding structures are also extracted in the output. The application potential of this program is tested using 19 HIV-1 protease and 11 PTP1B inhibitor complexes. All the systems showed presence of structural water molecules and in several cases, the CH···π interaction between ligand and protein are detected. A rare occurrence of CH···π interactions emanating from both faces of a phenyl ring of the inhibitor is identified in HIV-1 protease 1D4L.     

X-ray structure of papaya chitinase reveals the substrate binding mode of glycosyl hydrolase family 19 chitinases

The crystal structure of a chitinase from Carica papaya has been solved by the molecular replacement method and is reported to a resolution of 1.5 A. This enzyme belongs to family 19 of the glycosyl hydrolases. Crystals have been obtained in the presence of N-acetyl- d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) in the crystallization solution and two well-defined GlcNAc molecules have been identified in the catalytic cleft of the enzyme, at subsites -2 and +1. These GlcNAc moieties bind to the protein via an extensive network of interactions which also involves many hydrogen bonds mediated by water molecules, underlying their role in the catalytic mechanism. A complex of the enzyme with a tetra-GlcNAc molecule has been elaborated, using the experimental interactions observed for the bound GlcNAc saccharides. This model allows to define four major substrate interacting regions in the enzyme, comprising residues located around the catalytic Glu67 (His66 and Thr69), the short segment E89-R90 containing the second catalytic residue Glu89, the region 120-124 (residues Ser120, Trp121, Tyr123, and Asn124), and the alpha-helical segment 198-202 (residues Ile198, Asn199, Gly201, and Leu202). Water molecules from the crystal structure were introduced during the modeling procedure, allowing to pinpoint several additional residues involved in ligand binding that were not previously reported in studies of poly-GlcNAc/family 19 chitinase complexes. This work underlines the role played by water-mediated hydrogen bonding in substrate binding as well as in the catalytic mechanism of the GH family 19 chitinases. Finally, a new sequence motif for family 19 chitinases has been identified between residues Tyr111 and Tyr125.     

Mechanisms for ligand binding to GluR0 ion channels: crystal structures of the glutamate and serine complexes and a closed apo state

High-resolution structures of the ligand binding core of GluR0, a glutamate receptor ion channel from Synechocystis PCC 6803, have been solved by X-ray diffraction. The GluR0 structures reveal homology with bacterial periplasmic binding proteins and the rat GluR2 AMPA subtype neurotransmitter receptor. The ligand binding site is formed by a cleft between two globular alpha/beta domains. L-Glutamate binds in an extended conformation, similar to that observed for glutamine binding protein (GlnBP). However, the L-glutamate gamma-carboxyl group interacts exclusively with Asn51 in domain 1, different from the interactions of ligand with domain 2 residues observed for GluR2 and GlnBP. To address how neutral amino acids activate GluR0 gating we solved the structure of the binding site complex with L-serine. This revealed solvent molecules acting as surrogate ligand atoms, such that the serine OH group makes solvent-mediated hydrogen bonds with Asn51. The structure of a ligand-free, closed-cleft conformation revealed an extensive hydrogen bond network mediated by solvent molecules. Equilibrium centrifugation analysis revealed dimerization of the GluR0 ligand binding core with a dissociation constant of 0.8 microM. In the crystal, a symmetrical dimer involving residues in domain 1 occurs along a crystallographic 2-fold axis and suggests that tetrameric glutamate receptor ion channels are assembled from dimers of dimers. We propose that ligand-induced conformational changes cause the ion channel to open as a result of an increase in domain 2 separation relative to the dimer interface.     

Structural and dynamic roles of permanent water molecules in ligand molecular recognition by chicken liver bile acid binding protein

Chicken liver bile acid binding protein (cL-BABP) crystallizes with water molecules in its binding site. To obtain insights on the role of internal water, we performed two 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in explicit solvent for cL-BABP, as apo form and as a complex with two molecules of cholic acid, and analyzed in detail the dynamics properties of all water molecules. The diffusion coefficients of the more persistent internal water molecules are significantly different from the bulk, but similar between the two protein forms. A different number of molecules and a different organization are observed for apo- and holo-cL-BABP. Most water molecules identified in the binding site of the apo-crystal diffuse to the bulk during the simulation. In contrast, almost all the internal waters of the holo-crystal maintain the same interactions with internal sidechains and ligands, which suggests they have a relevant role in protein-ligand molecular recognition. Only in the presence of these water molecules we were able to reproduce, by a classical molecular docking approach, the structure of the complex cL-BABP::cholic acid with a low ligand root mean square deviation (RMSD) with respect to its reference positioning. Literature data reported a conserved pattern of hydrogen bonds between a single water molecule and three amino acid residues of the binding site in a series of crystallized FABP. In cL-BABP, the interactions between this conserved water molecule and the three residues are present in the crystal of both apo- and holo-cL-BABP but are lost immediately after the start of molecular dynamics. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structure of a glutamate/aspartate binding protein complexed with a glutamate molecule: structural basis of ligand specificity at atomic resolution

The crystal structure of a periplasmic l-aspartate/l-glutamate binding protein (DEBP) from Shigella flexneri complexed with an l-glutamate molecule has been determined and refined to an atomic resolution of 1.0 Å. There are two DEBP molecules in the asymmetric unit. The refined model contains 4462 non-hydrogen protein atoms, 730 water molecules, 2 bound glutamate molecules, and 2 Tris molecules from the buffer used in crystallization. The final R_cryst and R_free factors are 13.61% and 16.89%, respectively. The structure has root-mean-square deviations of 0.016 Å from standard bond lengths and 2.35° from standard bond angles.The DEBP molecule is composed of two similarly folded domains separated by the ligand binding region. Both domains contain a central five-stranded β-sheet that is surrounded by several α-helices. The two domains are linked by two antiparallel β-strands. The overall shape of DEBP is that of an ellipsoid approximately 55 Å × 45 Å × 40 Å in size.The binding of ligand to DEBP is achieved mostly through hydrogen bonds between the glutamate and side-chain and main-chain groups of DEBP. Side chains of residues Arg24, Ser72, Arg75, Ser90, and His164 anchor the deprotonated γ-carboxylate group of the glutamate with six hydrogen bonds. Side chains of Arg75 and Arg90 form salt bridges with the deprotonated α-carboxylate group, while the main-chain amide groups of Thr92 and Thr140 form hydrogen bonds with the same group. The positively charged α-amino group of the l-glutamate forms salt bridge interaction with the side-chain carboxylate group of Asp182 and hydrogen bond interaction with main-chain carbonyl oxygen of Ser90. In addition to these hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions, other interactions may also play important roles. For example, the two methylene groups from the glutamate form van der Waals interactions with hydrophobic side chains of DEBP.Comparisons with several other periplasmic amino acid binding proteins indicate that DEBP residues involved in the binding of α-amino and α-carboxylate groups of the ligand and the pattern of hydrogen bond formation between these groups are very well conserved, but the binding pocket around the ligand side chain is not, leading to the specificity of DEBP. We have identified structural features of DEBP that determine its ability of binding glutamate and aspartate, two molecules with different sizes, but discriminating against very similar glutamine and asparagine molecules.     

Characterization of crystal water molecules in a high-affinity inhibitor and hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase complex by interaction energy studies

Hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS) is one of the two enzymes that catalyze prostaglandin D₂ synthesis and a potential therapeutic target of allergic and inflammatory responses. To reveal key molecular interactions between a high-affinity ligand and H-PGDS, we designed and synthesized a potent new inhibitor (K_D: 0.14?nM), determined the crystal structure in complex with human H-PGDS, and quantitatively analyzed the ligand–protein interactions by the fragment molecular orbital calculation method. In the cavity, 10 water molecules were identified, and the interaction energy calculation indicated their stable binding to the surface amino acids in the cavity. Among them, 6 water molecules locating from the deep inner cavity to the peripheral part of the cavity contributed directly to the ligand binding by forming hydrogen bonding interactions. Arg12, Gly13, Gln36, Asp96, Trp104, Lys112 and an essential co-factor glutathione also had strong interactions with the ligand. A strong repulsive interaction between Leu199 and the ligand was canceled out by forming a hydrogen bonding network with the adjacent conserved water molecule. Our quantitative studies including crystal water molecules explained that compounds with an elongated backbone structure to fit from the deep inner cavity to the peripheral part of the cavity would have strong affinity to human H-PGDS.