ABSTRACT
Secondary structure prediction of the catalytic domain of matrix metalloproteinases is evaluated in the light of recently published experimentally determined structures. The prediction was made by combining conformational propensity, surface probability, and residue conservation calculated for an alignment of 19 sequences. The position of each observed secondary structure element was correctly predicted with a high degree of accuracy, with a single beta-strand falsely predicted. The domain fold was also anticipated from the prediction by analogy with the structural elements found in the distantly related metalloproteinases thermolysin, astacin, and adamalysin.
Subject(s)
Metalloendopeptidases/chemistry , Protein Structure, Secondary , Animals , Binding Sites , Catalysis , Collagenases/chemistry , Humans , Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 , Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 , Protein Folding , Sequence Alignment , Glycine max/enzymologyABSTRACT
A novel pharmacophore definition procedure is described, which uses a Monte Carlo method to superimpose molecules. Pharmacophore space is searched by a technique similar to high temperature annealing. Subsequent refinement of candidate pharmacophores by energy minimization produces low-energy conformations that may be involved in receptor binding. The method has been applied to compounds that bind to the human platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor. Alternative binding site models for the PAF receptor are presented and discussed.
Subject(s)
Models, Molecular , Platelet Activating Factor/antagonists & inhibitors , Platelet Activating Factor/metabolism , Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins/chemistry , Receptors, Cell Surface , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled , Binding Sites , Computer Simulation , Drug Design , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Models, Chemical , Monte Carlo Method , Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins/drug effects , Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Structure-Activity Relationship , ThermodynamicsABSTRACT
Three-dimensional (3D)-database searches are now being widely applied to determine potential new active molecules. Many structural data sets obtained as a result of these searches are still large in size. In this paper we apply molecular similarity calculations as a rapid method to screen two such data sets. In the first investigation, synthetic candidates, produced as a result of a tendamistat beta-turn mimic search, were tested for their ability to imitate the beta-turn backbone. In the second study, structures extracted through a histamine pharmacophore query search were examined on the basis of their electronic similarity to histamine. Molecular similarity is shown to provide a rapid means of gaining insight into the composition of molecular data sets, with possible implications for future full 3D-database searches.
Subject(s)
Databases, Factual , Molecular Structure , Drug Design , Molecular Conformation , Software , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The presence of multiple alpha,alpha-dialkyl amino acids such as alpha-methylalanine (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, Aib) leads to predominantly helical structures, either with alpha-helical or 3(10)-helical hydrogen bonding patterns. The crystal structure of emerimicin-(1-9) benzyl ester (Ac-Phe-Aib-Aib-Aib-Val-Gly-Leu-Aib-Aib-OBzl) reported here shows essentially pure alpha-helical character, whereas other similar compounds show predominantly 3(10)-helical structures. The factors that govern helical preference include the inherent relative stability of the alpha-helix compared with the 3(10)-helix, the extra hydrogen bond seen with 3(10)-helices, and the enhanced electrostatic dipolar interaction of the 3(10)-helix when packed in a crystalline lattice. The balance of these forces, when combined with the steric requirements of the amino acid side chains, determines the relative stability of the two helical conformations under a given set of experimental conditions.
Subject(s)
Aminobutyrates , Oligopeptides , Peptide Fragments , Protein Conformation , Amino Acid Sequence , Models, Molecular , Molecular Sequence DataABSTRACT
Biochemical information regarding the mechanism of amide bond hydrolysis offers insight into the possible chemical groups in the enzyme active site responsible for hydrolysis. Assuming that these groups have a relatively fixed geometry in accord with their functional role, then their three-dimensional position in space can be determined if sufficient structural diversity exists within the data set of compounds with known affinities. Each compound which binds can be augmented by additional chemical groups to represent the receptor's functional groups. For each compound, the set of geometrical arrangements of these groups which would show optimal binding to the compound can be determined by systematic search. A common geometric arrangement representing the active site geometry should be present for each compound. In studies of the binding of mechanism-based inhibitors of chymotrypsin, Naruto et al. (1985) showed some movement of active site residues to accommodate different ligands. Nevertheless, this procedure found a unique active site geometry for ACE which compared favorably with that of carboxypeptidase A, an enzyme of analogous function.
