B-H⋯π and C-H⋯π interactions in protein-ligand complexes: carbonic anhydrase II inhibition by carborane sulfonamides

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2023 Jan 18;25(3):1728-1733. doi: 10.1039/d2cp04673c.

Abstract

Among non-covalent interactions, B-H⋯π and C-H⋯π hydrogen bonding is rather weak and less studied. Nevertheless, since both can affect the energetics of protein-ligand binding, their understanding is an important prerequisite for reliable predictions of affinities. Through a combination of high-resolution X-ray crystallography and quantum-chemical calculations on carbonic anhydrase II/carborane-based inhibitor systems, this paper provides the first example of B-H⋯π hydrogen bonding in a protein-ligand complex. It shows that the B-H⋯π interaction is stabilized by dispersion, followed by electrostatics. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the similar C-H⋯π interaction is twice as strong, with a slightly smaller contribution of dispersion and a slightly higher contribution of electrostatics. Such a detailed insight will facilitate the rational design of future protein ligands, controlling these types of non-covalent interactions.

MeSH terms

  • Carbonic Anhydrase II*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Ligands
  • Sulfanilamide
  • Sulfonamides*

Substances

  • Sulfonamides
  • Carbonic Anhydrase II
  • Ligands
  • Sulfanilamide