[Collaborative use of neutron and X-ray for determination of drug target proteins]

Yakugaku Zasshi. 2010 May;130(5):657-64. doi: 10.1248/yakushi.130.657.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Crystallography enables us to obtain accurate atomic positions within proteins. High resolution X-ray crystallography provides information for most of the atoms comprising a protein, with the exception of hydrogens. Neutron diffraction data can provide information of the location of hydrogen atoms, and is complementary to the structural information determined by X-ray crystallography. Here, we show the recent result of the structural determination of drug-target proteins, porcine pancreatic elastase and human immuno-deficiency virus type-1 protease by both X-ray and neutron diffraction. The structure of porcine pancreatic elastase with its potent inhibitor was determined to 0.94 A resolution by X-ray diffraction and 1.65 A resolution by neutron diffraction. The structure of HIV-PR with its potent inhibitor was also determined to 0.93 A resolution by X-ray diffraction and 1.9 A resolution by neutron diffraction. The ionization state and the location of hydrogen atoms of the catalytic residue in these enzymes were determined by neutron diffraction. Furthermore, collaborative use of both X-ray and neutron to identify the location of ambiguous hydrogen atoms will be shown.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Drug Design*
  • HIV-1 / enzymology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen
  • Neutron Diffraction* / instrumentation
  • Neutron Diffraction* / methods
  • Neutrons*
  • Pancreatic Elastase / chemistry*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / chemistry*
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Swine
  • X-Ray Diffraction* / instrumentation
  • X-Ray Diffraction* / methods
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Hydrogen
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Pancreatic Elastase