X-ray studies of aspartic proteinase-statine inhibitor complexes

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Abstract
The conformation of a statine-containing renin inhibitor complexed with the aspartic proteinase from the fungus Endothia parasitica (EC 3.4.23.6) has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 2.2-.ANG. resolution (R = 0.17). We describe the structure of the complex at high resolution and compare this with a 3.0-.ANG. resolution analysis of a bound inhibitor, L-364,099, containing a cyclohexylalanine analogue of statine. The inhibitors bind in extended conformations in the long active-site cleft, and the hydroxyl of the transition-state analogue, statine, interacts strongly with the catalytic aspartates via hydrogen bonds to the essential carboxyl groups. This work provides a detailed structural analysis of the role of statine in peptide inhibitors. It shows conclusively that statine should be considered a dipeptide analogue (occupying P1 to P1'') despite lacking the equivalent of a P1'' side chain, although other inhibitor residues (especially P2) may compensate by interacting at the unoccupied S1'' specificity subsite.