Anomalous differences of light elements in determining precise binding modes of ligands to glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Chem Biol. 2002 Nov;9(11):1189-97. doi: 10.1016/s1074-5521(02)00243-0.

Abstract

Pathogenic protozoa such as Trypanosome and Leishmania species cause tremendous suffering worldwide. Because of their dependence on glycolysis for energy, the glycolytic enzymes of these organisms, including glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), are considered attractive drug targets. Using the adenine part of NAD as a lead compound, several 2,6-disubstituted purines were synthesized as inhibitors of Leishmania mexicana GPDH (LmGPDH). The electron densities for the inhibitor 2-bromo-6-chloro-purine bound to LmGPDH using a "conventional" wavelength around 1 A displayed a quasisymmetric shape. The anomalous signals from data collected at 1.77 A clearly indicated the positions of the halogen atoms and revealed the multiple binding modes of this inhibitor. Intriguing differences in the observed binding modes of the inhibitor between very similarly prepared crystals illustrate the possibility of crystal-to-crystal variations in protein-ligand complex structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / chemistry*
  • Leishmania mexicana / enzymology
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Purines / chemical synthesis
  • Purines / chemistry
  • Purines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Ligands
  • Purines
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase