X-RAY-CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF COMPLEXES OF PEPSTATIN-A AND A STATINE-CONTAINING HUMAN RENIN INHIBITOR WITH ENDOTHIAPEPSIN

H-189, a synthetic human renin inhibitor, and pepstatin A, a naturally occurring inhibitor of aspartic proteinases, have been co-crystallized with the fungal aspartic proteinase endothiapepsin (EC3.4.23.6). H-189 [Pro-His-Pro-Phe-His-Sta (statyl)-Val-Ile-His-Lys] is an analogue of human angiotensinogen. Pepstatin A [Iva(isovaleryl)-Val-Val-Sta-Ala-Sta] is a blocked pentapeptide which inhibits many aspartic proteinases. The structures of the complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction and refined to crystallographic R-factors of 0. 1 5 and 0. 16 at resolutions of 0. 1 8 nm (1.8 angstrom) and 0. 2 nm (2.0 angstrom) respectively. H-189 is in an extended conformation, in which the statine residue is a dipeptide analogue of P1 and P1' as indicated by the conformation and network of contacts an hydrogen bonds. Pepstatin A has an extended conformation to the P2' alanine residue, but the leucyl side chain of the terminal statine residue binds back into the S1' subsite, and an inverse gamma-turn occurs between P1', and P3'. The hydroxy moiety of the statine at P1 in both complexes displaces the solvent molecule that hydrogen-bonds with the catalytic aspartate residues (32 and 215) in the native enzyme. Solvent molecules originally present in the native structure at the active site are displaced on inhibitor binding (12 when pepstatin A binds; 16 when H-189 binds).