Structural and energetic determinants of the S-1-site specificity in serine proteases

In recent years the number of determined three-dimensional structures of se rine proteases that are accompanied by detailed mutational studies has grow n rapidly. In particular, spatial structures have been described for enzyme s involved in processes of critical medical significance, often related to severe pathophysiological diseases. There has also been significant progres s in the understanding of the structural grounds for the substrate specific ity of serine proteases. This review is concerned mainly with primary struc tural determinants of the S-1 specificity, the crucial component of substra te selectivity, often in relation to more distant specificity elements, whi ch cooperatively influence the S-1 site.