CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF PHENYLMETHANESULFONYL FLUORIDE-TREATED HUMAN CHYMASE AT 1.9-ANGSTROM

The X-ray crystal structure of human chymase has been determined to 1. 9 Angstrom resolution using molecular replacement methods. This first structure of human chymase is present as the Ser 195 ester of alpha-to luenesulfonic acid. The refined structure (R-cryst = 0.183) shows that the inhibitor phenyl moiety lies at the top of the major specificity pocket, S1, while the sulfur is covalently linked to Ser 195-O gamma. The sulfonyl oxygens interact with the oxyanion hole and with His 57-N delta 1. The presence of the inhibitor disturbs the usual gauche posi tion of His 57 and fords it to the trans conformer. Though the primary binding pockets are similarly specific in chymase and chymotrypsin, e xamination of the extended substrate binding sites reveals the structu ral basis for chymase's greater discrimination in choosing substrates. The larger 30s loop and its proximity to the active site indicates th at it contacts substrate residues C-terminal to the scissile bond. Mod eling of substrate at the chymase active site suggests that binding en ergy may be gained by three main-chain hydrogen bonds provided by subs trate residues P2' and P4' and that discriminating interactions with s ubstrate side chains are also likely. The presence of Lys 40 in S1' of human chymase explains its preference for Asp/Glu at P1'. Moreover, t he cationic nature of S1' provides a structural basis for human chymas e's poor catalytic efficiency when angiotensin II is the substrate.