The complement protein C3, when activated by limited proteolysis, forms a short-lived reactive intermediate fragment, 'nascent' C3b, which is known to bind covalently to certain surfaces. The characteristics of the covalent binding reaction have been studied by using Sepharose-trypsin as a combined proteolytic activator and binding surface for C3. Binding of C3 to Sepharose-trypsin is saturable, with a maximum of 25-26 molecules of C3b bound per molecule of trypsin. A minimum life-time of about 60 microseconds for the reactive intermediate has been calculated from binding of C3 at saturation. Initial binding efficiencies of over 30% can be obtained at physiological pH and ionic strength. The efficiency of C3 binding to Sepharose-trypsin decreases as pH increases and also shows a slight decline at high ionic strength. The covalent binding of C3 to Sepharose-trypsin can be inhibited by a range of oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles. Activation of C3 in the presence of radioactive forms of four such nucleophiles, phenylhydrazine, methylamine, glycerol and glucosamine results in apparent covalent incorporation of the nucleophile into the C3d fragment of C3. The quantity of radioactive nucleophile bound can be predicted from the observed potency of the nucleophile as an inhibitor of the binding of C3 to Sepharose-trypsin. The radioactive nucleophiles may be considered as 'active-site' labels for C3.

Human thymidine phosphorylase (HTP), also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), is overexpressed in certain solid tumors where it is linked to poor prognosis. HTP expression is utilized for certain chemotherapeutic strategies and is also thought to play a role in tumor angiogenesis. We determined the structure of HTP bound to the small molecule inhibitor 5-chloro-6-[1-(2-iminopyrrolidinyl) methyl] uracil hydrochloride (TPI). The inhibitor appears to mimic the substrate transition state, which may help explain the potency of this inhibitor and the catalytic mechanism of pyrimidine nucleotide phosphorylases (PYNPs). Further, we have confirmed the validity of the HTP structure as a template for structure-based drug design by predicting binding affinities for TPI and other known HTP inhibitors using in silico docking techniques. This work provides the first structural insight into the binding mode of any inhibitor to this important drug target and forms the basis for designing novel inhibitors for use in anticancer therapy.

Inhibition of CDK2/CA (cyclin-dependent kinase 2/cyclin A complex) activity through blocking of the substrate recognition site in the cyclin A subunit has been demonstrated to be an effective method for inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. We have used the cyclin binding motif (CBM) present in the tumor suppressor proteins p21(WAF1) and p27(KIP1) as a template to optimize the minimal sequence necessary for CDK2/CA inhibition. A series of peptides were prepared, containing nonnatural amino acids, which possess nano- to micromolar CDK2-inhibitory activity. Here we present X-ray structures of the protein complex CDK2/CA, together with the cyclin groove-bound peptides H-Ala-Ala-Abu-Arg-Ser-Leu-Ile-(p-F-Phe)-NH(2) (peptide 1), H-Arg-Arg-Leu-Ile-Phe-NH(2) (peptide 2), Ac-Arg-Arg-Leu-Asn-(m-Cl-Phe)-NH(2) (peptide 3), H-Arg-Arg-Leu-Asn-(p-F-Phe)-NH(2) (peptide 4), and H-Cit-Cit-Leu-Ile-(p-F-Phe)-NH(2) (peptide 5). Some of the peptide complexes presented here were obtained through the novel technique of ligand exchange within protein crystals. This method may find general application for obtaining complex structures of proteins with surface-bound ligands.

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Synthesis o f B iological A ctive P eptid es b y th e A id o f a N ew P ep tid e Synthesizer W. V o e l t e r und K. Z e c h Chemisches In s titu t der U n iv ersität Tübingen und N. G r u b h o f e r P eptides, physalaemin, eledoisin, releasing hormones, Merrifield synthesis A new autom atic peptide synthesizer is described. Most of th e different single p arts of apparates like the program m er, tim er, "M ultipo rt-Ventil," m agnetic valves or vessels are all commercially available and m ay be fixed tog eth er w ith a relatively sm all am ount of costs. The efficiency of the new ap p aratu s is te ste d b y th e au to m atic synthesis of biologi­ cally active peptide sequences like H