The compound KNI-272 is a potent, peptide-like inhibitor of HIV protease. Its conformation when complexed
with the protease is close to that which it assumes in its single-molecule crystal. This observation led to the
suggestion that KNI-272 gains affinity by being preorganized for binding. On the other hand, one might well
expect KNI-272 to be flexible because it possesses 15 rotatable bonds. Moreover, a recent ab initio study of
KNI-272 suggests that it is not preorganized because its bound conformation is strained. Here, we use a
novel algorithm to study the conformational distribution of this inhibitor. The results show good agreement
with a recent NMR analysis of KNI-272 in solution. The calculations indicate that KNI-272 in solution occupies
three major conformations, one of which matches the bound conformation and the NMR structure. In addition,
the thioproline amide bond tends to be in the trans conformation found in the complex of KNI-272 with HIV
protease. Further calculations on hypothetical analogues of KNI-272 provide information on the mechanism
of preorganization and indicate that steric interactions among the bulky side chains are of particular importance.