“…Based on their mechanistically and spatially distinct thrombin binding modes and potent anticoagulant activities, we selected three inhibitors to serve as scaffolds from which the proposed trivalent hybrid inhibitors could be constructed. Specifically,w es elected the exosite I-binding inhibitors, variegin (Var) [5,6] and af ragment of anophelin (Ano), [7,8] bearing asingle sulfotyrosine residue,and the bivalent exosite II binder,T TI, [12,13] possessing two sulfotyrosine residues. Using crystal structures of a-thrombin complexed with either Va r, Ano from A. albimanus or TTI, we proposed aseries of hybrid inhibitors 1-5 designed to bind to the active site,while straddling both exosite Iand exosite II of the protease.Itwas envisaged that the trivalent binding of these molecules would lead to enhanced inhibitory potencya gainst thrombin compared to the individual bivalent inhibitors.…”