Most Cited Publications
Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 main protease provides a basis for design of improved alpha-ketoamide inhibitors
Linlin Zhang, Daizong Lin, Xinyuanyuan Sun, Ute Curth, Christian Drosten, Lucie Sauerhering, Stephan Becker, Katharina Rox & Rolf Hilgenfeld
March 2020, Science
Abstract:
Scientists across the world are working to understand severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Zhang et al. determined the x-ray crystal structure of a key protein in the virus' life cycle: the main protease. This enzyme cuts the polyproteins translated from viral RNA to yield functional viral proteins. The authors also developed a lead compound into a potent inhibitor and obtained a structure with the inhibitor bound, work that may provide a basis for development of anticoronaviral drugs.
The crystal structures of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus main protease and its complex with an inhibitor
Haitao Yang, Maojun Yang, Yi Ding, Yiwei Liu, Zhiyong Lou, Zhe Zhou, Lei Sun, Lijuan Mo, Sheng Ye, Hai Pang, George F. Gao, Kanchan Anand, Mark Bartlam, Rolf Hilgenfeld & Zihe Rao
October 2003, PNAS
Abstract:
A newly identified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), is the etiological agent responsible for the outbreak of SARS. The SARS-CoV main protease, which is a 33.8-kDa protease (also called the 3C-like protease), plays a pivotal role in mediating viral replication and transcription functions through extensive proteolytic processing of two replicase polyproteins, pp1a (486 kDa) and pp1ab (790 kDa). Here, we report the crystal structures of the SARS-CoV main protease at different pH values and in complex with a specific inhibitor. The protease structure has a fold that can be described as an augmented serine-protease, but with a Cys-His at the active site. This series of crystal structures, which is the first, to our knowledge, of any protein from the SARS virus, reveal substantial pH-dependent conformational changes, and an unexpected mode of inhibitor binding, providing a structural basis for rational drug design.
Coronavirus Main Proteinase (3CLpro) Structure: Basis for Design of Anti-SARS Drugs
Kanchan Anand, John Ziebuhr, Parvesh Wadhwani, Jeroen R. Mesters & Rolf Hilgenfeld
June 2003, Science
Abstract:
A novel coronavirus has been identified as the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The viral main proteinase (Mpro, also called 3CLpro), which controls the activities of the coronavirus replication complex, is an attractive target for therapy. We determined crystal structures for human coronavirus (strain 229E) Mpro and for an inhibitor complex of porcine coronavirus [transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV)] Mpro, and we constructed a homology model for SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) Mpro. The structures reveal a remarkable degree of conservation of the substrate-binding sites, which is further supported by recombinant SARS-CoV Mpro-mediated cleavage of a TGEV Mpro substrate. Molecular modeling suggests that available rhinovirus 3Cpro inhibitors may be modified to make them useful for treating SARS.
Crystal structure of active elongation factor Tu reveals major domain rearrangements
Harald Berchtold, Ludmila Reshetnikova, Christian O. A. Reiser, Norbert K. Schirmer, Mathias Sprinzl & Rolf Hilgenfeld
September 1993, Nature
Abstract:
The crystal structure of intact elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from Thermus thermophilus has been determined and refined at an effective resolution of 1.7 Å, with incorporation of data extending to 1.45 Å. The effector region, including interaction sites for the ribosome and for transfer RNA, is well defined. Molecular mechanisms are proposed for transductlon and amplification of the signal induced by GTP binding as well as for the intrinsic and effector-enhanced GTPase activity of EF-Tu. Comparison of the structure with that of EF-Tu–GDP reveals major mutual rearrange-ments of the three domains of the molecule.
C-h⋯π-interactions in proteins
Maria Brandl, Manfred S. Weiss, Andreas Jabs, Jürgen Sühnel & Rolf Hilgenfeld
March 2001, Journal of Molecular Biology
Abstract:
A non-redundant set of 1154 protein structures from the Protein Data Bank was examined with respect to close interactions between C-H-donor and pi-acceptor groups. A total of 31,087 interactions were found to satisfy our selection criteria. Their geometric parameters suggest that these interactions can be classified as weak hydrogen bonds.A set of 12 interaction classes were defined based on the division of the donors into three groups and the acceptors into four groups. These classes were examined separately, and the respective interactions described in detail in each class. Most prominent were interactions between aliphatic C-H donors and aromatic pi-acceptors and interactions between aromatic C-H donors and aromatic pi-acceptors. About three-quarters of the Trp-rings, half of all Phe and Tyr-rings and a quarter of all His-rings were found to be involved as acceptors in C-H...pi-interactions. On the donor side, a preference for aromatic C-H groups was observed, but also for the aliphatic side-chains of the long, extended amino acid residues Lys, Arg and Met, and the Pro ring. The average distance between the C-donor and the center-of-mass of the pi-acceptor was observed to be significantly longer in the 174 protein structures determined at >2.5 A resolution. Also, the distribution is significantly wider. This resolution dependence suggests that the force fields commonly used for the refinement of protein structures may not be adequate. C-H...pi-interactions involving aromatic groups either as donor or as acceptor groups are found mostly in the interior of the protein. The more hydrophilic the participating groups are, the closer to the surface are the interactions located. About 40 % of all C-H...pi-interactions occur between amino acid residue side-chains that are separated by nine or less residues in sequence. Dependent on the interaction class, different preferences for secondary structure, residue type and side-chain conformation were observed. It is likely that the C-H...pi-interactions contribute significantly to the overall stability of a protein.
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