Scientists present the structural basis of the
lisinopril-binding specificity in N- and C-domains
of human somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme
(ACE)in a recent issue of Biochemical and Biophysical
Research Communications.
According to recent research from Brazil, "Angiotensin
I-converting enzyme (ACE) is a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase
which converts angiotensin I into the vasopressor
peptide angiotensin II and also inactivates the
hypotensive peptide bradykinin, playing an important
role in blood pressure regulation. The present work
describes the molecular modeling of the N-terminal
human somatic ACE in complex with the inhibitor
lisinopril, identifying the residues involved in
the inhibitor-binding pocket."
"The obtained results identify differences in the
lisinopril lysine moiety-binding residues for N-
and C-terminals of sACE domains and an important
carboxy-terminal proline hydrophobic accommodations
mediated by the aromatic ring of Tyr-(532) and Tyr(1128)
residues, respectively," reported Jorge H. Fernandez
and colleagues at the Structural Bioinformatic Laboratory
and the Instituto Butantan in Brazil. "The present
model will be useful for the development of a new
inhibitor family based on the natural BPP peptides
and derivatives, or even to improve the binding
capacities and the domain specificity of the already
known inhibitors."
Fernandez and his coauthors published their study
in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
(Structural basis of the lisinopril-binding specificity
in N- and C-domains of human somatic ACE. Biochem
Biophys Res Commun, 2003;308(2):219-226).
For additional information, contact Goran Neshich,
Structural Bioinformatic Laboratory, CNPTIA-EMBRAPA,
Campinas, SP, Brazil. E-mail: neshich@cbi.cnptia.embrapa.br.
Publisher contact information for the journal Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications is: Academic
Press Inc., Elsevier Science, 525 B Street, Suite
1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA.
The information in this article comes under the
major subject areas of Angiotensin, Angiology, Cardiology,
Hypertension, and Proteomics. This article was prepared
by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe,
go to http://www.newsrx.com.