Identification of Key Residues Determining Species Differences in Inhibitor Binding of Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1

• Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (MPGES1) is induced during an inflammatory reaction from low basal levels by pro-inflammatory cytokines and subsequently involved in the production of the important mediator of inflammation, prostaglandin E-2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prevent prostaglandin E-2 production by inhibiting the upstream enzymes cyclooxygenases 1 and 2. In contrast to these conventional drugs, a new generation of NSAIDs targets the terminal enzyme MPGES1. Some of these compounds potently inhibit human MPGES1 but do not have an effect on the rat orthologue. We investigated this interspecies difference in a rat/human chimeric form of the enzyme as well as in several mutants and identified key residues Thr-131, Leu-135, and Ala-138 in human MPGES1, which play a crucial role as gate keepers for the active site of MPGES1. These residues are situated in transmembrane helix 4, lining the entrance to the cleft between two subunits in the protein trimer, and regulate access of the inhibitor in the rat enzyme. Exchange toward the human residues in rat MPGES1 was accompanied with a gain of inhibitor activity, whereas exchange in human MPGES1 toward the residues found in rat abrogated inhibitor activity. Our data give evidence for the location of the active site at the interface between subunits in the homotrimeric enzyme and suggest a model of how the natural substratePGH(2), or competitive inhibitors of MPGES1, enter the active site via the phospholipid bilayer of the membrane.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Industriell bioteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Industrial Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Active site

Basal levels

Conventional drugs

Cyclooxygenases

Inflammatory reaction

Inhibitor activity

Microsomal prostaglandin

mPGES-1

Natural substrates

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Phospholipid bilayer

Proinflammatory cytokines

Prostaglandine

Synthases

Transmembrane helices

Drug products

Enzyme inhibition

Phospholipids

Bioengineering

Bioteknik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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