Structural basis of enantioselective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 by S-alpha-substituted indomethacin ethanolamides.
Harman, C.A., Turman, M.V., Kozak, K.R., Marnett, L.J., Smith, W.L., Garavito, R.M.(2007) J Biol Chem 282: 28096-28105
- PubMed: 17656360 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M701335200
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2OYE, 2OYU - PubMed Abstract: 
The modification of the nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, by amidation presents a promising strategy for designing novel cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-selective inhibitors. A series of alpha-substituted indomethacin ethanolamides, which exist as R/S-enantiomeric pairs, provides a means to study the impact of stereochemistry on COX inhibition. Comparative studies revealed that the R- and S-enantiomers of the alpha-substituted analogs inhibit COX-2 with almost equal efficacy, whereas COX-1 is selectively inhibited by the S-enantiomers. Mutagenesis studies have not been able to identify residues that manifest the enantioselectivity in COX-1. In an effort to understand the structural impact of chirality on COX-1 selectivity, the crystal structures of ovine COX-1 in complexes with an enantiomeric pair of these indomethacin ethanolamides were determined at resolutions between 2.75 and 2.85 A. These structures reveal unique, enantiomer-selective interactions within the COX-1 side pocket region that stabilize drug binding and account for the chiral selectivity observed with the (S)-alpha-substituted indomethacin ethanolamides. Kinetic analysis of binding demonstrates that both inhibitors bind quickly utilizing a two-step mechanism. However, the second binding step is readily reversible for the R-enantiomer, whereas for the S-enantiomer, it is not. These studies establish for the first time the structural and kinetic basis of high affinity binding of a neutral inhibitor to COX-1 and demonstrate that the side pocket of COX-1, previously thought to be sterically inaccessible, can serve as a binding pocket for inhibitor association.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.