title: Structure-guided design of selective inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase.
abstract: Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) comprise three closely related isoforms that catalyze the oxidation of L-arginine to L-citrulline and the important second messenger nitric oxide (NO). Pharmacological selective inhibition of neuronal NOS (nNOS) has the potential to be therapeutically beneficial in various neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we present a structure-guided, selective nNOS inhibitor design based on the crystal structure of lead compound 1 in nNOS. The best inhibitor, 7, exhibited low nanomolar inhibitory potency and good isoform selectivities (nNOS over eNOS and iNOS are 472-fold and 239-fold, respectively). Consistent with the good selectivity, 7 binds to nNOS and eNOS with different binding modes. The distinctly different binding modes of 7, driven by the critical residue Asp597 in nNOS, offers compelling insight to explain its isozyme selectivity, which should guide future drug design programs.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3113, United States.
authors: He
authors: H
authors: Huang
authors: Huiying
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Pavel
authors: P
authors: Martásek
authors: Linda J
authors: LJ
authors: Roman
authors: Thomas L
authors: TL
authors: Poulos
authors: Richard B
authors: RB
authors: Silverman
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D015195:Drug Design; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I