Structure of glutamate carboxypeptidase II, a drug target in neuronal damage and prostate cancer

Jeroen R. Mesters, Cyril Barinka, Weixing Li, Takashi Tsukamoto, Pavel Majer, Barbara S. Slusher, Jan Konvalinka, Rolf Hilgenfeld*

*Corresponding author for this work
138 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Membrane-bound glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) is a zinc metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate (NAAG) to N-acetyl-L-aspartate and L-glutamate (which is itself a neurotransmitter). Potent and selective GCPII inhibitors have been shown to decrease brain glutamate and provide neuroprotection in preclinical models of stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and neuropathic pain. Here, we report crystal structures of the extracellular part of GCPII in complex with both potent and weak inhibitors and with glutamate, the product of the enzyme's hydrolysis reaction, at 2.0, 2.4, and 2.2 Å resolution, respectively. GCPII folds into three domains: protease-like, apical, and C-terminal. All three participate in substrate binding, with two of them directly involved in C-terminal glutamate recognition. One of the carbohydrate moieties of the enzyme is essential for homodimer formation of GCPII. The three-dimensional structures presented here reveal an induced-fit substrate-binding mode of this key enzyme and provide essential information for the design of GCPII inhibitors useful in the treatment of neuronal diseases and prostate cancer.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume25
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)1375-1384
Number of pages10
ISSN0261-4189
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22.03.2006

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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