Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Biological or biochemical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2003-03-18
Allen, Marianne P. (Department: 1631)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Biological or biochemical
C435S193000, C424S094500, C530S350000, C514S002600, C514S012200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06535820
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to crystalline farnesyl protein transferase (FPT) and FPT in complex with substrates or inhibitors. This invention also relates to methods of using the structure coordinates of FPT to solve the structure of similar or homologous proteins or protein substrate or inhibitor complexes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The biological significance of the Ras oncogene, and the role of both Ras and the enzyme known as farnesyl protein transferase (“FPT”) in the conversion of normal cells to cancer cells, are described in PCT International Publication Nos. WO95/00497 and WO95/10516. To undergo transforming potential, the precursor of the Ras oncoprotein must undergo farnesylation of the cysteine residue located in a carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide. Farnesyl protein transferase catalyzes this modification. Inhibitors of this enzyme have therefore been suggested as anticancer agents for tumors in which RAS contributes to transformation.
Drug discovery efforts directed toward FPT inhibitors have been hampered by the lack of adequate structural information about FPT and its complex with substrates and inhibitors. The structure of FPT was first determined at Duke University using a crystalline form where the active site was blocked by the carboxy terminus of an adjacent molecule in the crystalline lattice. Beese et al., 1997,
Science
275:1800-1804. These crystals are not suited for drug discovery because, as reported therein, the active site is blocked by part of the crystal lattice. Another crystalline form of FPT was also reported in Dunten et al., 1998,
Biochemistry
37(22):7907-7912. These crystals grow at pH 4.4 and are reported to only diffract to 2.8 Å resolution. However, the authors point out that there are no substrates or peptide inhibitors bound due to the low pH of the crystallization. Thus these crystals are not suitable for structure-based drug design.
Structural information from FPT crystalline complexes would provide valuable information in discovery of FPT inhibitors. This information could be used to design more potent, selective and metabolically stable FPT inhibitors for use as drugs against cancer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Applicants have solved this problem by providing crystalline compositions comprising a farnesyl protein transferase (FPT) complexed with its natural substrates and with molecules that mimic its natural substrates. The invention also provides the structure coordinates of these complexes. Further provided are methods for soaking these crystalline complexes in the presence of an inhibitor, thereby efficiently forming new crystalline enzyme: inhibitor complexes.
The invention also provides a method for determining at least a portion of the three-dimensional structure of molecules or molecular complexes which contain at least some structurally similar features to an FPT: substrate or FPT: inhibitor complex.
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Strickland Corey
Weber Patricia C.
Allen Marianne P.
Schering Corporation
Triolo Thomas
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