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The X-ray crystal structure for the adduct of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) II with (PFMZ), a topically acting antiglaucoma sulfonamide, has been resolved at a resolution of 1.8 A. This compound is almost ten times more effective as a hCA II inhibitor (KI of 1.5 nm) compared to the lead molecule, methazolamide, a clinically used drug (KI of 14 nm). Its binding to the enzyme active site is similar to that of other sulfonamide inhibitors, considering the interactions of the sulfonamide zinc anchoring group and thiadiazoline ring contacts, but differs considerably when the perfluorobenzoylimino fragment of the molecule is analyzed. Indeed, several unprecedented strong hydrogen bonds involving the imino nitrogen, carbonyl oxygen, a fluorine atom in the ortho position of the inhibitor, and two water molecules, as well as Gln 92 of the enzyme active site were seen. A stacking interaction of the perfluorophenyl ring of the inhibitor and the aromatic ring of Phe 131 was also observed for the first time in a CA-sulfonamide adduct. All these findings prove that more potent CA inhibitors incorporating perfluoroaryl/alkyl tails may be designed, with potentially improved antiglaucoma properties, in view of the new types of interactions seen here between the enzyme and the perfluorobenzoylated analogue of methazolamide.
Dr. C.T. Supuran, Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Polo Scientifico, Dipartimento di Chimica, Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino Firenze, Italy
11.5.2 Topical (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.5 Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors)