Structural basis for bisphosphonate-mediated inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis.

Article Details

Citation

Hosfield DJ, Zhang Y, Dougan DR, Broun A, Tari LW, Swanson RV, Finn J

Structural basis for bisphosphonate-mediated inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis.

J Biol Chem. 2004 Mar 5;279(10):8526-9. Epub 2003 Dec 12.

PubMed ID
14672944 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase (FPPS) synthesizes farnesyl pyrophosphate through successive condensations of isopentyl pyrophosphate with dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and geranyl pyrophosphate. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drugs used to treat osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and tumor-induced hypercalcemia are potent inhibitors of the enzyme. Here we present crystal structures of substrate and bisphosphonate complexes of FPPS. The structures reveal how enzyme conformational changes organize conserved active site residues to exploit metal-induced ionization and substrate positioning for catalysis. The structures further demonstrate how nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates mimic a carbocation intermediate to inhibit the enzyme. Together, these FPPS complexes provide a structural template for the design of novel inhibitors that may prove useful for the treatment of osteoporosis and other clinical indications including cancer.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
Farnesyl diphosphate synthaseP22939Details