Ketoconazole-induced conformational changes in the active site of cytochrome P450eryF.
Cupp-Vickery, J.R., Garcia, C., Hofacre, A., McGee-Estrada, K.(2001) J Mol Biol 311: 101-110
- PubMed: 11469860 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.2001.4803
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1JIN, 1JIO, 1JIP - PubMed Abstract: 
The azole-based P450 inhibitor ketoconazole is used to treat fungal infections and functions by blocking ergosterol biosynthesis in yeast. Ketoconazole binds to mammalian P450 enzymes and this can result in drug-drug interactions and lead to liver damage. To identify protein-drug interactions that contribute to binding specificity and affinity, we determined the crystal structure of ketoconazole complexed with P450eryF. In the P450eryF/ketoconazole structure, the azole moiety and nearby rings of ketoconzole are positioned in the active site similar to the substrate, 6-deoxyerythronolide B, with the azole nitrogen atom coordinated to the heme iron atom. The remainder of the ketoconazole molecule extends into the active-site pocket, which is occupied by water in the substrate complex. Binding of ketoconazole led to unexpected conformational changes in the I-helix. The I-helix cleft near the active site has collapsed with a helical pitch of 5.4 A compared to 6.6 A in the substrate complex. P450eryF/ketoconazole crystals soaked in 6-deoxyerythronolide B to exchange ligands exhibit a structure identical with that of the original P450eryF/substrate complex, with the I-helix cleft restored to a pitch of 6.6 A. These findings indicate that the I-helix region of P450eryF is flexible and can adopt multiple conformations. An improved understanding of the flexibility of the active-site region of cytochrome P450 enzymes is important to gain insight into determinants of ligand binding/specificity as well as to evaluate models for catalytic mechanism based on static crystal structures.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834, USA. jvickery@fullerton.edu