Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has multiple binding points that accommodate ligands in various conformations: Structurally similar PPARγ partial agonists bind to PPARγ LBD in different conformations.

In the course of studies directed toward the creation of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (hPPARγ) partial agonists, we designed and synthesized benzylsulfonylaminocarbonyl derivative (3) by structural modification of our reported hPPARγ partial agonist 2. Co-crystallization of 3 with the hPPARγ ligand-binding domain (LBD) afforded a homodimeric complex in which one of the LBDs adopts a fully active structure without bound 3, while the other LBD exhibits a non-fully active structure containing one molecule of bound 3. Interestingly, 2 and 3 are structurally similar, but bind to hPPARγ LBD in distinct conformations, that is, the sulfonylaminocarbonyl moiety of bound 3 is directed at 180° away from that of bound 2. These results support our previous proposal that the hPPARγ LBD has multiple binding points that can be utilized to accommodate structurally flexible hPPAR ligands.