Defining the active site of cytochrome P-450: the crystal and molecular structure of an inhibitor, SKF-525A.

The crystal and molecular structure of the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, SKF-525A [2-(diethylamino)ethyl 2,2-diphenylpentenoate; proadifen hydrochloride] is described. Proadifen hydrochloride crystallized from an ethyl acetate and acetic acid mixture in the space group P2(1)/c with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Cell constants are a = 18.716(4), b = 8.906(1), c = 14.201(3), beta = 109.41(1) degrees. The structure was solved using direct methods and was refined to an R value of 0.047; weighted R of 0.061 using 3757 reflections. From the crystal and molecular structure, it is seen that SKF-525A has two principal modes of complementary interactions with the enzyme available: polar and non-polar. Polar interactions that principally involve the chloride anion, the quaternary nitrogen atom and the carbonyl oxygen atom. In particular, there are two strong hydrogen bonds, one between Cl ... H-N, 3.090(1) A, the other between O2 ... H-C111 (one of the ethyl hydrogen atoms) at 3.411(2) A. The other is through non-polar interactions involving the phenyl and alkyl groups. Comparisons between proadifen hydrochloride and other inhibitors whose atomic coordinates are available reveal common features which correlate with their function. These include groups to provide necessary intermolecular contacts and bulk, such as a phenyl group and a hydrogen bond acceptor, as well as a tetrahedral atom, which allows for substrate flexibility.