Abstact

The high level of amino acid conservation and structural similarity in the immediate vicinity of the substrate binding sites of the oxygenase domains of the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms (eNOSoxy, iNOSoxy, and nNOSoxy) make the interpretation of the structural basis of inhibitor isoform specificity a challenge and provide few clues for the design of new selective compounds. Crystal structures of iNOSoxy and nNOSoxy complexed with the inhibitors W1400 and Nomega-propyl-l-arginine provide a rationale for their isoform specificity. It involves differences outside the immediate active site as well as a conformational flexibility in the active site that allows the adoption of distinct conformations in response to interactions with the inhibitors. This flexibility is determined by isoform-specific residues outside the active site.