Extending Crystallographic Information with Semiempirical Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Mechanics: A Case of Aspartic Proteinases

The results of crystallographic analysis of a complex between an aspartic proteinase, endothiapepsin, and an inhibitor have been extended through the assignment of protons in the active site, to study various steps in the reaction with a substrate. Mechanistic implications are suggested as a consequence of semiempirical quantum mechanical calculations, indicating that most of the activation energy is required to bring the substrate from an initial binding mode to close distance to a water molecule.