Molecular dynamics simulation of papain-E-64 (N-[N-(L-3-trans-carboxyoxirane-2-carbonyl)-L-leucyl]agmatine) complex

To investigate the possible binding mode of E-64 (N-[N-(L-3-trans-carboxyoxirane-2-carbonyl)-L-leucyl]agmatine), a potent cysteine protease inhibitor, to papain active site, molecular dynamics simulations were applied to two complex forms: R- and S- configurational forms of E-64 C2 atom for the covalent bond formation with the papain Cys-25 SH group. The tertiary structures of the papain-E-64 complexes were built by visual interactive modelling and the energy minimization technique, and were subjected to the dynamics simulations of 10 ps. Although no significant difference was observed between the potential energies of energy-minimized R- and S-complex forms, the molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the hydrogen bonding mode of the former form is more advantageous than that of the latter one. Comparing with the hydrogen bonds observed in the papain-E-64 complex crystal, it could be concluded that the present molecular dynamics simulation reflects well the three-dimensional structure concerning the interaction of E-64 with the papain active site. The conformational characteristics of E-64 and its possible interaction mode with papain were also discussed.