Structural characterization of P1'-diversified urea-based inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase II
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Updated: May 1, 2026

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Published on: July 10, 2018
Jiri Pavlicek1, Jakub Ptacek1, Jiri Cerny1
1Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Laboratory of Structural Biology, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Urea-based inhibitors of human glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) have advanced into clinical trials for imaging metastatic prostate cancer. In parallel efforts, agents with increased lipophilicity have been designed and evaluated for targeting GCPII residing within the neuraxis. Here we report the structural and computational characterization of six complexes between GCPII and P1'-diversified urea-based inhibitors that have the C-terminal glutamate replaced by more hydrophobic moieties. The X-ray structures are complemented by quantum mechanics calculations that provide a quantitative insight into the GCPII/inhibitor interactions. These data can be used for the rational design of novel glutamate-free GCPII inhibitors with tailored physicochemical properties.
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