Natural protein proteinase inhibitors and their interaction with proteinases

Abstract

The substrate‐like ‘canonical' inhibition by the ‘small’ serine proteinase inhibitors and the product‐like inhibition by the carboxypeptidase inhibitor have provided the only atomic models of protein inhibitor–proteinase interactions for about 15 years. The recently published structures of cystatin/stefin – papain complexes and of hirudin – thrombin complexes reveal novel non‐substrate ‐ like interactions. In addition, the structure of pro‐carboxypeptidase showes a mode of inactivation which bears resemblance to proteinase/protein inhibitor systems. Considerable progress in understanding the transition between native and cleaved states of the serpins has also been made by several recent structural studies.