Structure of Neuraminidase N1 Complexed with Tamiflu
by Eric Martz (see also Lesson Plan)




    New Findings

    "The structure of H5N1 avian influenza neuraminidase suggests new opportunities for drug design", Russell et al., Nature 443:45 (September 7, 2006): on-campus   off-campus

  1. Tamiflu and Relenza were designed to fit N2/N9. New structures of N1 reveal that one loop (147-152) is "out of place" for binding drug.

  2. Thus it is surprising that these existing drugs work on avian flu N1.

  3. But upon binding Tamiflu, the misplaced loop is pulled into drug contact.

  4. A cavity in N1 (absent in N2/N9) adjacent to bound drug is a novel potential drug target.


Visualization





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