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Molecular Basis for the Aromatization Reaction and Exemestane-Mediated Irreversible Inhibition of Human Aromatase

Department of Surgical Research and Division of Information Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Shiuan Chen, Department of Surgical Research and Division of Information Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, California 91010. E-mail: schen{at}coh.org.

Aromatase converts androgens to aromatic estrogens. Aromatase inhibitors have been used as first-line drugs in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Structural basis of the aromatization reaction and drug recognition by aromatase has remained elusive because of its unknown three-dimensional structure. In this study, recombinant human aromatase was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. Using this purified and active preparation, the three-dimensional folding of aromatase was revealed by proteomic analysis. Combined with site-directed mutagenesis, several critical residues involved in enzyme catalysis and suicide inhibition by exemestane were evaluated. Based on our results, a new clamping mechanism of substrate/exemestane binding to the active site is proposed. These structure-function studies of aromatase would provide useful information to design more effective aromatase inhibitors for the prevention and the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer.

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