In-house phase determination of the lima bean trypsin inhibitor: a low-resolution sulfur-SAD case

Insight into the structural basis of the dual inhibitory mode of Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) serine protease inhibitor

Bovine pancreatic trypsin was crystallized, in-complex with Lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) (Phaseolus lunatus L.), in the form of a ternary complex. LBTI is a Bowman-Birk-type bifunctional serine protease inhibitor, which has two independent inhibitory loops. Both of the loops can inhibit trypsin, however, only the hydrophobic loop is specific for inhibiting chymotrypsin. The structure of trypsin incomplex with the LBTI has been solved and refined at 2.25 Å resolution, in the space group P4_1, with R_work /R_free values of 18.1/23.3. The two binding sites of LBTI differ in only two amino acids. Lysine and leucine are the key residues of the two different binding loops positioned at the P1, and involved in binding the S1 binding site of trypsin. The asymmetric unit cell contains two molecules of trypsin and one molecule of LBTI. The key interactions include hydrogen bonds between LBTI and active site residues of trypsin. The 3D structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex provided details insight into the trypsin inhibition by LBTI. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the structure of trypsin incomplex with LBTI.

A solution-free crystal-mounting platform for native SAD

The native SAD phasing method uses the anomalous scattering signals from the S atoms contained in most proteins, the P atoms in nucleic acids or other light atoms derived from the solution used for crystallization. These signals are very weak and careful data collection is required, which makes this method very difficult. One way to enhance the anomalous signal is to use long-wavelength X-rays; however, these wavelengths are more strongly absorbed by the materials in the pathway. Therefore, a crystal-mounting platform for native SAD data collection that removes solution around the crystals has been developed. This platform includes a novel solution-free mounting tool and an automatic robot, which extracts the surrounding solution, flash-cools the crystal and inserts the loop into a UniPuck cassette for use in the synchrotron. Eight protein structures (including two new structures) have been successfully solved by the native SAD method from crystals prepared using this platform.

Making routine native SAD a reality: lessons from beamline X06DA at the Swiss Light Source

Native single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) is the most attractive de novo phasing method in macromolecular crystallography, as it directly utilizes intrinsic anomalous scattering from native crystals. However, the success of such an experiment depends on accurate measurements of the reflection intensities and therefore on careful data-collection protocols. Here, the low-dose, multiple-orientation data-collection protocol for native SAD phasing developed at beamline X06DA (PXIII) at the Swiss Light Source is reviewed, and its usage over the last four years on conventional crystals (>50 µm) is reported. Being experimentally very simple and fast, this method has gained popularity and has delivered 45 de novo structures to date (13 of which have been published). Native SAD is currently the primary choice for experimental phasing among X06DA users. The method can address challenging cases: here, native SAD phasing performed on a streptavidin-biotin crystal with P21 symmetry and a low Bijvoet ratio of 0.6% is highlighted. The use of intrinsic anomalous signals as sequence markers for model building and the assignment of ions is also briefly described.

pH induced single step shift of hydrophobic patches followed by formation of an MG state and an amyloidogenic intermediate in Lima Bean Trypsin Inhibitor (LBTI)

Lima Bean Trypsin Inhibitor (LBTI) is 83 residues monomeric protein of 9.0 KDa, consisting of six antiparallel β-strands and can undergo concentration dependant dimerization. We have tried to characterize folding intermediates of LBTI under equilibrium denaturation conditions. We have used various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to understand the folding and misfolding pathways. LBTI forms molten globule structure at pH 2 and amyloidiogenic intermediate state (I^a) at pH 4. pH induced Shifting of surface exposed hydrophobic patches and that followed by withdrawal of the lone tyrosine residue (Y69) towards nonpolar environment have been reported. Denaturation profile of native and molten globule (MG) states of LBTI in presence of guanidine hydrochloride show sigmoidal curves with non-coincidental and irreversible behaviour in both states. Concentration dependent amyloid fibril formation was confirmed by Thioflavin T and Congo Red binding and its morphology was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This is the first report on biophysical characterization of folding intermediates of LBTI and its aggregation behaviour to the best of our knowledge.

Assessing and maximizing data quality in macromolecular crystallography

The quality of macromolecular crystal structures depends, in part, on the quality and quantity of the data used to produce them. Here, we review recent shifts in our understanding of how to use data quality indicators to select a high resolution cutoff that leads to the best model, and of the potential to greatly increase data quality through the merging of multiple measurements from multiple passes of single crystals or from multiple crystals. Key factors supporting this shift are the introduction of more robust correlation coefficient based indicators of the precision of merged data sets as well as the recognition of the substantial useful information present in extensive amounts of data once considered too weak to be of value.

S-SAD phasing of monoclinic histidine kinase from Brucella abortus combining data from multiple crystals and orientations: an example of data-collection strategy and a posteriori analysis of different data combinations

The histidine kinase (HK) domain belonging to the light-oxygen-voltage histidine kinase (LOV-HK) from Brucella abortus is a member of the HWE family, for which no structural information is available, and has low sequence identity (20%) to the closest HK present in the PDB. The `off-edge' S-SAD method in macromolecular X-ray crystallography was used to solve the structure of the HK domain from LOV-HK at low resolution from crystals in a low-symmetry space group (P21) and with four copies in the asymmetric unit (∼108 kDa). Data were collected both from multiple crystals (diffraction limit varying from 2.90 to 3.25 Å) and from multiple orientations of the same crystal, using the κ-geometry goniostat on SOLEIL beamline PROXIMA 1, to obtain `true redundancy'. Data from three different crystals were combined for structure determination. An optimized HK construct bearing a shorter cloning artifact yielded crystals that diffracted X-rays to 2.51 Å resolution and that were used for final refinement of the model. Moreover, a thorough a posteriori analysis using several different combinations of data sets allowed us to investigate the impact of the data-collection strategy on the success of the structure determination.

Against the odds? De novo structure determination of a pilin with two cysteine residues by sulfur SAD

Exploiting the anomalous signal of the intrinsic S atoms to phase a protein structure is advantageous, as ideally only a single well diffracting native crystal is required. However, sulfur is a weak anomalous scatterer at the typical wavelengths used for X-ray diffraction experiments, and therefore sulfur SAD data sets need to be recorded with a high multiplicity. In this study, the structure of a small pilin protein was determined by sulfur SAD despite several obstacles such as a low anomalous signal (a theoretical Bijvoet ratio of 0.9% at a wavelength of 1.8 Å), radiation damage-induced reduction of the cysteines and a multiplicity of only 5.5. The anomalous signal was improved by merging three data sets from different volumes of a single crystal, yielding a multiplicity of 17.5, and a sodium ion was added to the substructure of anomalous scatterers. In general, all data sets were balanced around the threshold values for a successful phasing strategy. In addition, a collection of statistics on structures from the PDB that were solved by sulfur SAD are presented and compared with the data. Looking at the quality indicator R(anom)/R(p.i.m.), an inconsistency in the documentation of the anomalous R factor is noted and reported.

In-house zinc SAD phasing at Cu Kα edge

De novo zinc single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (Zn-SAD) phasing has been demonstrated with the 1.9 Å resolution data of glucose isomerase and 2.6 Å resolution data of Staphylococcus aureus Fur (SaFur) collected using in-house Cu Kα X-ray source. The successful in-house Zn-SAD phasing of glucose isomerase, based on the anomalous signals of both zinc ions introduced to crystals by soaking and native sulfur atoms, drove us to determine the structure of SaFur, a zinc-containing transcription factor, by Zn-SAD phasing using in-house X-ray source. The abundance of zinc-containing proteins in nature, the easy zinc derivatization of the protein surface, no need of synchrotron access, and the successful experimental phasing with the modest 2.6 Å resolution SAD data indicate that inhouse Zn-SAD phasing can be widely applicable to structure determination.

The contribution of two disulfide bonds in the trypsin binding domain of horsegram (Dolichos biflorus) Bowman-Birk inhibitor to thermal stability and functionality

The major Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBIs) of horsegram (Dolichos biflorus) HGI-III, contains seven interweaving disulfides and is extremely stable to high temperatures. The contributions of two disulfide bonds in the trypsin domain to thermal stability and functionality were evaluated using disulfide deletion variants of wild type protein. Thermal denaturation kinetics, differential scanning calorimetry and urea denaturation studies indicate that the absence of either of the two disulfides destabilizes the protein significantly. C20-C66 contributes substantially to both thermal stability and controls trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity. These two disulfides act in synergy as deletion of both disulfides leads to a complete loss of thermal stability. The data indicate that the two subdomains are not entirely independent of each other. Long range interactions, between the domains are facilitated by C20-C66. The deletion of the disulfide bonds also increased proteolytic susceptibility in a manner similar to the decreased thermal stability. From this study of rHGI a prototype of legume BBIs in can be concluded that among the array of seven evolutionarily conserved disulfide bonds, the disulfide C20-C66 that connects a residue in the trypsin domain with a residue at the border of the same domain plays a dominant role in maintaining functional and structural stability.

Structure of the Archaeoglobus fulgidus orphan ORF AF1382 determined by sulfur SAD from a moderately diffracting crystal

The crystal structure of the 11.14 kDa orphan ORF 1382 from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (AF1382) has been determined by sulfur SAD phasing using a moderately diffracting crystal and 1.9 Å wavelength synchrotron X-rays. AF1382 was selected as a structural genomics target by the Southeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics (SECSG) since sequence analyses showed that it did not belong to the Pfam-A database and thus could represent a novel fold. The structure was determined by exploiting longer wavelength X-rays and data redundancy to increase the anomalous signal in the data. AF1382 is a 95-residue protein containing five S atoms associated with four methionine residues and a single cysteine residue that yields a calculated Bijvoet ratio (ΔF(anom)/F) of 1.39% for 1.9 Å wavelength X-rays. Coupled with an average Bijvoet redundancy of 25 (two 360° data sets), this produced an excellent electron-density map that allowed 69 of the 95 residues to be automatically fitted. The S-SAD model was then manually completed and refined (R = 23.2%, R(free) = 26.8%) to 2.3 Å resolution (PDB entry 3o3k). High-resolution data were subsequently collected from a better diffracting crystal using 0.97 Å wavelength synchrotron X-rays and the S-SAD model was refined (R = 17.9%, R(free) = 21.4%) to 1.85 Å resolution (PDB entry 3ov8). AF1382 has a winged-helix-turn-helix structure common to many DNA-binding proteins and most closely resembles the N-terminal domain (residues 1-82) of the Rio2 kinase from A. fulgidus, which has been shown to bind DNA, and a number of MarR-family transcriptional regulators, suggesting a similar DNA-binding function for AF1382. The analysis also points out the advantage gained from carrying out data reduction and structure determination on-site while the crystal is still available for further data collection.

S-SAD phasing study of death receptor 6 and its solution conformation revealed by SAXS

A subset of tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily members contain death domains in their cytoplasmic tails. Death receptor 6 (DR6) is one such member and can trigger apoptosis upon the binding of a ligand by its cysteine-rich domains (CRDs). The crystal structure of the ectodomain (amino acids 1-348) of human death receptor 6 (DR6) encompassing the CRD region was phased using the anomalous signal from S atoms. In order to explore the feasibility of S-SAD phasing at longer wavelengths (beyond 2.5 Å), a comparative study was performed on data collected at wavelengths of 2.0 and 2.7 Å. In spite of sub-optimal experimental conditions, the 2.7 Å wavelength used for data collection showed potential for S-SAD phasing. The results showed that the R(ano)/R(p.i.m.) ratio is a good indicator for monitoring the anomalous data quality when the anomalous signal is relatively strong, while d''/sig(d'') calculated by SHELXC is a more sensitive and stable indicator applicable for grading a wider range of anomalous data qualities. The use of the `parameter-space screening method' for S-SAD phasing resulted in solutions for data sets that failed during manual attempts. SAXS measurements on the ectodomain suggested that a dimer defines the minimal physical unit of an unliganded DR6 molecule in solution.

Multi-crystal anomalous diffraction for low-resolution macromolecular phasing

Multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) and single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) are the two most commonly used methods for de novo determination of macromolecular structures. Both methods rely on the accurate extraction of anomalous signals; however, because of factors such as poor intrinsic order, radiation damage, inadequate anomalous scatterers, poor diffraction quality and other noise-causing factors, the anomalous signal from a single crystal is not always good enough for structure solution. In this study, procedures for extracting more accurate anomalous signals by merging data from multiple crystals are devised and tested. SAD phasing tests were made with a relatively large (1456 ordered residues) poorly diffracting (d(min) = 3.5 Å) selenomethionyl protein (20 Se). It is quantified that the anomalous signal, success in substructure determination and accuracy of phases and electron-density maps all improve with an increase in the number of crystals used in merging. Structure solutions are possible when no single crystal can support structural analysis. It is proposed that such multi-crystal strategies may be broadly useful when only weak anomalous signals are available.

Semi-automated protein crystal mounting device for the sulfur single-wavelength anomalous diffraction method

Use of longer-wavelength X-rays has advantages for the detection of small anomalous signals from light atoms, such as sulfur, in protein molecules. However, the accuracy of the measured diffraction data decreases at longer wavelengths because of the greater X-ray absorption. The capillary-top mounting method (formerly the loopless mounting method) makes it possible to eliminate frozen solution around the protein crystal and reduces systematic errors in the evaluation of small anomalous differences. However, use of this method requires custom-made tools and a large amount of skill. Here, the development of a device that can freeze the protein crystal semi-automatically using the capillary-top mounting method is described. This device can pick up the protein crystal from the crystallization drop using a micro-manipulator, and further procedures, such as withdrawal of the solution around the crystal by suction and subsequent flash freezing of the protein crystal, are carried out automatically. This device makes it easy for structural biologists to use the capillary-top mounting method for sulfur single-wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing using longer-wavelength X-rays.

Structure of the dual enzyme Ire1 reveals the basis for catalysis and regulation in nonconventional RNA splicing

Ire1 is an ancient transmembrane sensor of ER stress with dual protein kinase and ribonuclease activities. In response to ER stress, Ire1 catalyzes the splicing of target mRNAs in a spliceosome-independent manner. We have determined the crystal structure of the dual catalytic region of Ire1at 2.4 A resolution, revealing the fusion of a domain, which we term the KEN domain, to the protein kinase domain. Dimerization of the kinase domain composes a large catalytic surface on the KEN domain which carries out ribonuclease function. We further show that signal induced trans-autophosphorylation of the kinase domain permits unfettered binding of nucleotide, which in turn promotes dimerization to compose the ribonuclease active site. Comparison of Ire1 to a topologically disparate ribonuclease reveals the convergent evolution of their catalytic mechanism. These findings provide a basis for understanding the mechanism of action of RNaseL and other pseudokinases, which represent 10% of the human kinome.

A short history of SHELX

An account is given of the development of the SHELX system of computer programs from SHELX-76 to the present day. In addition to identifying useful innovations that have come into general use through their implementation in SHELX, a critical analysis is presented of the less-successful features, missed opportunities and desirable improvements for future releases of the software. An attempt is made to understand how a program originally designed for photographic intensity data, punched cards and computers over 10000 times slower than an average modern personal computer has managed to survive for so long. SHELXL is the most widely used program for small-molecule refinement and SHELXS and SHELXD are often employed for structure solution despite the availability of objectively superior programs. SHELXL also finds a niche for the refinement of macromolecules against high-resolution or twinned data; SHELXPRO acts as an interface for macromolecular applications. SHELXC, SHELXD and SHELXE are proving useful for the experimental phasing of macromolecules, especially because they are fast and robust and so are often employed in pipelines for high-throughput phasing. This paper could serve as a general literature citation when one or more of the open-source SHELX programs (and the Bruker AXS version SHELXTL) are employed in the course of a crystal-structure determination.

Crystallization, data collection and processing of the chymotrypsin-BTCI-trypsin ternary complex

A ternary complex of the black-eyed pea trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor (BTCI) with trypsin and chymotrypsin was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with 0.1 M HEPES pH 7.5, 10%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 and 5%(v/v) 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol as precipitant. BTCI is a small protein with 83 amino-acid residues isolated from Vigna unguiculata seeds and is able to inhibit trypsin and chymotrypsin simultaneously by forming a stable ternary complex. X-ray data were collected from a single crystal of the trypsin-BTCI-chymotrypsin ternary complex to 2.7 A resolution under cryogenic conditions. The structure of the ternary complex was solved by molecular replacement using the crystal structures of the BTCI-trypsin binary complex (PDB code 2g81) and chymotrypsin (PDB code 4cha) as search models.

Resisting degradation by human elastase: commonality of design features shared by 'canonical' plant and bacterial macrocyclic protease inhibitor scaffolds

A previously unexplained difference in the resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis of 11-mer Bowman-Birk-type inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase that differ in P1 is found to correlate with the strength of a particular intramolecular hydrogen bond within the inhibitor. This transannular hydrogen bond stabilizes the side chain of the conserved P2 Thr in a 'canonical' +60 degrees -rotamer chi(1) conformation and thereby directs it for a close interaction with the enzyme's catalytic His. As the implications of this NMR analysis are neither limited to this macrocyclic scaffold derived from plant proteins nor to a particular serine protease, we present a unified analysis with inhibitory bacterial depsipeptides of 7-12 residues in length that share key design features for which we propose communal functional explanations.

Crystal structure of the Bowman-Birk Inhibitor from Vigna unguiculata seeds in complex with beta-trypsin at 1.55 A resolution and its structural properties in association with proteinases

The structure of the Bowman-Birk inhibitor from Vigna unguiculata seeds (BTCI) in complex with beta-trypsin was solved and refined at 1.55 A to a crystallographic R(factor) of 0.154 and R(free) of 0.169, and represents the highest resolution for a Bowman-Birk inhibitor structure to date. The BTCI-trypsin interface is stabilized by hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonds, involving two waters and a polyethylene glycol molecule. The conformational rigidity of the reactive loop is characteristic of the specificity against trypsin, while hydrophobicity and conformational mobility of the antichymotryptic subdomain confer the self-association tendency, indicated by atomic force microscopy, of BTCI in complex and free form. When BTCI is in binary complexes, no significant differences in inhibition constants for producing a ternary complex with trypsin and chymotrypsin were detected. These results indicate that binary complexes present no conformational change in their reactive site for both enzymes confirming that these sites are structurally independent. The free chymotrypsin observed in the atomic force microscopy assays, when the ternary complex is obtained from BTCI-trypsin binary complex and chymotrypsin, could be related more to the self-association tendency between chymotrypsin molecules and the flexibility of the reactive site for this enzyme than to binding-related conformational changes.

Structure determination of an FMN reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 using sulfur anomalous signal

The availability of high-intensity synchrotron facilities, technological advances in data-collection techniques and improved data-reduction and crystallographic software have ushered in a new era in high-throughput macromolecular crystallography. Here, the de novo automated crystal structure determination at 1.28 A resolution of an NAD(P)H-dependent FMN reductase flavoprotein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01-derived protein Q9I4D4 using the anomalous signal from an unusually small number of S atoms is reported. Although this protein lacks the flavodoxin key fingerprint motif [(T/S)XTGXT], it has been confirmed to bind flavin mononucleotide and the binding site was identified via X-ray crystallography. This protein contains a novel flavin mononucleotide-binding site GSLRSGSYN, which has not been previously reported. Detailed statistics pertaining to sulfur phasing and other factors contributing to structure determination are discussed. Structural comparisons of the apoenzyme and the protein complexed with flavin mononucleotide show conformational changes on cofactor binding. NADPH-dependent activity has been confirmed with biochemical assays.

Crystal structure of foot-and-mouth disease virus 3C protease. New insights into catalytic mechanism and cleavage specificity

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a widespread and economically devastating disease of domestic livestock. Although FMDV vaccines are available, political and technical problems associated with their use are driving a renewed search for alternative methods of disease control. The viral RNA genome is translated as a single polypeptide precursor that must be cleaved into functional proteins by virally encoded proteases. 10 of the 13 cleavages are performed by the highly conserved 3C protease (3C(pro)), making the enzyme an attractive target for antiviral drugs. We have developed a soluble, recombinant form of FMDV 3C(pro), determined the crystal structure to 1.9-angstroms resolution, and analyzed the cleavage specificity of the enzyme. The structure indicates that FMDV 3C(pro) adopts a chymotrypsin-like fold and possesses a Cys-His-Asp catalytic triad in a similar conformation to the Ser-His-Asp triad conserved in almost all serine proteases. This observation suggests that the dyad-based mechanisms proposed for this class of cysteine proteases need to be reassessed. Peptide cleavage assays revealed that the recognition sequence spans at least four residues either side of the scissile bond (P4-P4') and that FMDV 3C(pro) discriminates only weakly in favor of P1-Gln over P1-Glu, in contrast to other 3C(pro) enzymes that strongly favor P1-Gln. The relaxed specificity may be due to the unexpected absence in FMDV 3C(pro) of an extended beta-ribbon that folds over the substrate binding cleft in other picornavirus 3C(pro) structures. Collectively, these results establish a valuable framework for the development of FMDV 3C(pro) inhibitors.

Crystal structure of the oxygen-dependant coproporphyrinogen oxidase (Hem13p) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPO) is an essential enzyme that catalyzes the sixth step of the heme biosynthetic pathway. Unusually for heme biosynthetic enzymes, CPO exists in two evolutionarily and mechanistically distinct families, with eukaryotes and some prokaryotes employing members of the highly conserved oxygen-dependent CPO family. Here, we report the crystal structure of the oxygen-dependent CPO from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Hem13p), which was determined by optimized sulfur anomalous scattering and refined to a resolution of 2.0 A. The protein adopts a novel structure that is quite different from predicted models and features a central flat seven-stranded anti-parallel sheet that is flanked by helices. The dimeric assembly, which is seen in different crystal forms, is formed by packing of helices and a short isolated strand that forms a beta-ladder with its counterpart in the partner subunit. The deep active-site cleft is lined by conserved residues and has been captured in open and closed conformations in two different crystal forms. A substratesized cavity is completely buried in the closed conformation by the approximately 8-A movement of a helix that forms a lid over the active site. The structure therefore suggests residues that likely play critical roles in catalysis and explains the deleterious effect of many of the mutations associated with the disease hereditary coproporphyria.

Sulfur single-wavelength anomalous diffraction crystal structure of a pheromone-binding protein from the honeybee Apis mellifera L

Pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) are small helical proteins ( approximately 13-17 kDa) present in several sensory organs from moth and other insect species. They are involved in the transport of pheromones from the sensillar lymph to the olfactory receptors. We report here the crystal structure of a PBP (Amel-ASP1) originating from the honey-bee (Apis mellifera) antennae and expressed as recombinant protein in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Crystals of Amel-ASP1 were obtained at pH 5.5 using the nano-drops technique of crystallization with a novel optimization procedure, and the structure was solved initially with the single-wavelength anomalous diffraction technique using sulfur anomalous dispersion. The structure of Amel-ASP1 has been refined at 1.6-A resolution. Its fold is roughly similar to that of other PBP/odorant binding proteins, presenting six helices and three disulfide bridges. Contrary to the PBPs from Bombyx mori (Sandler, B. H., Nikonova, L., Leal, W. S., and Clardy, J. (2000) Chem. Biol. 7, 143-151) and Leucophea maderae (Lartigue, A., Gruez, A., Spinelli, S., Riviere, S., Brossut, R., Tegoni, M., and Cambillau, C. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 30213-30218), the extended C terminus folds into the protein and forms a wall of the internal hydrophobic cavity. Its backbone groups establish two hydrogen bonds with a serendipitous ligand, n-butyl-benzene-sulfonamide, an additive used in plastics. This mode of binding might, however, mimic that used by one of the pheromonal blend components and illustrates the binding versatility of PBPs.

The conserved P1' Ser of Bowman-Birk-type proteinase inhibitors is not essential for the integrity of the reactive site loop

The isolated reactive site beta-hairpin loop of Bowman-Birk-type proteinase inhibitors has become a widely studied proteinomimetic because it retains the three-dimensional structure and much of the inhibitory potency of the corresponding region of the complete protein. Here we analyse the role of the P1' Ser residue which is highly conserved and intramolecularly hydrogen bonded in the complete proteins. A combined kinetic and structural analysis of variant proteinomimetic peptides demonstrates that the hydrogen-bond potential of the side-chain oxygen atom of the P1' Ser is not essential for the integrity of the reactive site loop and that it provides only a small contribution to the trypsin affinity and no apparent contribution to the stability against tryptic turnover. We conclude that the potential of the P1' side chain to engineer improved inhibition and selectivity for serine proteinases is best explored further in concert with the side chains of the P2 and P5' residues which may interact or compete for the same space.