Thomas S. Rush

The application of x-ray, NMR, and molecular modeling in the design of MMP inhibitors.

The following review discusses the successful application of X-ray, NMR, and molecular modeling in the design of potent and selective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and TNFalpha-converting enzyme (TACE) from Wyeth. The importance of protein and ligand mobility as it impacts structure-based design is also discussed. The MMPs are an active target for a variety of diseases, including cancer and arthritis.

Modeling the Transient Changesin the Soret-Resonant RamanIntensities of Hemoglobin DuringThe R→ T Transition

We have performed resonance Raman (RR) intensity calculations of the Soret-resonant Raman spectra of Ni and Zn Porphine to investigate observed core size intensity differences in the time-resolved Soret-resonant Raman (RR) spectra of hemoglobin. It was found that the metalloporphine intensities mainly derive from the expansion of the Cα—Cm and Cβ—Cβ bonds in the excited state, and that the observed differences are mainly due to the larger core-sized heme having a decreased Cα—Cm force constant and larger excited state porphyrin ring expansion.