Divalent Metal Ion Complexes of S100B in the Absence and Presence of Pentamidine

As part of an effort to inhibit S100B, structures of pentamidine (Pnt) bound to Ca2+-loaded and Zn2+,Ca2+-loaded S100B were determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.15 Å (Rfree = 0.266) and 1.85 Å (Rfree = 0.243) resolution, respectively. These data were compared to X-ray structures solved in the absence of Pnt, including Ca2+-loaded S100B and Zn2+,Ca2+-loaded S100B determined here (1.88 Å; Rfree = 0.267). In the presence and absence of Zn2+, electron density corresponding to two Pnt molecules per S100B subunit was mapped for both drug-bound structures. One Pnt binding site (site 1) was adjacent to a p53 peptide binding site on S100B (± Zn2+), and the second Pnt molecule was mapped to the dimer interface (site 2; ± Zn2+) and in a pocket near residues that define the Zn2+ binding site on S100B. In addition, a conformational change in S100B was observed upon the addition of Zn2+ to Ca2+–S100B, which changed the conformation and orientation of Pnt bound to sites 1 and 2 of Pnt–Zn2+,Ca2+–S100B when compared to Pnt–Ca2+–S100B. That Pnt can adapt to this Zn2+-dependent conformational change was unexpected and provides a new mode for S100B inhibition by this drug. These data will be useful for developing novel inhibitors of both Ca2+- and Ca2+,Zn2+-bound S100B.