Crystal structure of peptide-bound neprilysin reveals key binding interactions

Neprilysin (NEP) is a promiscuous zinc metalloprotease with broad substrate specificity and cleaves a remarkable diversity of substrates through endopeptidase action. Two of these - amyloid-beta and natriuretic peptides - implicate the enzyme in both Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease, respectively. Here, we report the creation of a catalytically inactive NEP (E584D) to determine the first peptide-bound crystal structure at 2.6 angstrom resolution. The structure reveals key interactions involved in substrate binding which we have identified to be conserved in other known zinc metalloproteases. In addition, the structure provides evidence for a potential exosite within the central cavity that may play a critical role in substrate positioning. Together, these results contribute to our understanding of the molecular function of NEP.