Structural basis of heroin and cocaine metabolism by a promiscuous human drug-processing enzyme

Nat Struct Biol. 2003 May;10(5):349-56. doi: 10.1038/nsb919.

Abstract

We present the first crystal structures of a human protein bound to analogs of cocaine and heroin. Human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1) is a broad-spectrum bioscavenger that catalyzes the hydrolysis of heroin and cocaine, and the detoxification of organophosphate chemical weapons, such as sarin, soman and tabun. Crystal structures of the hCE1 glycoprotein in complex with the cocaine analog homatropine and the heroin analog naloxone provide explicit details about narcotic metabolism in humans. The hCE1 active site contains both specific and promiscuous compartments, which enable the enzyme to act on structurally distinct chemicals. A selective surface ligand-binding site regulates the trimer-hexamer equilibrium of hCE1 and allows each hCE1 monomer to bind two narcotic molecules simultaneously. The bioscavenger properties of hCE1 can likely be used to treat both narcotic overdose and chemical weapon exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Biotransformation
  • Carboxylesterase
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / chemistry*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Cocaine / chemistry*
  • Cocaine / pharmacokinetics*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Heroin / chemistry*
  • Heroin / pharmacokinetics*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Naloxone / chemistry
  • Naloxone / pharmacokinetics
  • Narcotics / chemistry
  • Narcotics / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Narcotics
  • Naloxone
  • Heroin
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases
  • CES1 protein, human
  • Carboxylesterase
  • Cocaine

Associated data

  • PDB/1K4Y
  • PDB/1MX5
  • PDB/1MX9