Leupeptin

Leupeptin, also known as N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-argininal, is a naturally occurring protease inhibitor that can inhibit cysteine, serine and threonine peptidases.

Leupeptin

Names
IUPAC name N-Acetyl-leucyl-N-{[5-[(diaminomethylidene)amino]-1-oxopentan-2-yl}-leucinamide
Identifiers
CAS Number	55123-66-5 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:6426 N
ChemSpider	65357 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.212.237
PubChem CID	72429
UNII	J97339NR3V Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1020776
InChI InChI=1S/C20H38N6O4/c1-12(2)9-16(24-14(5)28)19(30)26-17(10-13(3)4)18(29)25-15(11-27)7-6-8-23-20(21)22/h11-13,15-17H,6-10H2,1-5H3,(H,24,28)(H,25,29)(H,26,30)(H4,21,22,23)/t15-,16-,17-/m0/s1 Y Key: GDBQQVLCIARPGH-ULQDDVLXSA-N Y
SMILES CC(C)C[C@H](NC(C)=O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(N)=N)C=O
Properties
Chemical formula	C20H38N6O4
Molar mass	426.562 g·mol−1
Related compounds
Related alkanamides	Gusperimus
Related compounds	Synthalin
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

It is often used during in vitro experiments when a specific enzymatic reaction is being studied. When cells are lysed for these studies, proteases, many of which are contained within lysosomes, are released. These proteases, if freely present in the lysate, would destroy any products from the reaction being studied, and make the experiment uninterpretable. For example, leupeptin could be used in a calpain extraction to keep calpain from being hydrolyzed by specific proteases. The suggested concentration is 1-10 μM (0.5-5 μg/ml).

Leupeptin is an organic compound produced by actinomycetes, which inhibits serine, cysteine and threonine proteases. Leupeptin inhibits serine proteinases (trypsin (K_i=3.5 nM), plasmin (K_i= 3.4 nM), porcine kallikrein), and cysteine proteinases (papain, cathepsin B (K_i = 4.1 nM), endoproteinase Lys-C). It does not inhibit α-chymotrypsin or thrombin. Leupeptin is a competitive transition state inhibitor and its inhibition may be relieved by an excess of substrate.

Leupeptin is soluble in water (stable for 1 week at 4 °C and 1 month at −20 °C), ethanol, acetic acid and DMF.

It can be given topically for middle and inner ear infections.

Crystal structure of Leupeptin (silver) in the Trypsin (green) binding pocket. Hydrogen bonds are shown as yellow dotted lines. Rendered from PDB 1JRS.