Abstract: The active site of a-chymotrypsin is described in terms of parts complementary to parts of a natural substrate, L-methyl N-acetylphenylalaninate, L-MAPhe, ar, a cavity or fold in which the P-aryl group provides primary binding; a site of small volume, h, contiguous with ar, into which the aH fits; a surface site, am, at which the a-acylamido group associates by hydrogen bonding; and a surface site, n, at which the ester group is hydrolyzed. DL- ...
