Patent ID: 7615363

Claim:
A crystallized aggrecanase-1 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a crystal of apo-aggrecanase-1 polypeptide belonging to space group P2 1 with unit cell dimensions a=128.28 Å, b=83.63 Å, c=150.16 Å, and β=112.409°; and (b) a crystal of a complex of the aggrecanase-1 polypeptide and a ligand belonging to space group P2 1 with unit cell dimensions a=82.07 Å, b=83.96 Å, c=98.95 Å, and β=89.9°, wherein the ligand has the structure: wherein A and B represent ring systems; L, M, and Y are linker moieties; R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are substituents; X is a hydrogen bond acceptor; and Z is a metal chelating moiety; and wherein the crystallized aggrecanase polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.