Molecular-orbital studies of the mechanism of xanthine oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of purines,especially 2-chloropurine

A detailed study to the xanthine oxidase-catalyzed reactions of 2-chloropurine and other substrate bases with various molecular-orbital techniques such as HMO , ω-SCF ? HMO , and ppp semiempirical SCF ? LCAO ? MO has shown that the enzyme reactions can be understood in terms of electronic reactivity indices. Furthermore, it appeared possible to suggest the enzyme specificity from a systematic analysis of discrepancy between mo theoretically predicted and observed reaction sites in substrates with 2- and 8-oxy substituents. In other words, the discrepancy does not necessarily indicate the failure of the MO melthodes for such substrates, but it is possible to utilize the result in correlating with binding specificity of the ES complex. This has been done specifically for 2-chloropurine. Among several electronic reacxtivity indices, frontier orbital density, superdelocalizability, and localization energy have been proved to be very useful. Diferent MO methods gave, in general, consistent results.     

Theoretical insights in enzyme catalysis

In this tutorial review we show how the methods and techniques of computational chemistry have been applied to the understanding of the physical basis of the rate enhancement of chemical reactions by enzymes. This is to answer the question: Why is the activation free energy in enzyme catalysed reactions smaller than the activation free energy observed in solution? Two important points of view are presented: Transition State (TS) theories and Michaelis Complex (MC) theories. After reviewing some of the most popular computational methods employed, we analyse two particular enzymatic reactions: the conversion of chorismate to prephenate catalysed by Bacillus subtilis chorismate mutase, and a methyl transfer from S-adenosylmethionine to catecholate catalysed by catechol O-methyltransferase. The results and conclusions obtained by different authors on these two systems, supporting either TS stabilisation or substrate preorganization, are presented and compared. Finally we try to give a unified view, where a preorganized enzyme active site, prepared to stabilise the TS, also favours those reactive conformations geometrically closer to the TS.     

Structural basis of regiospecificity of a mononuclear iron enzyme in antibiotic fosfomycin biosynthesis

Hydroxypropylphosphonic acid epoxidase (HppE) is an unusual mononuclear iron enzyme that uses dioxygen to catalyze the oxidative epoxidation of (S)-2-hydroxypropylphosphonic acid (S-HPP) in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic fosfomycin. Additionally, the enzyme converts the R-enantiomer of the substrate (R-HPP) to 2-oxo-propylphosphonic acid. To probe the mechanism of HppE regiospecificity, we determined three X-ray structures: R-HPP with inert cobalt-containing enzyme (Co(II)-HppE) at 2.1 ? resolution; R-HPP with active iron-containing enzyme (Fe(II)-HppE) at 3.0 ? resolution; and S-HPP-Fe(II)-HppE in complex with dioxygen mimic NO at 2.9 ? resolution. These structures, along with previously determined structures of S-HPP-HppE, identify the dioxygen binding site on iron and elegantly illustrate how HppE is able to recognize both substrate enantiomers to catalyze two completely distinct reactions.     

Nonspecific catalysis by protein surfaces

Catalytic antibodies are the best availablea llaround enzyme mimics. They provide a unique experimental approach and some special insights into general questions about catalysis by enzymes. They offer enantiospecific reactions and levels of substrate binding that compare well with typical enzyme reactions, but not—so far—comparable catalytic efficiency. We and others have used the Kemp elimination as a probe of catalytic efficiency in antibodies. We compare these reactions with nonspecific catalysis by other proteins, and with catalysis by enzymes. Several simple reactions are catalyzed by theserum albumins with Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and can be shown to involve substrate binding and catalysis by local functional groups. Here, we report the details of one investigation, which implicate known binding sites on the protein surface and discuss implications for catalyst design and efficiency.     

Catalytic Mechanism of the Arylsulfatase Promiscuous Enzyme from Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

To elucidate the working mechanism of the “broad substrate specificity” by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa aryl sulfatase (PAS) enzyme, we present here a full quantum chemical study performed at the density functional level. This enzyme is able to catalyze the hydrolysis of the original p‐nitrophenyl‐sulfate (PNPS) substrate and the promiscuous p‐nitrophenyl‐phosphate (PNPP) one with comparable reaction kinetics. Based on the obtained results, a multistep mechanism including activation of the nucleophile, the nucleophilic attack, and the cleavage of the S? O (P? O) bond is proposed. Regarding the phosphate monoester, the results indicate that only some steps of the promiscuous reaction are identical to those in the native process. Differences concern mainly the last step in which the His115 residue acts as a general base to accept the proton by the O atom of the FGly51 in the PNPS, whereas in PNPP, the Asp317 protonated residue works as a general acid to deliver a proton by a water molecule to the oxygen atom of the C? O bond. The shapes of the relative potential‐ energy surface (PES) are similar in the two examined cases but the rate‐determining step is different (nucleophile attack vs. nucleophile activation). The influence of the dispersion contributions on the investigated reactions was also taken into account.     

Substrate specificity of fluoroacetate dehalogenase: an insight from crystallographic analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and theoretical computations

The high substrate specificity of fluoroacetate dehalogenase was explored by using crystallographic analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and theoretical computations. A crystal structure for the Asp104Ala mutant of the enzyme from Burkholderia sp. FA1 complexed with fluoroacetate was determined at 1.2 ? resolution. The orientation and conformation of bound fluoroacetate is different from those in the crystal structure of the corresponding Asp110Asn mutant of the enzyme from Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 reported recently (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 7461). The fluorescence of the tryptophan residues of the wild-type and Trp150Phe mutant enzymes from Burkholderia sp. FA1 incubated with fluoroacetate and chloroacetate was measured to gain information on the environment of the tryptophan residues. The environments of the tryptophan residues were found to be different between the fluoroacetate- and chloroacetate-bound enzymes; this would come from different binding modes of these two substrates in the active site. Docking simulations and QM/MM optimizations were performed to predict favorable conformations and orientations of the substrates. The F atom of the substrate is oriented toward Arg108 in the most stable enzyme-fluoroacetate complex. This is a stable but unreactive conformation, in which the small O-C-F angle is not suitable for the S(N)2 displacement of the F(-) ion. The cleavage of the C-F bond is initiated by the conformational change of the substrate to a near attack conformation (NAC) in the active site. The second lowest energy conformation is appropriate for NAC; the C-O distance and the O-C-F angle are reasonable for the S(N) 2 reaction. The activation energy is greatly reduced in this conformation because of three hydrogen bonds between the leaving F atom and surrounding amino acid residues. Chloroacetate cannot reach the reactive conformation, due to the longer C-Cl bond; this results in an increase of the activation energy despite the weaker C-Cl bond.     

Electron-conformational interactions and functioning of enzyme molecules

Electron-configuration interaction is one of the most general physicochemical approaches used to explain an enzymes functioning. Studying enzymatic reactions requires investigation of the motions of nuclei on a certain PES . In order to obtain the shape of the PES numerous calculations of the total energy of the enzyme–substrate complex were calculated, and are presented in this paper.     

Organic Stereochemistry. Part 8

This review terminates our general presentation of the principles of stereochemistry with special reference to the biomedicinal sciences. Here, we discuss and illustrate the principles of prostereoisomerism, and apply these to product and substrate? product stereoselectivity in drug metabolism. The review begins with an overview of the concept of prostereoisomerism, discussing such aspects as homotopic, enantiotopic, and diastereotopic groups and faces. The main part of this review is dedicated to drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Here, the concept of prostereoisomerism proves particularly helpful to avoid confusing metabolic reactions in which an existing stereogenic element (e.g., a stereogenic center) influences the course of the reaction (substrate stereoselectivity), with metabolic reactions which create a stereogenic element (almost always a stereogenic center; product stereoselectivity). Specifically, examples of product stereoselectivity will be taken from functionalization reactions (so‐called phase‐I reactions) and conjugation (so‐called phase‐II reactions). Cases where stereoisomeric substrates show distinct product stereoselectivities (substrate? product stereoselectivity) will also be presented.     

A comparative study of claisen and cope rearrangements catalyzed by chorismate mutase. An insight into enzymatic efficiency: transition state stabilization or substrate preorganization?

In this work we present a detailed analysis of the activation free energies and averaged interactions for the Claisen and Cope rearrangements of chorismate and carbachorismate catalyzed by Bacillus subtilischorismate mutase (BsCM) using quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulation methods. In gas phase, both reactions are described as concerted processes, with the activation free energy for carbachorismate being about 10-15 kcal mol(-)(1) larger than for chorismate, at the AM1 and B3LYP/6-31G levels. Aqueous solution and BsCM active site environments reduce the free energy barriers for both reactions, due to the fact that in these media the two carboxylate groups can be approached more easily than in the gas phase. The enzyme specifically reduces the activation free energy of the Claisen rearrangement about 3 kcal mol(-)(1) more than that for the Cope reaction. This result is due to a larger transition state stabilization associated to the formation of a hydrogen bond between Arg90 and the ether oxygen. When this oxygen atom is changed by a methylene group, the interaction is lost and Arg90 moves inside the active site establishing stronger interactions with one of the carboxylate groups. This fact yields a more intense rearrangement of the substrate structure. Comparing two reactions in the same enzyme, we have been able to obtain conclusions about the relative magnitude of the substrate preorganization and transition state stabilization effects. Transition state stabilization seems to be the dominant effect in this case.     

Analysis of chorismate mutase catalysis by QM/MM modelling of enzyme-catalysed and uncatalysed reactions

Chorismate mutase is at the centre of current controversy about fundamental features of biological catalysts. Some recent studies have proposed that catalysis in this enzyme does not involve transition state (TS) stabilization but instead is due largely to the formation of a reactive conformation of the substrate. To understand the origins of catalysis, it is necessary to compare equivalent reactions in different environments. The pericyclic conversion of chorismate to prephenate catalysed by chorismate mutase also occurs (much more slowly) in aqueous solution. In this study we analyse the origins of catalysis by comparison of multiple quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) reaction pathways at a reliable, well tested level of theory (B3LYP/6-31G(d)/CHARMM27) for the reaction (i) in Bacillus subtilis chorismate mutase (BsCM) and (ii) in aqueous solvent. The average calculated reaction (potential energy) barriers are 11.3 kcal mol(-1) in the enzyme and 17.4 kcal mol(-1) in water, both of which are in good agreement with experiment. Comparison of the two sets of reaction pathways shows that the reaction follows a slightly different reaction pathway in the enzyme than in it does in solution, because of a destabilization, or strain, of the substrate in the enzyme. The substrate strain energy within the enzyme remains constant throughout the reaction. There is no unique reactive conformation of the substrate common to both environments, and the transition state structures are also different in the enzyme and in water. Analysis of the barrier heights in each environment shows a clear correlation between TS stabilization and the barrier height. The average differential TS stabilization is 7.3 kcal mol(-1) in the enzyme. This is significantly higher than the small amount of TS stabilization in water (on average only 1.0 kcal mol(-1) relative to the substrate). The TS is stabilized mainly by electrostatic interactions with active site residues in the enzyme, with Arg90, Arg7 and Glu78 generally the most important. Conformational effects (e.g. strain of the substrate in the enzyme) do not contribute significantly to the lower barrier observed in the enzyme. The results show that catalysis is mainly due to better TS stabilization by the enzyme.     

Spectroscopic studies of substrate interactions with clavaminate synthase 2, a multifunctional alpha-KG-dependent non-heme iron enzyme: correlation with mechanisms and reactivities

Using a single ferrous active site, clavaminate synthase 2 (CS2) activates O(2) and catalyzes the hydroxylation of deoxyguanidinoproclavaminic acid (DGPC), the oxidative ring closure of proclavaminic acid (PC), and the desaturation of dihydroclavaminic acid (and a substrate analogue, deoxyproclavaminic acid (DPC)), each coupled to the oxidative decarboxylation of cosubstrate, alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG). CS2 can also catalyze an uncoupled decarboxylation of alpha-KG both in the absence and in the presence of substrate, which results in enzyme deactivation. Resting CS2/Fe(II) has a six-coordinate Fe(II) site, and alpha-KG binds to the iron in a bidentate mode. The active site becomes five-coordinate only when both substrate and alpha-KG are bound, the latter still in a bidentate mode. Absorption, CD, MCD, and VTVH MCD studies of the interaction of CS2 with DGPC, PC, and DPC provide significant molecular level insight into the structure/function correlations of this multifunctional enzyme. There are varying amounts of six-coordinate ferrous species in the substrate complexes, which correlate to the uncoupled reaction. Five-coordinate ferrous species with similar geometric and electronic structures are present for all three substrate/alpha-KG complexes. Coordinative unsaturation of the Fe(II) in the presence of both cosubstrate and substrate appears to be critical for the coupling of the oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-KG to the different substrate oxidation reactions. In addition to the substrate orientation relative to the open coordination position on the iron site, it is hypothesized that the enzyme can affect the nature of the reactivity by further regulating the binding energy of the water to the ferrous species in the enzyme/succinate/product complex.     

Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer reveals an innate fidelity checkpoint in DNA polymerase I

Enzymatic reactions typically involve complex dynamics during substrate binding, conformational rearrangement, chemistry, and product release. The noncovalent steps provide kinetic checkpoints that contribute to the overall specificity of enzymatic reactions. DNA polymerases perform DNA replication with outstanding fidelity by actively rejecting noncognate nucleotide substrates early in the reaction pathway. Substrates are delivered to the active site by a flexible fingers subdomain of the enzyme, as it converts from an open to a closed conformation. The conformational dynamics of the fingers subdomain might also play a role in nucleotide selection, although the precise role is currently unknown. Using single-molecule F?rster resonance energy transfer, we observed individual Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) molecules performing substrate selection. We discovered that the fingers subdomain actually samples through three distinct conformations--open, closed, and a previously unrecognized intermediate conformation. We measured the overall dissociation rate of the polymerase-DNA complex and the distribution among the various conformational states in the absence and presence of nucleotide substrates, which were either correct or incorrect. Correct substrates promote rapid progression of the polymerase to the catalytically competent closed conformation, whereas incorrect nucleotides block the enzyme in the intermediate conformation and induce rapid dissociation from DNA. Remarkably, incorrect nucleotide substrates also promote partitioning of DNA to the spatially separated 3'-5' exonuclease domain, providing an additional mechanism to prevent misincorporation at the polymerase active site. These results reveal the existence of an early innate fidelity checkpoint, rejecting incorrect nucleotide substrates before the enzyme encloses the nascent base pair.     

An integration method of enzyme analysis

The application of an integration method of kinetic analysis to first-order and second-order reactions is discussed with particular emphasis on enzyme analyses. Transducer signals or concentrations of products or substrates are integrated for a Fixed time and the net integral of the increased or decreased signal or concentration is related to the initial substrate or enzyme concentration. Equations are developed describing the dependence of the integrals on enzyme and substrate concentrations for first- and second-order reactions, and examples are presented illustrating different cases. The application of this method to complicated enzymatic systems is discussed.     

Concerted, highly asynchronous, enzyme-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of spinosyn A; computational evidence

A theoretical study has been carried out on model systems to study a recently reported, (Nature, 2011, 473, 109) biosynthetic, [4 + 2] cycloaddition catalyzed by a stand-alone enzyme (the cyclase SpnF). It was suggested in this paper that SpnF is the first known example of a Diels-Alderase (DA). In the present study, for a model system of the substrate a transition structure was found with density functional calculations (DFT). In addition, the intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations indicated that the transition structure is that of a concerted, but highly asynchronous, DA reaction. Based on the DFT and M?ller-Plesset second order calculations the activation energy was estimated to be about 15 kcal mol(-1). The results of a natural population analysis indicated that there is significant charge transfer in the transition state, and it is proposed that possibly the enzyme plays a dual role of not only folding the substrate into the proper conformation for the DA reaction to occur, but also lowering its activation energy by stabilization of the highly polarized transition structure.     

Electron nuclear double resonance determined structures of enzyme reaction intermediates: structural evidence for substrate destabilization

Angle selective ENDOR of nitroxyl spin-labels is briefly reviewed to illustrate the methodology of structure analysis developed in our laboratory for characterizing catalytically competent intermediates of enzyme catalyzed reactions. ENDOR structure determination of a reaction intermediate of α-chymotrypsin formed with a kinetically specific spin-labeled substrate and of an enzyme-inhibitor complex formed with a spin-labeled transition-state inhibitor analog is briefly described. Both spin-labeled molecules bound in the active site of the enzyme are found in torsionally distorted conformations. It is suggested that this torsionally distorted state in which the bound ligand is of higher potential energy than in the ground state conformation reflects substrate destabilization in the course of the enzyme catalyzed reaction.     

6MAP, a fluorescent adenine analogue, is a probe of base flipping by DNA photolyase

Cyclobutylpyrimidine dimers (CPDs) are formed between adjacent pyrimidines in DNA when it absorbs ultraviolet light. CPDs can be directly repaired by DNA photolyase (PL) in the presence of visible light. How PL recognizes and binds its substrate is still not well understood. Fluorescent nucleic acid base analogues are powerful probes of DNA structure. We have used the fluorescent adenine analogue 6MAP, a pteridone, to probe the local double helical structure of the CPD substrate when bound by photolyase. Duplex melting temperatures were obtained by both UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies to ascertain the effect of the probe and the CPD on DNA stability. Steady-state fluorescence measurements of 6MAP-containing single-stranded and doubled-stranded oligos with and without protein show that the local region around the CPD is significantly disrupted. 6MAP shows a different quenching pattern compared to 2-aminopurine, another important adenine analogue, although both probes show that the structure of the complementary strand opposing the 5'-side of the CPD lesion is more destacked than that opposing the 3'-side in substrate/protein complexes. We also show that 6MAP/CPD duplexes are substrates for PL. Vertical excitation energies and transition dipole moment directions for 6MAP were calculated using time-dependent density functional theory. Using these results, the F?rster resonance energy transfer efficiency between the individual adenine analogues and the oxidized flavin cofactor was calculated to account for the observed intensity pattern. These calculations suggest that energy transfer is highly efficient for the 6MAP probe and less so for the 2Ap probe. However, no experimental evidence for this process was observed in the steady-state emission spectra.     

Energy production in anaerobic organisms

Biological redox processes are required for the synthesis of “energy-rich” compounds which are in an enzyme-controlled equilibrium with the general energy carrier adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The basic mechanisms of biological energy transformation are substrate level (SLP) and electron transport phosphorylations (ETP). In anaerobic catabolism the numerous nutrients are channelled into only a few substrate level phosphorylations; the occurrence in chemotrophic anaerobes of energy conservation coupled to electron transport has not yet been demonstrated unequivocally. At present, the determination of the ATP turnover (Y_ATP) in growing cells appears to be a promising method of approaching this problem. The existing knowledge of oxygen dependent enzyme reactions and their molecular evolution provides the basis for a biochemical definition of aerobic and anaerobic organisms.     

On the presumed kinetic consequences of pre-equilibrium. Implications for the Michaelis-Menten equation

The overall rate equation for a reaction sequence consisting of a pre-equilibrium and ratedetermining steps should not be derived on the basis of the concentration of the intermediate product (X). This is apparently indicated by transition state theory (as the path followed to reach the highest energy transition state is irrelevant), but also proved by a straight-forward mathematical approach. The thesis is further supported by the equations of concurrent reactions as applied to the partitioning of X between the two competing routes (reversal of the pre-equilibrium and formation of product). The rate equation may only be derived rigorously on the basis of the law of mass action. It is proposed that the reactants acquire the overall activation energy prior to the pre-equilibrium, thus forming X in a high-energy state en route to the rate-determining transition state. (It is argued that conventional energy profile diagrams are misleading and need to be reinterpreted.) Also, these arguments invalidate the Michaelis-Menten equation of enzyme kinetics, and necessitate a fundamental revision of our present understanding of enzyme catalysis. (The observed “saturation kinetics” possibly arises from weak binding of a second molecule of substrate at the active site; analogous conclusions apply to reactions at surfaces).     

The explanation of high specificity of discriminating optical isomers in enzymatic reactions by the molecular anvil model of enzyme

The molecular anvil model of enzyme is proposed and applied to explain high specificity of discriminating optical isomers in enzymatic reactions. The molecular anvil is a mechanism which can accumulate energy from two interacting molecules and produce locally a high energy spot called anvil site. Two conditions neccessary for formation of the molecular anvil are described. For a pair of enzyme and substrate molecules these two conditions are considered to be satisfied. Assuming proper shapes and sizes for molecules of optical isomers and a hole on the surface of the enzyme molecule into which the optical isomers can fit and also assuming Lenard-Jones 12-6 type potential for each pair of interacting molecular sites. The amount of energy accumulated at the anvil site is calculated. Following the assumption that the total reactivity is determined by binding process and chemical process in which the accumulated energy at the anvil site is utilized to enhance the reaction, total reactivities for L- and D-isomers are calculated and the values of specificity of discriminating L-isomer from D-isomer are derived for various values of interaction energy. It is shown that the molecular anvil plays an important role in elevating specificity as well as producing high catalytic power of enzyme.     

Enzymatic effects on reactant and transition states. The case of chalcone isomerase

Chalcone isomerase catalyzes the transformation of chalcone to naringerin as a part of flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. The global reaction takes place through a conformational change of the substrate followed by chemical reaction, being thus an excellent example to analyze current theories about enzyme catalysis. We here present a detailed theoretical study of the enzymatic action on the conformational pre-equilibria and on the chemical steps for two different substrates of this enzyme. Free-energy profiles are obtained in terms of potentials of mean force using hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics potentials. The role of the enzyme becomes clear when compared to the counterpart equilibria and reactions in aqueous solution. The enzyme does not only favor the chemical reaction lowering the corresponding activation free energy but also displaces the conformational equilibria of the substrates toward the reactive form. These results, which can be rationalized in terms of the electrostatic interactions established in the active site between the substrate and the environment, agree with a more general picture of enzyme catalysis. According to this, an active site designed to accommodate the transition state of the reaction would also have consequences on the reactant state, stabilizing those forms which are geometrically and/or electronically closer to the transition structure.