Arg90, chorismate mutase

Scheme 1-1. Transition state for the conversion of chorismate into prephenate. Also indicated are the Glu78 and Arg90 residues from chorismate mutase...

Figure 1-4. Energy profiles for the reaction of chorismate to prephenate. (a) Profile in vacuum for the forward (squares) and reverse (filled circles) reactions, (b) Profiles for forward reaction in water (filled circles), and in the enzyme with only the substrate in the QM zone (squares) and with substrate plus chorismate mutase side chains glu78 and arg90 in the QM zone (diamonds)...

The calculated barrier to reaction in chorismate mutase was 17.8 kcal/mol, compared to 42 kcal/mol in the gas phase. Factors other than substrate distortion also play an important part in reducing the barrier to reaction in the enzyme important interactions were identified by a simple decomposition analysis (as described in sections 6.1 and 6.2 above). It was found that Glu78 and Arg90 specifically stabilize the transition state, relative to the bound substrate [8]. Overall, therefore, catalysis in chorismate mutase can be rationalized in terms of a combination of substrate strain and transition state stabilization. While it is possible to analyse all these catalytic effects as arising from maximal binding in the enzyme being achieved at the transition state, it appears useful to separate the different types of contribution. The possible role of substrate destabilization/distortion or strain in lowering the barrier to reaction in enzyme reactions, as put forward by Haldane [219], and invoked in... 

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