Serine-hydroxyl

The reaction between esterase and phosphorus inhibitor (109) is bimolecular, of the weU-known S 2 type, and represents the attack of a nucleophilic serine hydroxyl with a neighboring imida2ole ring of a histidine residue at the active site, on the electrophilic phosphorus atom, and mimics the normal three-step reaction that takes place between enzyme and substrate (reaction ). 

FIGURE 5.46 Interaction of the serine hydroxyl residue in the catalytically active site of acetylcholinesterase enzyme with esters of organophosphates or carbamates. The interaction leads to binding of the chemical with the enzyme, inhibition of the enzyme, inhibition of acetylcholine hydrolysis, and thus accumulation of acetylcholine in the synapses. 

The 4-phosphopantetheine group of CoA is also utilized (for essentially the same purposes) in acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) involved in fatty acid biosynthesis (see Chapter 25). In acyl carrier proteins, the 4-phosphopantetheine is covalently linked to a serine hydroxyl group. Pantothenic acid is an essential factor for the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and other pathways. In view of its universal importance in metabolism, it is surprising that pantothenic acid deficiencies are not a more serious problem in humans, but this vitamin is abundant in almost all foods, so that deficiencies are rarely observed. 

The primary site of action of OPs is AChE, with which they interact as suicide substrates (see also Section 10.2.2 and Chapter 2, Figure 2.9). Similar to other B-type esterases, AChE has a reactive serine residue located at its active site, and the serine hydroxyl is phosphorylated by organophosphates. Phosphorylation causes loss of AChE activity and, at best, the phosphorylated enzyme reactivates only slowly. The rate of reactivation of the phosphorylated enzyme depends on the nature of the X groups, being relatively rapid with methoxy groups (tso 1-2 h), but slower with larger... 

In hver, one of the serine hydroxyl groups of active phosphorylase a is phosphorylated. It is inactivated by hydrolytic removal of the phosphate by protein phos-phatase-1 to form ph osphorylase h. Reactivation requires rephosphorylation catalyzed by phosphorylase kinase. 

Thus, neither halogen substitution nor ring strain induces enzymatic hydrolysis. Molecules 21 and 22 may be bound in such a way that the (3-lactam carbonyl lies too far away from the catalytic serine hydroxyl group.72... 

Organophosphorus esters are known to react with a serine hydroxyl group in the active site of the acetylcholinesterase protein (Ecobichon 1991 Murphy 1986). Some organophosphorus esters (e.g., diisopropyl fluorophosphate, [DFP]) bind irreversibly, while others bind in a slowly reversible fashion, thereby leading to a slow reactivation (dephosphorylation) of the enzyme. A process known as "aging" has also been described in which reversibly bound compounds are changed with time to moieties that are essentially irreversibly... 

CHj)3C.CO.OE, by attack of the serine hydroxyl group on the carbonyl carbon atom of 4-nitrophenyl trimethylacetate. This attack is assisted by proton removal from the hydroxyl group by the charge-relay mechanism, Scheme 13. It is also considered that breakdown of trimethylacetylchymo-trypsin may be assisted by the charge-relay mechanism. In this case, a proton... 

Ester functions present in molecules tend to be considered labile although steric effects etc. may be utilized to produce drugs without inherent chemical or metabolic problems due to ester lability. For instance a series of antimuscarinic compounds which had selectivity for the M3 receptor (Figure 7.18) were stabilized by the incorporation of a hydroxy ethyl side chain or a cyclic ring system at positions surrounding the ester function. Presumably the proximity of these groups to the ester function (carbonyl) prevents close approach of the attacking nucleophile, in this case probably a serine hydroxyl. 

Tlie neurotransmitter acetylcholine is both a quaternary ammonium compound (see Box 6.7) and an ester. After interaction with its receptor, acetylcholine is normally degraded by hydrolysis in a reaction catalysed by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. This enzyme contains a serine residue that acts as the nucleophile, hydrolysing the ester linkage in acetylcholine (see Box 13.4). This effectively acetylates the serine hydroxyl, and is an example of transesterification (see Section 7.9.1). For continuation of acetylcholine degradation, the original form of the enzyme must be regenerated by a further ester hydrolysis reaction. 

The carbamoyl group is transferred to the serine hydroxyl in the enzyme, but the resultant carbamoyl-enzyme intermediate then hydrolyses only very slowly (minutes rather than microseconds), effectively blocking the active site for most of the time. The slower rate of hydrolysis of the serine carbamate ester is a consequence of decreased carbonyl character resulting from resonance stabilization, as shown. 

In contrast to the inhibitors such as neostigmine and related compounds described above, where the intermediate complexes hydrolyse slowly, these toxic compounds form complexes that do not hydrolyse. The enzyme becomes irreversibly bound to the toxin and, as a result, ceases to function. These agents all have leaving groups that can be displaced by the serine hydroxyl of the enzyme, leading to stable addition products. 

Malathion and parathion contain a P=S grouping, exemplifying a further carbonyl analogue, in which phosphorus replaces carbon, and sulfur replaces oxygen. Nevertheless, the same type of chemistry occurs, in which the serine hydroxyl of the insect s acetylcholinesterase attacks this P=S electrophile, followed by expulsion of the leaving group, here a thiolate. The esterified enzyme, however, is not hydrolysed back to the original form of the... 

Hydrolysis involves nucleophilic attack by the serine hydroxyl onto the ester carbonyl (see Box 7.26). This leads to transfer of the acetyl group from acetylcholine to the enzyme s serine hydroxyl, i.e. formation of a transient acetylated enzyme, and release of choline. We have met this type of reaction before under transesterification (see Section 7.9.1). Hydrolysis of the acetylated enzyme then occurs rapidly, releasing acetate and regenerating the free enzyme. 

The active site of the enzyme contains two distinct regions an anionic region that contains a glutamic acid residue, and a region in which a histidine imidazole ring and a serine hydroxyl group are particularly important. 

Serine itself would be insufficiently nucleophilic to attack the ester carbonyl, so the reaction is facilitated by participation of the imidazole ring of histidine. The basic nitrogen in this residue is oriented so that it can remove a proton from the serine hydroxyl, increasing nucleophilicity and allowing attack on the ester carbonyl. This leads to formation of the transient acetylated enzyme, and release of choline. Hydrolysis of the acetylated enzyme utilizes water as nucleophile, but again involves the imidazole ring, and regenerates the free enzyme. 

As a result, the penicillin occupies the active site of the enzyme, and becomes bound via the active-site serine residue. This binding causes irreversible enzyme inhibition, and stops cell-wall biosynthesis. Growing cells are killed due to rupture of the cell membrane and loss of cellular contents. The binding reaction between penicillinbinding proteins and penicillins is chemically analogous to the action of P-lactamases (see Boxes 7.20 and 13.5) however, in the latter case, penicilloic acid is subsequently released from the P-lactamase, and the enzyme can continue to function. Inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (see Box 7.26) also bind irreversibly to the enzyme through a serine hydroxyl. 

The inhibitor acylates the serine hydroxyl of AChE, forming an ester more stable than acetate, such as a carbamate or phosphate. The hydrolysis of these esters takes a long time even if they are not irreversible, as was formerly thought. Acetycholine cannot then be hydrolyzed, since the active site is covalently occupied. 

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