Transient kinetics, enzyme reactions product formation, 151-5 intermediate

Scheme 8 Two mechanistic proposals for the catalytic mechanism of CoA-transferases. In mechanism A, an acyl-enzyme Intermediate Is formed by reaction of an enzyme-bound glutamate (aspartate for Class III enzymes) with the donor acyl-CoA, followed by the formation of an enzyme-bound glutamyl- (or aspartyl-) CoA thioester Intermediate. The thioester subsequently reacts with the acceptor carboxylate to give a new acyl-enzyme anhydride from which the acyl group Is transferred to CoA. In Class I transferases, this process follows classical ping-pong kinetics, whereas In Class III enzymes the donor carboxylate only leaves the enzyme complex upon formation of the product (see text for details). Mechanism B represents a ternary complex mechanism as used by Class II enzymes In which a transient anhydride made up of the donor and acceptor acyl groups Is formed by reaction of the acceptor carboxylate with the donor acyl-ACP. The free ACP subsequently reacts with this anhydride to complete acyl transfer.

For the purpose of the present discussion the term transient kinetics is applied to the time course of a reaction from the moment when enzyme and substrate are mixed, t=0, until either a steady state or equilibrium is established. The difference between the kinetic problems discussed in section 3.3 and in the present section is, respectively, the presence of catalytic as distinct from catalytic concentrations of enzyme. Here we are concerned with the stoichiometry of enzyme states. Transient kinetic experiments with enzymes can be divided into two types. The first of these (multiple turnover) is carried out under the condition that the initial concentrations of substrate and enzyme are Cs(0) Ce(0) and c it) can, therefore, be regarded as constant throughout the course of the reaction until a steady state is attained. Alternatively, in a single turnover reaction, when Cs(0)reaction intermediates is observed until the overall process is essentially complete. These two possibilities will be illustrated with specific examples. In connection with a discussion of the approach to the steady state, in section 3.3 it was emphasized that, at t = 0, the concentrations of the intermediates, enzyme-substrate and enzyme-product complexes, are zero and, therefore, the rate of product formation is also zero. Under the experimental conditions used for steady state rate measurements and for enzyme assays, the first few seconds after the initiation of a reaction are ignored. However, when the experimental techniques and interpretation discussed below are used, events during the first few milliseconds of a reaction can be analysed and provide important information. With suitable monitors it is possible to follow the formation and decay of enzyme complexes with substrates and... 

EPSP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of EPSP by an addition-elimination reaction through the tetrahedral intermediate shown in Fig. 2a. This enzyme is on the shikimate pathway for synthesis of aromatic amino acids and is the target for the important herbicide, glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup (The Scotts Company EEC, Marysville, OH). Transient-state kinetic studies led to proof of this reaction mechanism by the observation and isolation of the tetrahedral intermediate. Moreover, quantification of the rates of formation and decay of the tetrahedral intermediate established that it was tmly an intermediate species on the pathway between the substrates (S3P and PEP) and products (EPSP and Pi) of the reaction. The chemistry of this reaction is interesting in that the enzyme must first catalyze the formation of the intermediate and then catalyze its breakdown, apparently with different requirements for catalysis. Quantification of the rates of each step of this reaction in the forward and reverse directions has afforded a complete description of the free-energy profile for the reaction and allows... 

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