Catalytic mechanism of Cdc25

Cdc25 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that catalyzes the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases, thus causing initiation and progression of successive phases of the cell cycle. Although it is not significantly homologous in sequence or structure to other dual-specificity phosphatases, Cdc25 belongs to the class of well-studied cysteine phosphatases as it contains their active site signature motif. Like other dual-specificity phosphatases, Cdc25 contains an active site cysteine whose pK(a) of 5.9 can be measured in pH-dependent kinetics using both small molecule and protein substrates such as Cdk2-pTpY/CycA. We have previously shown that the catalytic acid expected in phosphatases of this family and apparent in kinetics with the natural protein substrate does not appear to lie within the known structure of Cdc25 [Chen, W., et al. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 10781]. Here we provide experimental evidence for a novel mechanism wherein Cdc25 uses as its substrate a monoprotonated phosphate in contrast to the more typical bisanionic phosphate. Our pH-dependent studies, including one-turnover kinetics, solvent kinetic isotope effects, equilibrium perturbation, substrate depletion, and viscosity measurements, show that the monoprotonated phosphate of the protein substrate Cdk2-pTpY/CycA provides the critical proton to the leaving group. Additionally, we provide evidence that Glu474 on the Cdc25 enzyme serves an important role as a base in the transfer of the proton from the phosphate to the leaving group. Because of its greater intrinsic reactivity, the use of a monoprotonated phosphate as a phosphatase substrate is a chemically attractive solution and suggests the possibility of designing inhibitors specific for the Cdc25 dual-specificity phosphatase, an important anticancer target.     

Reactivity of Cdc25 phosphatase at low pH and with thiophosphorylated protein substrate

Cdc25s, dual-specificity phosphatases that dephosphorylate and activate cyclin-dependent kinases, are important regulators of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Herein, we probe the protonation state of the phosphate on the protein substrate of Cdc25 by pH-dependent studies and thiosubstitution. We have extended the useable range of pH for this enzyme substrate pair by using high concentrations of glycerol under acidic conditions. Using the protein substrate, we find a slope of 2 for the acidic side of the bell-shaped pH-rate profile, as found with other protein tyrosine phosphatases. Using thiophosphorylated protein substrate, we find no change in the basic side of the pH-rate profile, despite a large reduction in activity as measured by kcat/Km (0.18%) or kcat (0. 11%). In contrast, the acidic side of the profile changes shows a slope of 1, consistent with the 1.5 pH unit shift associated with thiosubstitution. Thus, Cdc25, like other protein phosphatases, uses a dianionic phosphorylated substrate.     

Heterologous expression and catalytic properties of the C-terminal domain of starfish cdc25 dual-specificity phosphatase, a cell cycle regulator

The 3'-terminal region of starfish Asterina pectinifera cdc25 cDNA encoding the C-terminal catalytic domain was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The C-terminal domain consisted of 226 amino acid residues containing the signature motif HCxxxxxR, a motif highly conserved among protein tyrosine and dual-specificity phosphatases, and showed phosphatase activity toward p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by SH inhibitors. Mutational studies indicated that the cysteine and arginine residues in the conserved motif are essential for activity, but the histidine residue is not. These results suggest that the enzyme catalyzes the reaction through a two-step mechanism involving a phosphocysteine intermediate like in the cases of other protein tyrosine and dual-specificity phosphatases. The C-terminal domain of Cdc25 activated the histone H1 kinase activity of the purified, inactive form of Cdc2.cyclin B complex (preMPF) from extracts of immature starfish oocytes. Synthetic diphosphorylated di- to nonadecapeptides mimicking amino acid sequences around the dephosphorylation site of Cdc2 still retained substrate activity. Phosphotyrosine and phosphothreonine underwent dephosphorylation in this order. This is the reverse order to that reported for the in vivo and in vitro dephosphorylation of preMPF. Monophosphopeptides having the same sequence served as much poorer substrates. As judged from the results with synthetic phosphopeptides, the presence of two phosphorylated residues was important for specific recognition of substrates by the Cdc25 phosphatase.     

Identification of an essential acidic residue in Cdc25 protein phosphatase and a general three-dimensional model for a core region in protein phosphatases.

The reaction mechanism of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) and dual-specificity protein phosphatases is thought to involve a catalytic aspartic acid residue. This residue was recently identified by site-directed mutagenesis in Yersinia PTPase, VHR protein phosphatase, and bovine low molecular weight protein phosphatase. Herein we identify aspartic acid 383 as a potential candidate for the catalytic acid in human Cdc25A protein phosphatase, using sequence alignment, structural information, and site-directed mutagenesis. The D383N mutant enzyme exhibits a 150-fold reduction in kcat, with Kw only slightly changed. Analysis of sequence homologies between several members of the Cdc25 family and deletion mutagenesis substantiate the concept of a two-domain structure for Cdc25, with a regulatory N-terminal and a catalytic C-terminal domain. Based on the alignment of catalytic residues and secondary structure elements, we present a three-dimensional model for the core region of Cdc25. By comparing this three-dimensional model to the crystal structures of PTP1b, Yersinia PTPase, and bovine low molecular weight PTPase, which share only very limited amino acid sequence similarities, we identify a general architecture of the protein phosphatase core region, encompassing the active site loop motif HCXXXXXR and the catalytic aspartic acid residue.     

A Cdc25A antagonizing K vitamin inhibits hepatocyte DNA synthesis in vitro and in vivo

Thioalkyl containing K vitamin analogs have been shown to be potent inhibitors of hepatoma cell growth and antagonizers of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. We now show that they inhibit the activity of specific protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) in cell-free conditions in vitro, particularly the dual specificity phosphatase Cdc25A. Using primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes that are in G0/G1 phase until stimulated into DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor, we found that 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone or Compound 5 (Cpd 5) inhibited hepatocyte DNA synthesis and PTP activity in cell culture and in vivo after a two-thirds partial hepatectomy. We found a selective inhibition of Cdc25A activity in vitro, using both synthetic substrates and authentic cellular substrate, immunoprecipitated phospho-Cdk4. Intact Cpd 5-treated cells had decreased cellular Cdc25A activity and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Cdk4, resulting in decreased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb). Loss of Cdk4 activity was confirmed using Cdk4 immunoprecipitates from either Cpd 5-treated or untreated cells and measuring its kinase activity using GST-Rb as target. We found a similar order of activity for inhibition of growth and Cdc25A activity using several thiol-containing analogs. Cdc25A inhibitors may thus be useful for defining biochemical pathways involving protein tyrosine phosphorylation that mediate cell growth inhibition.     

Quinone-induced Cdc25A inhibition causes ERK-dependent connexin phosphorylation

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJC) varies during progression of the cell cycle. We propose here that Cdc25A, a dual specificity phosphatase crucial for cell cycle progression, is linked to connexin (Cx) phosphorylation and the modulation of GJC. Inhibition of Cdc25 phosphatases in rat liver epithelial cells employing a 1,4-naphthoquinone-based inhibitor, NSC95397, induced cell cycle arrest, tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK-1 and -2. ERK activation was blocked by specific inhibitors of MAPK/ERK kinases 1/2 or of the EGFR tyrosine kinase. An EGFR-dephosphorylation assay suggested that Cdc25A interacts with the EGFR, with inhibition by NSC95397 resulting in activation of the receptor. As a consequence of ERK activation, Cx43 was phosphorylated, resulting in a downregulation of GJC. Loss of GJC was prevented by inhibition of ERK activation. In summary, cell cycle and GJC are connected via Cdc25A and the EGFR-ERK pathway.     

Identification of epidermal growth factor receptor as a target of Cdc25A protein phosphatase

Cdc25A, a dual-specificity protein phosphatase, plays a critical role in cell cycle progression. Although cyclin-dependent kinases are established substrates, Cdc25A may also affect other proteins. We have shown here that Cdc25A interacts with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) both physically and functionally in Hep3B human hepatoma cells. Cdc25A inhibitor Cpd 5, a vitamin K analog, inhibited Cdc25A activity in the Cdc25A-EGFR immunocomplex and consequently caused prolonged EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. Both purified GST-Cdc25A protein and endogenous Hep3B cellular Cdc25A dephosphorylated tyrosine-phosphorylated EGFR, and Cpd 5 antagonized the phosphatase activity of Cdc25A. A functional Cdc25A-EGFR interaction was seen in NR-6 fibroblasts expressing ectopic EGFR but not with a receptor lacking the C terminus or a mutated kinase domain. These data link the cell cycle control Cdc25A phosphatase to an EGFR-linked mitogenic signaling pathway specifically involving EGFR dephosphorylation.     

Structure-based de novo design and biochemical evaluation of novel Cdc25 phosphatase inhibitors

Cdc25 phosphatases have been considered as attractive drug targets for anticancer therapy due to the correlation of their overexpression with a wide variety of cancers. We have been able to identify 32 novel Cdc25 phosphatase inhibitors with micromolar activity by means of a structure-based de novo design method with the two known inhibitor scaffolds. Because the newly discovered inhibitors are structurally diverse and have desirable physicochemical properties as a drug candidate, they deserve further investigation as anticancer drugs. The differences in binding modes of the identified inhibitors in the active sites of Cdc25A and B are addressed in detail.     

Identification of new Cdc25 dual specificity phosphatase inhibitors in a targeted small molecule array

Dual specificity protein phosphatases (DSPases) are key regulators of signal transduction, oncogenesis and the cell cycle. Few potent or specific inhibitors of DSPases, however, are readily available for these pharmacological targets. We have used a combinatorial/parallel synthetic approach to rigidify the variable core region and modify the side chains of 4-(benzyl-(2-[2,5-diphenyl-oxazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-ethyl)-carbamoyl)- 2-decanoylamino butyric acid (or SC-alphaalphadelta9), which is the most active element in a previously described library of phosphatase inhibitors (Rice, R. L.; Rusnak, J. M.; Yokokawa, F.; Yokokawa, S.; Messner, D. J.; Boynton, A. L.; Wipf, P.; Lazo, J. S. Biochemistry 1997, 36, 15965). Several analogues were identified as effective inhibitors of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) PTP1B and the DSPases VHR and Cdc25B2. Two compounds, FY3-alphaalpha09 and FY21-alphaalpha09, were partial competitive inhibitors of Cdc25B2 with Ki values of 7.6+/-0.5 and 1.6+/-0.2 microM, respectively. FY21-alphaalpha09 possessed only moderate activity against PTP1B. Consistent with its in vitro anti-phosphatase activity, FY21-alphaalpha09 inhibited growth in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines. FY21-alphaalpha09 also inhibited the G2/M transition in tsFT210 cells, consistent with Cdc25B inhibition. Several architectural requirements for DSPase inhibition were revealed through modification of the side chain moieties or variable core region of the pharmacophore, which resulted in decreased compound potency. The structure of FY21-alphaalpha09 provides a useful platform from which additional potent and more highly selective phosphatase inhibitors might be generated.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a targeted library of protein phosphatase inhibitors

Phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine controls fundamental mammalian cell events and is achieved by kinases which, in turn, are in dynamic relationship with phosphatases. Few selective inhibitors of protein tyrosine and dual specificity phosphatases are readily available. Based on SAR studies of naturally occurring phosphatase inhibitors and following up on previously published research, we have designed a new pharmacophore model V and synthesized a new library of functional analogues of V. All synthetic steps were carried out and optimized employing combinatorial chemistry methods on Wang resin. All compounds were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit recombinant human protein tyrosine (PTP1B) and dual-specificity (Cdc25B(2) and VHR) phosphatases. Three of the approximately 70 compounds in our library inhibited Cdc25B(2) by 50% at 375-490 microM. No compounds inhibited PTP1B, and only one blocked VHR. Cell-culture studies revealed no toxicity to human breast cancer cells with two of the phosphatase inhibitors.     

Cdc25 phosphatases: structure, specificity, and mechanism

Cdc25 phosphatases, as activators of the Cdk/cyclins, play critical roles in the regulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Because of their overexpression and correlation with poor prognosis in many diverse cancers, Cdc25 phosphatases are attractive targets for anticancer drug development. Over the past few years, much knowledge of the basic enzymology of the Cdc25 phosphatases that may aid in the development of specific inhibitors has been gained. We review herein the structure, specificity, and mechanism of the Cdc25 phosphatases with a special focus on the activity of Cdc25 phosphatases with native protein substrates.     

Toward the virtual screening of Cdc25A phosphatase inhibitors with the homology modeled protein structure

Cdc25 phosphatases have been considered as attractive drug targets for anticancer therapy due to the correlation of their overexpression with a wide variety of cancers. As a method for the discovery of novel inhibitors of Cdc25 phosphatases, we have evaluated the computer-aided drug design protocol involving the homology modeling of Cdc25A and virtual screening with the two docking tools: FlexX and the modified AutoDock program implementing the effects of ligand solvation in the scoring function. The homology modeling with the X-ray crystal structure of Cdc25B as a template provides a high-quality structure of Cdc25A that enables the structure-based inhibitor design. Of the two docking programs under consideration, AutoDock is found to be more accurate than FlexX in terms of scoring putative ligands. A detailed binding mode analysis of the known inhibitors shows that they can be stabilized in the active site of Cdc25A through the simultaneous establishment of the multiple hydrogen bonds and the hydrophobic interactions. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of the modified AutoDock program as a docking tool for virtual screening of new Cdc25 phosphatase inhibitors as well as for binding mode analysis to elucidate the activities of known inhibitors. Figure Structures and available IC50 values (in μM) of the twenty Cdc25 phosphatase inhibitors seeded in docking library     

Dual-specific Cdc25B phosphatase: in search of the catalytic acid

Cdc25 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that catalyzes the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases, thus causing initiation and progression of successive phases of the cell cycle. Although it is not significantly structurally homologous to other well-characterized members, Cdc25 belongs to the class of well-studied cysteine phosphatases as it contains their active site signature motif. However, the catalytic acid needed for protonation of the leaving group has yet to be identified. To elucidate the role and identity of this key catalytic residue, we have performed a detailed pH-dependent kinetic analysis of Cdc25B. The pK(a) of the catalytic cysteine was found to be 5.6-6.3 in steady state and one-turnover burst experiments using the small molecule substrates p-nitrophenyl phosphate and 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate. Interestingly, Cdc25B does not exhibit the typical bell-shaped pH-rate profile with small molecule substrates seen in other cysteine phosphatases and indicative of the catalytic acid because it lacks pH dependence between 6.5 and 9. Reactions of Cdc25B with the natural substrate Cdk2-pTpY/CycA, however, did yield a bell-shaped pH-rate profile with a pK(a) of 6.1 for the catalytic acid residue. Recent structural studies of Cdc25 have suggested that Glu474 [Fauman, E. B., et al. (1998) Cell 93, 617-625] or Glu478 [Reynolds, R. A., et al. (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 293, 559-568] could function as the catalytic acid in Cdc25B. Using site-directed mutagenesis and truncation experiments, however, we found that neither of these residues, nor the unstructured C-terminus, is responsible for the observed pH dependence. These results indicate that the catalytic acid does not appear to lie within the known structure of Cdc25B and may lie on its protein substrate.     

Human Cdc14A Reverses CDK1 Phosphorylation of Cdc25A on Serines 115 and 320

Human Cdc14A is an evolutionary conserved dual-specificity protein phosphatase that reverses the modifications effected by cyclin-dependent kinases and plays an important role in centrosome duplication and mitotic regulation. Few substrates of Cdc14A have been identified, some of them with homologues in yeast that, in turn, are substrates of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cdc14 homologue, a protein phosphatase essential for yeast cell viability owing its role in mitotic exit regulation. Identification of the physiological substrates of human Cdc14A is an immediate goal in order to elucidate which cellular processes it regulates. Here, we show that human Cdc14A can dephosphorylate Cdc25A in vitro. Specifically, the Cdk1/Cyclin-B1-dependent phosphate groups on Ser115 and Ser320 of Cdc25A were found to be removed by Cdc14A. Cdc25A is an important cell cycle-regulatory protein involved in several cell cycle transitions and checkpoint responses and whose function and own regulation depend on complex phosphorylation/dephosphorylation-mediated processes. Importantly, we also show that the upregulation of Cdc14A phosphatase affects Cdc25A protein levels in human cells. Our results suggest that Cdc14A may be involved in the cell cycle regulation of Cdc25A stability.     

Phosphorylation and activation of the Xenopus Cdc25 phosphatase in the absence of Cdc2 and Cdk2 kinase activity.

The M-phase inducer, Cdc25C, is a dual-specificity phosphatase that directly phosphorylates and activates the cyclin B/Cdc2 kinase complex, leading to initiation of mitosis. Cdc25 itself is activated at the G2/M transition by phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues. Previously, it was demonstrated that Cdc2 kinase is capable of phosphorylating and activating Cdc25, suggesting the existence of a positive feedback loop. In the present study, kinases other than Cdc2 that can phosphorylate and activate Cdc25 were investigated. Cdc25 was found to be phosphorylated and activated by cyclin A/Cdk2 and cyclin E/Cdk2 in vitro. However, in interphase Xenopus egg extracts with no detectable Cdc2 and Cdk2, treatment with the phosphatase inhibitor microcystin activated a distinct kinase that could phosphorylate and activate Cdc25. Microcystin also induced other mitotic phenomena such as chromosome condensation and nuclear envelope breakdown in extracts containing less than 5% of the mitotic level of Cdc2 kinase activity. These findings implicate a kinase other than Cdc2 and Cdk2 that may initially activate Cdc25 in vivo and suggest that this kinase may also phosphorylate M-phase substrates even in the absence of Cdc2 kinase.     

Dual mode of degradation of Cdc25 A phosphatase

The Cdc25 dual-specificity phosphatases control progression through the eukaryotic cell division cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinases. Cdc25 A regulates entry into S-phase by dephosphorylating Cdk2, it cooperates with activated oncogenes in inducing transformation and is overexpressed in several human tumors. DNA damage or DNA replication blocks induce phosphorylation of Cdc25 A and its subsequent degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Here we have investigated the regulation of Cdc25 A in the cell cycle. We found that Cdc25 A degradation during mitotic exit and in early G(1) is mediated by the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C)(Cdh1) ligase, and that a KEN-box motif in the N-terminus of the protein is required for its targeted degradation. Interestingly, the KEN-box mutated protein remains unstable in interphase and upon ionizing radiation exposure. Moreover, SCF (Skp1/Cullin/F-box) inactivation using an interfering Cul1 mutant accumulates and stabilizes Cdc25 A. The presence of Cul1 and Skp1 in Cdc25 A immunocomplexes suggests a direct involvement of SCF in Cdc25 A degradation during interphase. We propose that a dual mechanism of regulated degradation allows for fine tuning of Cdc25 A abundance in response to cell environment.     

Binding and inhibition of Cdc25 phosphatases by vitamin K analogues

A synthetic K vitamin analogue, 2-(2-mercaptothenol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone or Cpd 5, was previously found to be a potent inhibitor of cell growth [Nishikawa et al., (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 28304-28310]. The mechanisms of cell growth were hypothesized to include the inactivation of cellular protein tyrosine phosphatases, especially the Cdc25 family [Tamura et al. (2000) Cancer Res. 60, 1317-1325]. In this study, we synthesized PD 49, a new biotin containing Cpd 5 derivative, to search for evidence of direct interaction of these arylating analogues with Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and Cdc25C phosphatases. PD 49 was shown to directly bind to GST-Cdc25A, GST-Cdc25B, their catalytic fragments, and GST-Cdc25C. The binding could be competed with excess glutathione or Cpd 5, and a cysteine-to-serine mutation of the catalytic cysteine abolished binding. This was consistent with an involvement in binding of cysteine in the catalytic domain. This interaction between PD 49 and Cdc25 also occurred in lysates of treated cells. PD 49 also bound to protein phosphatases other than Cdc25. We found that the new analogue also inhibited Hep3B human hepatoma cell growth. This growth inhibition involved ERK1/2 phosphorylation and was inhibited by a MEK antagonist. The results demonstrate a direct interaction and binding between this growth-inhibiting K vitamin derivative with both purified as well as with cellular Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and Cdc25C.     

Human Cdc14A phosphatase modulates the G2/M transition through Cdc25A and Cdc25B

The Cdc14 family of serine-threonine phosphatases antagonizes CDK activity by reversing CDK-dependent phosphorylation events. It is well established that the yeast members of this family bring about the M/G1 transition. Budding yeast Cdc14 is essential for CDK inactivation at the end of mitosis and fission yeast Cdc14 homologue Flp1/Clp1 down-regulates Cdc25 to ensure the inactivation of mitotic CDK complexes to trigger cell division. However, the functions of human Cdc14 homologues remain poorly understood. Here we have tested the hypothesis that Cdc14A might regulate Cdc25 mitotic inducers in human cells. We found that increasing levels of Cdc14A delay entry into mitosis by inhibiting Cdk1-cyclin B1 activity. By contrast, lowering the levels of Cdc14A accelerates mitotic entry. Biochemical analyses revealed that Cdc14A acts through key Cdk1-cyclin B1 regulators. We observed that Cdc14A directly bound to and dephosphorylated Cdc25B, inhibiting its catalytic activity. Cdc14A also regulated the activity of Cdc25A at the G2/M transition. Our results indicate that Cdc14A phosphatase prevents premature activation of Cdk1 regulating Cdc25A and Cdc25B at the entry into mitosis.     

Conformational flexibility of the complete catalytic domain of Cdc25B phosphatases

Cdc25B phosphatases are involved in cell cycle checkpoints and have become a possible target for developing new anticancer drugs. A more rational design of Cdc25B ligands would benefit from detailed knowledge of its tertiary structure. The conformational flexibility of the C‐terminal region of the Cdc25B catalytic domain has been debated recently and suggested to play an important structural role. Here, a combination of experimental NMR measurements and molecular dynamics simulations for the complete catalytic domain of the Cdc25B phosphatase is presented. The stability of the C‐terminal α‐helix is confirmed, but the last 20 residues in the complete catalytic domain are very flexible, partially occlude the active site and may establish transient contacts with the protein core. This flexibility in the C‐terminal tail may modulate the molecular recognition of natural substrates and competitive inhibitors by Cdc25B. Proteins 2016; 84:1567–1575. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mechanistic studies of protein tyrosine phosphatases YopH and Cdc25A with m-nitrobenzyl phosphate

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a large family of signaling enzymes that include both tyrosine specific and dual-specificity phosphatases that hydrolyze pSer/Thr in addition to pTyr. Previous mechanistic studies of PTPs have relied on the highly activated substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP), an aryl phosphate with a leaving group pK(a) of 7. In the study presented here, we employ m-nitrobenzyl phosphate (mNBP), an alkyl phosphate with a leaving group pK(a) of 14.9, which mimics the physiological substrates of the PTPs. We have carried out pH dependence and kinetic isotope effect measurements to characterize the mechanism of two important members of the PTP superfamily: Yersinia PTP (YopH) and Cdc25A. Both YopH and Cdc25A exhibit bell-shaped pH-rate profiles for the hydrolysis of mNBP, consistent with general acid catalysis. The slightly inverse (18)(V/K)(nonbridge) isotope effects (0.9999 for YopH and 0.9983 for Cdc25A) indicate a loose transition state with little nucleophilic participation for both enzymes. The smaller (18)(V/K)(bridge) primary isotope effects (0.9995 for YopH and 1.0012 for Cdc25A) relative to the corresponding isotope effects for pNPP hydrolysis suggest that protonation of the leaving group oxygen at the transition state by the general acid is ahead of P-O bond fission with the alkyl substrate, while general acid catalysis of pNPP by YopH is more synchronous with P-O bond fission. The isotope effect data also confirm findings from previous studies that Cdc25A utilizes general acid catalysis for substrates with a leaving group pK(a) of >8, but not for pNPP. Interestingly, the difference in the kinetic isotope effects for the reactions of aryl phosphate pNPP and alkyl phosphate mNBP by the PTPs parallels what is observed in the uncatalyzed reactions of their monoanions. In these reactions, the leaving group is protonated in the transition state, as is the case in PTP-catalyzed reactions. Also, the phosphoryl group in the transition states of the enzymatic reactions does not differ substantially from those of the uncatalyzed reactions. These results provide further evidence that these enzymes do not change the transition state but simply stabilize it.