Comparison of the kinetics and mechanism of the papain-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters and thiono esters

The kinetic constants for the papain-catalyzed hydrolysis of the methyl thiono esters of N-benzoylglycine and N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine are compared with those for the corresponding methyl ester substrates. The k2/Ks values for the thiono esters are 2-3 times higher than those for the esters, and both show bell-shaped pH dependencies with similar pKa's (approximately 4 and 9). The k3 values for the thiono esters are 30-60 times less than those for the esters and do not exhibit a pH dependency. Solvent deuterium isotope effects on k2/Ks and k3 were measured for the ester and thiono ester substrates of both glycine derivatives. Each thiono ester substrate showed an isotope effect similar to that for the corresponding ester substrate. Moreover, use of the proton inventory technique indicated that, as for esters, one proton is transferred in the transition state for deacylation during reactions involving thiono esters and the degree of heavy atom reorganization in the transition state is very similar in both cases. The k3 values for the hydrolysis of a series of para-substituted N-benzoylglycine esters were found to correlate with the k3 values for the corresponding para-substituted thiono esters [Carey, P. R., Lee, H., Ozaki, Y., & Storer, A. C. (1984) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 106, 8258-8262], showing that the rate-determining step for the deacylation of both thiolacyl and dithioacyl enzymes probably involves the disruption of a contact between the substrate's glycinic nitrogen atom and the sulfur of cysteine-25. It is concluded that the hydrolysis of esters and thiono esters proceeds by essentially the same reaction pathway. Due to an oxygen-sulfur exchange process the product released in the case of the N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine thiono ester substrate is the dioxygen acid; however, for the N-benzoylglycine thiono ester substrate, the thiol acid is the initial product. This thiol acid then acts as a substrate for papain and reacylates the enzyme to eventually give the dioxygen acid product. It is shown that thiol acids are excellent substrates for papain.     

Comparative resonance Raman spectroscopic and kinetic studies of acyl-enzymes involving papain, actinidin and papaya peptidase II.

Resonance Raman spectra are reported for a series of dithioacyl-enzymes involving actinidin (EC 3.4.22.14) and papaya peptidase II (the more basic monothiol cysteine proteinase of Carica papaya). The acyl groups are N-benzoylglycine and N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine containing C = S or 13C = S at the ester function. Comparison of the data with those for the corresponding papain (EC 3.4.22.2) analogues [Storer, Lee & Carey (1983) Biochemistry 22, 4789-4796] allows us to define the conformation of the dithioacyl group in the catalytic site. In each case the dithioacyl group is bound in a single conformation known as conformer B, in which the glycinic nitrogen atom comes into close contact with the sulphur atom of the catalytic-site cysteine residue. For the N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine dithioacyl-enzymes the torsional angles of the NH-CH2-C(= S) bonds assume values typical of an essentially relaxed non-strained state. However, for the N-benzoylglycine dithioacyl-enzymes there is evidence for a slightly perturbed conformer B, and the perturbation is most pronounced for N-benzoylglycine dithioacyl-actinidin. Values of k+2/Ks and k+3 for the reactions of papain, actinidin and papaya peptidase II with N-benzoylglycine and N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine methyl thionoesters were obtained by a pre-steady-state kinetic study. Wide variation was found in k+2/Ks, but the values of k+3 are all similar. This general picture is supported by the results from a steady-state kinetic study of the reactions of the three enzymes with N-benzoyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide and with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine p-nitrophenyl ester. The similarity of the values of k+3, together with the invariance of conformer B geometry at the P1 site, suggests that the chemistry of the deacylation process is highly conserved among these three cysteine proteinases.     

Conformational states of N-acylalanine dithio esters: correlation of resonance Raman spectra with structures

The conformational states of N-acylalanine dithio esters, involving rotational isomers about the RC(=O)NH--CH(CH3) and NHCH(CH3)--C(=S) bonds, are defined and compared to those of N-acylglycine dithio esters. The structure of N-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-DL-alanine ethyl dithio ester has been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis; it is a B-type conformer with the amide N atom cis to the thiol sulfur. Raman and resonance Raman (RR) measurements on this compound and for the B conformers of solid N-benzoyl-DL-alanine ethyl dithio ester and N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)-DL-alanine ethyl dithio ester and its NHCH(CD3)C(=S) and NHCH(CH3)13C(=S) analogues are used to set up a library of RR data for alanine-based dithio esters in a B-conformer state. (Methyloxycarbonyl)-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine ethyl dithio ester crystallizes in an A-like conformational state wherein the alanine N atom is nearly cis to the thiono S atom (C=S) [Varughese, K.I., Angus, R.H., Carey, P.R., Lee, H., & Storer, A.C. (1986) Can. J. Chem. 64, 1668-1673]. RR data for this solid material in its isotopically unsubstituted and CH(C-D3)C(=S) and CH(CH3)13C(=S) forms provide information on the RR signatures of alanine dithio esters in A-like conformations. RR spectra are compared for the solid compounds, for N-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-DL-alanine, N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)-DL-alanine, and (methyloxycarbonyl)-L-phenylalanyl-DL-alanine ethyl dithio esters, and for several 13C=S- and CD3-substituted analogues in CCl4 or aqueous solutions. The RR data demonstrate that the alanine-based dithio esters take up A, B, and C5 conformations in solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transition-state stabilization at the oxyanion binding sites of serine and thiol proteinases: hydrolyses of thiono and oxygen esters

X-ray diffraction studies suggested that the tetrahedral intermediate formed during the catalysis by serine and thiol proteinases can be stabilized by hydrogen bonds from the protein to the oxyanion of the intermediate [cf. Kraut, J. (1977) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 46, 331-358; Drenth, J., Kalk, K.H., & Swen, H.M. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 3731-3738]. To obtain evidence in favor or against this hypothesis, we synthesized thiono substrates (the derivatives of N-benzoyl-glycine methyl ester and N-acetylphenylalanine ethyl ester) containing a sulfur in place of the carbonyl oxygen atom of the scissile ester bond. We anticipated that this relatively subtle structural change specifically directed to the oxyanion binding site should produce serious catalytic consequences owing to the different properties of oxygen and sulfur if transition-state stabilization in the oxyanion hole is indeed important. In fact, while in alkaline hydrolysis the chemical reactivities of oxygen esters and corresponding thiono esters proved to be similar, neither chymotrypsin nor subtilisin hydrolyzed the thiono esters at a measurable rate. This result substantiates the crucial role of the oxyanion binding site in serine proteinase catalysis. On the basis of the similar values of the binding constants found for oxygen esters and their thiono counterparts, it can be concluded that the substitution of sulfur for oxygen significantly influences transition state stabilization but not substrate binding. The thiol proteinases papain and chymopapain react with the oxygen and thiono esters of N-benzoylglycine at similar rates. Apparently, in these reactions the above stabilizing mechanism is absent or not important, which is a major mechanistic difference between the catalyses by serine and thiol proteinases.     

Conformational variability in an enzyme's active site: resonance Raman evidence for different acyl group conformations in N-acylglycine and N-acylalanine dithioacyl papains

It is demonstrated that the vibrational modes associated with the catalytically labile region of N-acylalanine dithioacyl papains undergo a major reorganization compared to the normal modes of corresponding model compounds. Thus, the resonance Raman (RR) spectrum of, e.g., N-benzoylalanine dithioacyl papain and its response to isotopic labeling cannot be understood completely on the basis of the RR spectrum of N-benzoylalanine ethyl dithio ester in one of its known conformational states [detailed in Lee, H., Angus, R. H., Storer, A. C., Varughese, K. I., & Carey, P. R. (1988) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. This situation contrasts sharply to that for N-acylglycine dithioacyl papains whose RR spectra closely resemble those of the corresponding N-acylglycine ethyl dithio esters in a conformational state known as conformer B. For the N-acylalanine intermediates two possible causes are put forward to explain the rearrangement of the normal modes. First, the acyl groups based on alanine may bind in papain's active site in a conformation whose torsional angles near the -C(=S)S-group differ markedly from those of characterized model compounds. The second, and presently favored, explanation is that the N-acylalanine moiety is binding in the active site in an A- or C5-like conformation and that, in addition, there is significant vibrational coupling between some of the normal modes of the bound substrate and the normal modes associated with parts of the enzyme in contact with the substrate. The finding that deacylation for N-acylglycine or N-acylalanine dithioacyl papains must proceed from structures which are different is an indication that the mechanism of deacylation may not have strict stereochemical requirements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the substrate conformations in the active sites of papain, chymopapain, ficin and bromelain by resonance Raman spectroscopy

The resonance Raman spectra of several enzyme-substrate intermediates of papain, chymopapain, ficin and bromelain are reported. The intermediates are dithioacyl enzymes formed during the catalyzed hydrolysis of N-acylglycine thionoester substrates. Interpretation of the resonance Raman spectra allows us to compare, for the first time, the substrate geometries in a series of functioning intermediates from different enzymes. The substrates assume essentially identical conformations for papain, chymopapain and ficin and a similar, but not identical, conformation in the active site of bromelain. Each dithioacyl enzyme population appears to be made up of a single homogeneous conformational state. This state has been characterised in earlier studies of dithioacyl papains. It is designated as conformer B and is characterized by an attractive contact between the substrate's glycinic N atom and the active site cysteine S atom. It is now apparent that conformer B is of general significance in the mechanism of cysteine proteases.     

Relaxed and perturbed substrate conformations in enzyme active sites: evidence from multichannel resonance raman spectra

A diode array based multichannel Raman spectrometer has made it possible to record complete, high quality, resonance Raman (RR) spectra of enzyme-substrate intermediates. The intermediates are dithioacylpapains in which the acyl group is either N-benzoylglycine or N-(beta-phenylpropionyl)glycine. RR data are reported for the unlabeled dithioacylpapains as well as for the intermediates labeled separately with ND, 15N, and 13C = S in the glycine residue. Comparison of the results for the dithioacylpapains with that of the corresponding labeled glycine ethyl dithioesters [Lee, H., Storer, A. C., & Carey, P. R. (1983) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)] leads to the conclusion that for both substrates in the active site the dihedral angles in the glycine NH-C-C(= S) linkages assume an essentially relaxed type B conformation. Similarly, there is no evidence for distortion about the C(= O)-NH peptide bond which links the P1 and P2 sites on the substrate. However, for the N-benzoylglycine case there is evidence for some conformational distortion in the -S-C-C cysteine linkages. The present data favor a single homogeneous conformational population about the substrates' NH-C-C(= S) bonds in the native dithioacylpapains. However, below pH 3.0 the dithioacyl enzymes denature and the RR spectra of the 13C = S substituted species confirm that the conformational population reverts to the mixture of conformers A and B found for the corresponding ethyl dithioesters in solution.     

Acyl-CoA: glycine N-acyltransferase: in vitro studies on the glycine conjugation of straight- and branched-chained acyl-CoA esters in human liver

Apparent kinetic constants (Km and Vmax values) were determined for human liver acyl-CoA: glycine acyltransferase (glycine-N-acylase) towards isobutyryl-CoA, 2-methyl butyryl-CoA, isovaleryl-CoA, butyryl-CoA, hexanoyl-CoA, octanoyl-CoA, and decanoyl-CoA. These acyl-CoA esters were selected because of their relevance to the human diseases with cellular accumulation of these esters, i.e., especially to metabolic defects in the acyl-CoA dehydrogenation steps of the branched-chain amino acids, lysine, 5-hydroxy lysine, tryptophan, and fatty acid oxidation pathways. With the acyl-CoA ester as the fixed substrate, the Km value for glycine ranged from 0.5 to 2.9 mole/liter, and with glycine as fixed substrate, the Km values for the acyl-CoA esters varied from 0.3 to 5.6 mmole/liter. It is concluded that the substrate concentration is decisive for the glycine conjugate formation and that the occurrence in urine of acylglycines reflects an intramitochondrial accumulation of the corresponding acyl-CoA ester.     

Effects of secondary interactions on the kinetics of peptide and peptide ester hydrolysis by tissue kallikrein and trypsin

Kinetic constants for the hydrolysis by porcine tissue beta-kallikrein B and by bovine trypsin of a number of peptides related to the sequence of kininogen (also one containing a P2 glycine residue instead of phenylalanine) and of a series of corresponding arginyl peptide esters with various apolar P2 residues have been determined under strictly comparative conditions. kcat and kcat/Km values for the hydrolysis of the Arg-Ser bonds of the peptides by trypsin are conspicuously high. kcat for the best of the peptide substrates, Ac-Phe-Arg-Ser-Val-NH2, even reaches kcat for the corresponding methyl ester, indicating rate-limiting deacylation also in the hydrolysis of a peptide bond by this enzyme. kcat/Km for the hydrolysis of the peptide esters with different nonpolar L-amino acids in P2 is remarkably constant (range 1.7), as it is for the pair of the above pentapeptides with P2 glycine or phenylalanine. kcat for the ester substrates varies fivefold, however, being greatest for the P2 glycine compounds. Obviously, an increased potential of a P2 residue for interactions with the enzyme lowers the rate of deacylation. In contrast to results obtained with chymotrypsin and pancreatic elastase, trypsin is well able to tolerate a P3 proline residue. In the hydrolysis of peptide esters, tissue kallikrein is definitely superior to trypsin. Conversely, peptide bonds are hydrolyzed less efficiently by tissue kallikrein and the acylation reaction is rate-limiting. The influence of the length of peptide substrates is similar in both enzymes and indicates an extension of the substrate recognition site from subsite S3 to at least S'3 of tissue kallikrein and the importance of a hydrogen bond between the P3 carbonyl group and Gly-216 of the enzymes. Tissue kallikrein also tolerates a P3 proline residue well. In sharp contrast to the behaviour of trypsin is the very strong influence of the P2 residue in tissue-kallikrein-catalyzed reactions. kcat/Km varies 75-fold in the series of the dipeptide esters with nonpolar L-amino acid residues in P2, a P2 glycine residue furnishing the worst and phenylalanine the best substrate, whereas this exchange in the pentapeptides changes kcat/Km as much as 730-fold. This behaviour, together with the high value of kcat/Km for Ac-Phe-Arg-OMe of 3.75 X 10(7) M-1 s-1, suggests rate-limiting binding (k1) in the hydrolysis of the best ester substrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Separation of electronic and hydrophobic effects for the papain hydrolysis of substituted N-benzoylglycine esters

The role of hydrophobic and electronic effects on the kinetic constants kcat and Km for the papain hydrolysis of a series of 22 substituted N-benzoylglycine pyridyl esters was investigated. The series studied comprises a wide variety of substituents on the N-benzoyl ring, with about a 300,000-fold range in their hydrophobicities, and 2.1-fold range in their electronic Hammet constants (sigma). It was found that the variation in the log kcat and log 1/Km constants could be explained by the following quantitative-structure activity relationships (QSAR): log 1/Km = 0.40 pi 4 + 4.40 and log 1/kcat = 0.45 sigma + 0.18. The substituent constant, pi 4, is the hydrophobic parameter for the 4-N-benzoyl substituents. QSAR analysis of two smaller sets of glycine phenyl and methyl esters produced similar results. A clear separation of the substituent effects indicates that in the case of these particular esters, acylation appears to be the rate limiting catalytic step.     

Calcineurin-catalyzed reaction with phosphite and phosphate esters of tyrosine.

A convenient synthesis is reported for the preparation of the phosphite ester of tyrosine methyl ester. By use of calcineurin, at 30 degrees C, a phosphite ester was hydrolyzed with a VM value [119 nmol/(min.micrograms of E)] approximately 500 times greater than that obtained with tyrosine phosphate [0.23 nmol/(min.microgram of E)] as substrate, but with similar KM values (12 mM for Tyr-PH ME, 11 mM for Tyr-P). Acid phosphatase, on the other hand, hydrolyzed the phosphite ester with a VM and KM value lower than those obtained with tyrosyl phosphate. The temperature dependence of the kinetic parameters (KM and VM) was evaluated, and the activation parameters were obtained with both substrates. The entropy of activation associated with the enzymatic hydrolysis of tyrosine phosphate agrees with the entrophy change for the hydrolysis of the monoanion of phosphate monoesters. The energy of activation for both substrates was in agreement with the energy change for hydrolysis of the oxygen-phosphorous linkage of phosphate monoester monoanions and phosphite esters. These results are consistent with a scheme of general acid catalysis in the action of calcineurin.     

Kinetics and mechanism of catalysis by proteolytic enzymes. The kinetics of hydrolysis of esters of γ-guanidino-l-α-toluene-p-sulphonamidobutyric acid by bovine trypsin and thrombin

1. Esters of gamma-guanidino-l-alpha-toluene-p-sulphonamidobutyric acid (alpha-N-toluene-p-sulphonyl-l-norarginine) have been synthesized and shown to be hydrolysed by bovine trypsin and thrombin. As substrates for these enzymes, they were better than esters of alpha-N-toluene-p-sulphonyl-l-homoarginine or of alpha-N-toluene-p-sulphonyl-l-ornithine but not as good as esters of alpha-N-toluene-p-sulphonyl-l-arginine. 2. With trypsin as catalyst, the methyl and propyl esters are hydrolysed at the same rate at high substrate concentrations and hence deacylation of the acyl-enzyme appears to be rate-determining. In the presence of thrombin, however, the methyl ester is hydrolysed much faster than the n-propyl ester. 3. The variation of k(0) with pH indicates that groups with pK((app.)) values of 7.05+/-0.02 and 6.53+/-0.02 must be dissociated in trypsin and thrombin respectively for hydrolysis to proceed. 4. Activation constants have been determined for the trypsin-catalysed hydrolysis of methyl gamma-guanidino-l-alpha-toluene-p-sulphonamidobutyrate and have been compared with the corresponding constants for the hydrolysis of homologous substrates. 5. Cholate increases k(0) and decreases K(m); the effects are more pronounced with thrombin than with trypsin.     

Kinetic investigation of the alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of peptide-ester substrates. The relationship between the structure of the peptide moiety and reactivity.

A number of peptide-ester substrates of the general structure Ac-Lxn-...-Lx2-Lx1-OMe have been synthesized and their alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis studied. The kinetic analysis involved varying the concentration of substrate and methanol product, and measuring rates along the entire progression curve. For the dipeptide esters Ac-Lx2-Lx1-OMe and the amino-acid derivatives Ac-Lx1-OMe the following constants could be determined: the dissociation constant of the enzyme-substrate complex, KEA, both rate constants of the acylation step, k23 and k32, and the forward rate constant of the deacylation step, k31. For the tripeptide ester Ac-Ala-Ala-Tyr-OMe it appears that the rate constant for the dissociation of the enzyme-substrate complex, k21, is smaller than the rate constant for acylation, k23. Thus, for this substrate only the association and dissociation rate constants k12 and k21 could be determined and the values of k23, k32 and k31 only indirectly estimated. The influence of structural changes in the peptide moiety of the substrates on reactivity has been established by comparing the rate constants of appropriate pairs of substrates. It was found that the substrate reactivity, as measured by k23/KEA, increase with the number and strength of the secondary interactions in a manner consistent with the binding scheme which has been proposed on the basis of crystallographic studies. The effect of a particular interaction on k23 and on KEA is dependent on the nature of the other interactions. However, the effect of k23/KEA appears to be independent of the presence of the other interactions and therefore characteristic of that particular interaction. The results for these substrates are compared with those found previously for a series of peptide substrates of the structure Ac-Lxn-... Lx2-...-Lx1-Gly-NH2 which have the same acyl moiety as the peptide esters studied in this work.     

Mechanism of hydrolysis of dicholine esters with long polymethylene chain by human butyrylcholinesterase

Human butyrylcholinesterase hydrolyzes long chain dicholine esters more rapidly than short chain dicholine esters. The active site of butyrylcholinesterase is deeply buried within the enzyme molecule and there is limited space for binding of large compounds. Our goal was to understand how butyrylcholinesterase accommodates long chain dicholine esters to make them better substrates than short chain dicholine esters. For this purpose we studied the rate of hydrolysis of adipyldicholine (n=4) and sebacyldicholine (n=8) with mass spectrometry, a method that allowed monitoring the dicholine substrates, the monocholine intermediates, the dicarboxylic acid and choline products. It was shown that hydrolysis of adipyldicholine involves two consecutive steps, dicholine ester hydrolysis followed by relatively slow monocholine ester hydrolysis. However, sebacyldicholine was hydrolyzed at both choline ester sites, though hydrolysis of dicholine was faster than hydrolysis of monocholine. Sebacyldicholine was completely converted to sebacic acid and choline within 90 min, whereas only 15% of the adipyldicholine was converted to adipic acid in this time. Molecular modeling indicated that these dicholine esters can bind to butyrylcholinesterase in two energetically equivalent alternative conformations that may theoretically lead to hydrolysis. The long chain dicholine ester makes closer contact than the short chain ester between one of its carbonyl carbons and the catalytic Ser198, thus explaining why long-chain dicholine esters are hydrolyzed more rapidly by butyrylcholinesterase.     

Acylation of subtilisin A by aryl esters: contribution to rate limitation by a physical step preceding general acid-base catalysis

The specificity ratios kc/Km = k for subtilisin A catalyzed hydrolysis of five aryl esters of N-(methoxycarbonyl)-L-Phe (McPhe) were determined at pH 7.03 and its pD equivalent. The ratios are independent of the electronic properties of the leaving group substituent. Kinetic solvent isotope effects, Dk, increase from about 0.9 to 1.3 as leaving group ability decreases from p-nitrophenolate to p-methoxyphenolate. The k of N-(methoxycarbonyl)-L-phenylalanine p-nitrophenyl ester (NPE) with native enzyme exhibits a strong temperature dependence; delta H* = 87 +/- 3 kJ mol-1 and delta S* = 148 +/- 14 J K-1 mol-1 at 25 degrees C (H2O). The Dk with this substrate is 1.36 at 13.6 degrees C, declines to 0.89 at 25 degrees C, and then increases to 1.04 at 39.4 degrees C. Above neutral pH(D), with McPhe NPE as substrate, the dependence of k is for the dissociated form of a single base of pKapp = 7.38 +/- 0.03 in H2O and 7.67 +/- 0.03 in D2O. The pKapp values are apparently those of the uncomplexed native protein. By contrast, k of 3-phenylpropanoic acid (Prop) p-nitrophenyl ester exhibits a weaker temperature dependence; delta H* = 20 kJ mol-1 and delta S* = -90 J K-1 mol-1 (H2O) at 25 degrees C. The Dk are larger than those for McPhe NPE, decreasing from 1.99 at 20.5 degrees C to 1.74 at 46.1 degrees C. These results, combined with those of previous studies, are consistent with limitation of k by at least two processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The hydrolysis of esters of N-hippurylglycine and N-pivaloylglycine by carboxypeptidase A

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of five esters of N-hippurylglycine (C6H5CONHCH2CONHCH2CO2CRR1CO2H (2 approximately) and seven esters of N-pivaloylglycine ((CH3)3CCONHCH2CRR1CO2H (3 approximately)) by bovine pancreatic carboxypeptidase A (Peptidyl-L-amino-acidhydrolase, EC 3.4.12.2) have been studied at pH 7.5, 25 degrees C and ionic strength 0.5. All N-hippurylglycine esters (2: R=H, R1=H, C2H5, 4-ClC6H4, C6H5CH2) display Michaelis-Menten kinetics up to at least 0.1 M substrate. The N-pivaloylglycine esters display either Michaelis-Menten kinetics (3 approximately: R=H, R1=H, C2H5 C6H5), substrate activation (3 approximately: R=H, R1=4-ClC6H4; R=R1=CH3) or substrate inhibition (3 approximately: R=H, R1=(CH3)2CHCH2, C6H5CH2). Kinetic parameters have been evaluated for each ester and compared with those for the corresponding hippuric acid esters (1 approximately). The enzymic specificity is shown to be identical for the alcohol moieties of the esters 1 approximately, 2 approximately and 3 approximately and unrelated to the occurrence of substrate activation or inhibition phenomena. These latter phenomena are shown to be characteristic of the enzymic hydrolysis of N-acyl amino acid esters but unimportant for N-acyl dipeptide ester substrates.     

On the interaction of esters and peptides with carboxypeptidase B.

The specificity of porcine carboxypeptidase B towards basic and non-basic substrates was studied by employing several esters of phenyllactate. The structure of these depsipeptides complement exactly those of the corresponding phenylalanyl oligopeptide substrates. These non-basic ester-peptide pairs as well as the basic ester-peptide pair of arginyl derivatives, permits the direct comparison of the pH dependencies of the kinetic constants for the hydrolysis of those substrates by carboxypeptidase B. The data is interpreted in terms of three specific ionizing groups located at the active site of the enzyme. The mode and extent of inhibition of the hydrolysis of a specific substrate by another substrate was characterized kinetically. These results are discussed in relation to a proposed model for esterolytic and proteolytic action of carboxypeptidase B.     

Interaction of carboxypeptidase A with carbamate and carbonate esters

The carbamate ester N-(phenoxycarbonyl)-L-phenylalanine binds well to carboxypeptidase A in the manner of peptide substrates. The ester exhibits linear competitive inhibition toward carboxypeptidase A catalyzed hydrolysis of the amide hippuryl-L-phenylalanine (Ki = 1.0 X 10(-3) M at pH 7.5) and linear noncompetitive inhibition toward hydrolysis of the specific ester substrate O-hippuryl-L-beta-phenyllactate (Ki = 1.4 X 10(-3) M at pH 7.5). Linear inhibition shows that only one molecule of inhibitor is bound per active site at pH 7.5. The hydrolysis of the carbamate ester is not affected by the presence of 10(-8)-10(-9) M enzyme (the concentrations employed in inhibition experiments), but at an enzyme concentration of 3 X 10(-6) M catalysis can be detected. The value of kcat at 30 degrees C, mu = 0.5 M, and pH 7.45 is 0.25 s-1, and Km is 1.5 X 10(-3) M. The near identity of Km and Ki shows that Km is a dissociation constant. Substrate inhibition can be detected at pH less than 7 but not at pH values above 7, which suggests that a conformational change is occurring near that pH. The analogous carbonate ester O-(phenoxycarbonyl)-L-beta-phenyllactic acid is also a substrate for the enzyme. The Km is pH independent from pH 6.5 to 9 and has the value of 7.6 X 10(-5) M in that pH region. The rate constant kcat is pH independent from pH 8 to 10 at 30 degrees C (mu = 0.5 M) with a limiting value of 1.60 s-1. Modification of the carboxyl group of glutamic acid-270 to the methoxyamide strongly inhibits the hydrolysis of O-(phenoxycarbonyl)-L-beta-phenyllactic acid. Binding of beta-phenyllactate esters and phenylalanine amides must occur in different subsites, but the ratios of kcat and kcat/Km for the structural change from hippuryl to phenoxy in each series are closely similar, which suggests that the rate-determining steps are mechanistically similar.     

Comparison of the kinetic specificity of subtilisin and thiolsubtilisin toward n-alkyl p-nitrophenyl esters.

The p-nitrophenyl esters of straight-chain fatty acids were used as substrates of the enzyme subtilisin Novo (EC 3.4.4.16) and its chemically produced artificial enzyme thiolsubtilisin. Subtilisin and thiolsubtilisin pH--activity profiles were determined, and kinetic effects of the active site O-S substitution were observed. Among the substrates tested, both enzymes show highest specificity with p-nitrophenyl butyrate. It was also found that subtilisin is more sensitive to changes in substrate chain length than is thiolsubtilisin. Second-order acylation rate constants (k2/Ks) are remarkably similar for both enzymes. However, thiolsubtilisin deacylation rate constants and Km values are lower than analogous subtilisin constants. While thiolsubtilisin deacylation rate constants give a pH profile identical with that of subtilisin, the pH profile of thiolsubtilisin acylation rate constants shows an active site pK value lowered from the subtilisin pK of 7.15 and exhibits an inflection point at pH 8.45, which is absent in subtilisin.     

The alpha-chymotryptic ydrolysis of glycine esters

1. The alpha-chymotrypsin-catalysed hydrolysis of N-acetylglycine ethyl and thiolethyl esters was investigated at pH7.90 and 25 degrees over a wide range of substrate concentrations. 2. The Lineweaver-Burk plots for these substrates are markedly curved, and it is shown that the curvature is due solely to the ;enzyme-blank' reaction. The rate of this reaction is proportional to free enzyme concentration in the range 10-100mum, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of approx. 1x10(-3)sec.(-1). Correction for this reaction by the procedure described leads to linear plots. It is shown that the significance of the enzyme-blank reaction depends on the value of k(0)/K(m) for the substrate under investigation. 3. Interpretation of the curvature in the Lineweaver-Burk plots by previous workers in terms of activation by excess of substrate is shown to be erroneous. 4. Values of K(m) 387mm and k(0) 0.039sec.(-1), and K(m) 41mm and k(0) 0.23sec.(-1), were obtained for the ethyl and thiolethyl esters of N-acetylglycine respectively. The literature values for the methyl esters of N-acetyl- and N-propionyl-glycine have been corrected by the procedure described. The new values agree much better with current theories of alpha-chymotrypsin mechanism and specificity. 5. The kinetic parameters for the ethyl and thiolethyl esters indicate the absence of an electrophilic component in the catalytic mechanism of alpha-chymotrypsin, and the importance of the ester function in substrate binding.