Stereospecific deamination of benzylamine catalyzed by different amine oxidases

1. Stereospecific deuterated benzylamine enantiomers, R(alpha-2H1)-and S(alpha-2H1)-benzylamine, were synthesized by a combined chemical and enzymatic method. 2. The retention or cleavage of the deuterium atom during deamination of benzylamine catalyzed by amine oxidases from different sources was assessed by a GC-MS procedure and confirmed by HPLC separation of the products and by the observation of a deuterium isotope effect. 3. Three types of stereospecific abstraction of hydrogen atoms from the alpha-carbon of benzylamine during deamination were observed: (a) In the first type of deamination the pro-R hydrogen is removed from the alpha-carbon. Enzymes in this category are mitochondrial MAO from different tissues; (b) The second type of deamination involves the abstraction of pro-S hydrogen. Soluble enzymes such as rat aorta benzylamine oxidase or diamine oxidase from hog kidney and pea seedling have been found to belong to this group; and (c) Bovine plasma amine oxidase exhibits the third type of deamination where no absolute stereospecificity is required. 4. The kinetic deuterium isotope effect during the deamination of benzylamine by the different amine oxidase varies greatly, i.e. VH/VD ranged from 1.7 to 4.0.     

A spectrophotometric method for determining the oxidative deamination of methylamine by the amine oxidases

Previously published studies on the oxidative deamination of methylamine by the amine oxidases have determined the formation of radioactively labeled formaldehyde from [(14)C]methylamine. The present work describes a coupled spectrophotometric assay, using formaldehyde dehydrogenase, for the continuous determination of the oxidative deamination of methylamine by semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) and its potential use for determining methylamine concentrations in plasma. In this assay, the formaldehyde produced by methylamine deamination is further oxidized to formate, with the reduction of NAD(+), by formaldehyde dehydrogenase. The NADH generated is monitored continuously at 340 nm. Interference from the presence of a rotenone-insensitive NADH oxidase activity in crude tissue homogenates and microsomal fractions can be minimized by pretreating samples with Triton X-100 or substituting NAD(+) by APAD(+) in the coupled assay. This relatively inexpensive and reproducible assay procedure avoids the use of radioactively labeled material.     

Stereochemistry and kinetic isotope effects in the bovine plasma amine oxidase catalyzed oxidation of dopamine.

The stereochemistry of the bovine plasma amine oxidase catalyzed oxidation of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethylamine (domapine) has been investigated by comparing 3H/14C ratios of 3,4-dibenzyloxyphenethyl alcohols, derived from 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehydes, to starting dopamines chirally labeled at C-1 and C-2. The oxidation of [2RS-3H]-, [2R-3H]-, and [2S-3H]dopamine leads to products which have retained 53, 59, and 47% of their tritium. Similarly, oxidation of [1RS-3H]-, [1R-3H]-, and [1S-3H]dopamine leads to an 80, 80, and 92% retention of tritium. The configurational purity of tritium at C-2 of dopamine and C-1 of the dopamine precursor 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylamine has been confirmed employing dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (specific for the pro-R hydrogen at C-2) and pea seedling amine oxidase (specific for the pro-S hydrogen at C-1). In addition, chromatographically resolved isozymes of bovine plasma amine oxidase have been demonstrated to lead to the same stereochemical result as pooled enzyme fractions. We have been able to rule out carbon interchange and tritium transfer in the ethylamine side chain of dopamine as the source of the apparent nonstereospecificity. Estimated primary tritium isotope effects are 1 for [2-3H]dopamines and 5--6 and 26--34 for [1R-3H]- and [1S-3H]dopamine, respectively. We propose the presence of alternate dopamine binding modes, characterized by absolute but opposing stereochemistries and differential primary tritium isotope effects at C-1.     

Steady-state and stopped-flow kinetic measurements of the primary deuterium isotope effect in the reaction catalyzed by p-cresol methylhydroxylase

Steady-state kinetic studies for the reaction of the flavocytochrome p-cresol methylhydroxylase with the reducing substrates (S) p-cresol, 4-ethylphenol, and their corresponding alpha-deuteriated analogues are presented. The results from these experiments and those from studies involving various reoxidizing substrates support the proposed apparent ping-pong mechanism. With phenazine methosulfate (PMS) as the reoxidant for studies at pH 7.6 and 6 or 25 degrees C, the isotope effects on kcat are lower than the intrinsic isotope effect. The values for D(kcat/KS) are equal to the intrinsic effect for p-cresol at 25 degrees C and for 4-ethylphenol at both 6 and 25 degrees C. However, the value for this steady-state parameter at 6 degrees C for p-cresol is lower than the intrinsic effect. The values for D(kcat/KPMS) are nearly equal to 1.0 under all conditions. In contrast, the steady-state kinetic analysis for the isolated flavoprotein subunit of p-cresol methylhydroxylase involving p-cresol and PMS as substrates indicates that a random-binding mechanism is operating. Additionally, several of the steady-state parameters yield values for the apparent intrinsic isotope effect for the flavoprotein. The results of stopped-flow kinetic studies are also reported. At pH 7.6 the intrinsic isotope effect (Dk2) for the reduction of the enzyme by 4-ethylphenol is 4.8-5.0 at 25 degrees C and 4.0 at 6 degrees C. This technique yields a value for Dk2 of 7.05 at 6 degrees C and pH 7.6 for p-cresol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

pH and deuterium kinetic isotope effects studies on the oxidation of choline to betaine-aldehyde catalyzed by choline oxidase

The FAD-dependent choline oxidase catalyzes the four-electron oxidation of choline to glycine-betaine, with betaine-aldehyde as intermediate. The enzyme is capable of accepting either choline or betaine-aldehyde as a substrate, allowing the investigation of the reaction mechanism for both the conversion of choline to betaine-aldehyde and of betaine-aldehyde to glycine-betaine. In the present study, pH and deuterium kinetic isotope effects with [1,2-2H(4)]-choline were used to study the mechanism of oxidation of choline to betaine-aldehyde. The V/K and V(max) pH-profiles increased to limiting values with increasing pH, suggesting the presence of a catalytic base essential for catalysis at the enzyme active site. From the V/K pH-profile with [1,2-2H(4)]-choline, a pK(a) of 8.0 was determined for the catalytic base. This pK(a) was shifted to 7.5 in the V/K pH-profile with choline, indicating a significant commitment to catalysis with this substrate. In agreement with this conclusion, the D(V/K) values decreased from a limiting value of 12.4 below pH 6.5 to a limiting value of 4.1 above pH 9.5. The large D(V/K) values at low pH are consistent with carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage of choline being nearly irreversible and fully rate-limiting at low pH. Based on comparison of amino acid sequences and previous structural and mechanistic studies on other members of the GMC oxidoreductase superfamily, the identity of the catalytic base of choline oxidase is proposed.     

Insights into the mechanism of oxidative deamination catalyzed by DOPA decarboxylase

The unusual oxygen-consuming oxidative deamination reaction catalyzed by the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) enzyme DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) was here investigated. Either wild-type or Y332F DDC variant is able to perform such oxidation toward aromatic amines or aromatic l-amino acids, respectively, without the aid of any cofactor related to oxygen chemistry. Oxidative deamination produces, in equivalent amounts, a carbonyl compound and ammonia, accompanied by dioxygen consumption in a 1:2 molar ratio with respect to the products. Kinetic studies either in the pre-steady or in the steady state, together with HPLC analyses of reaction mixtures under varying experimental conditions, revealed that a ketimine accumulates during the linear phase of product formation. This species is reactive since it is converted back to PLP when the substrate is consumed. Rapid-mixing chemical quench studies provide evidence that the ketimine is indeed an intermediate formed during the first catalytic cycle. Moreover, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide are both generated during the catalytic cycles. On this basis, a mechanism of oxidative deamination consistent with the present data is proposed. Furthermore, the catalytic properties of the T246A DDC mutant together with those previously obtained with H192Q mutant allow us to propose that the Thr246-His192 dyad could act as a general base in promoting the first step of the oxidative deamination of aromatic amines.     

Kinetic deuterium isotope effects on deamination and N-hydroxylation of cyclohexylamine by rabbit liver microsomes

Deuterium isotope effects on the kinetic parameters for deamination and N-hydroxylation of cyclohexylamine (CHA) catalyzed by rabbit liver microsomes with NADPH are investigated. Both reactions are inhibited by carbon monoxide and have the characteristics of typical cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase reactions. A small and significant deuterium isotope effect operates in the oxidative deamination of CHA. The apparent isotope effects, i.e., VH/VD and (V/K)H/(V/K)D ratios for deamination, are 1.75 and 1.8-2.3, respectively. On the basis of N-hydroxylation, the VH/VD and (V/K)H/(V/K)D ratios are 0.8-0.9. The N-hydroxylation rate of alpha-deuterated CHA (D-CHA) is somewhat higher than that of CHA. The increased increment of hydroxylamine formation seems to coincide with the decreased amount of deamination. Substitution of deuterium in the alpha-position of CHA results in metabolic switching of cytochrome P450 from deamination to N-hydroxylation with low deuterium isotope effects. The data are interpreted in terms of an initial one-electron abstraction from the nitrogen to form an aminium cation radical followed by recombination with iron-bound hydroxyl radical leading to N-hydroxylamine, or followed by alpha-carbon deprotonation to form a neutral carbon radical. The latter can lead to a carbinolamine intermediate for deamination by way of imine or recombination with nascent iron-bound hydroxyl radical. The relative rates of the reactions depend on the alpha-carbon deprotonation rates of amines.     

Mechanism of modulation of dopamine beta-monooxygenase by pH and fumarate as deduced from initial rate and primary deuterium isotope effect studies

Dopamine beta-monooxygenase catalyzes a reaction in which 2 mol of protons are consumed for each turnover of substrate. Studies of the pH dependence of initial rate parameters (Vmax and Vmax/Km) and their primary hydrogen isotope effects show that at least two ionizable residues are involved in catalysis. One residue (B1, pK = 5.6-5.8) must be protonated prior to the carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage step, implying a role for general-acid catalysis in substrate activation. A second protonated residue (B2, pK = 5.2-5.4) facilitates, but is not required for, product release. Recent measurement of the intrinsic isotope effect for dopamine beta-monoxygenase [Miller, S. M., & Klinman, J. P. (1983) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)] allows an analysis of the pH dependence of rate constant ratios and in selected instances individual rate constants. We demonstrate large changes in the rate-determining step as well as an unprecedented inversion in the kinetic order of substrate release from ternary complex over an interval of 2 pH units. Previously, fumarate has been used in dopamine beta-monooxygenase assays because of its property of enzyme activation. Studies of the pH behavior in the presence of saturating concentrations of fumarate have shown two causes of the activation: (i) fumarate perturbs the pK of B1 to pK = 6.6-6.8 such that the residue remains protonated and the enzyme optimally active over a wider pH range; (ii) fumarate decreases the rate of dopamine release from the ternary enzyme-substrate complex, increasing the equilibrium association constant for dopamine binding. Both effects are consistent with a simple electrostatic stabilization of bound cationic charges by the dianionic form of fumarate.     

Transient kinetic and deuterium isotope effect studies on the catalytic mechanism of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase.

The catalytic mechanism of the phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase reaction in both directions was investigated by studying: (a) pre-steady state transients in reduced coenzyme appearance or disappearance or disappearance and in protein fluorescence; (b) deuterium isotope effects on the transients and on the steady state reactions; and (c) the partial reaction between the enzyme-NADH complex and hydroxypyruvate-P. These studies led to the scheme below for the ternary complex interconversion. E1-NADH-hydroxypyruvate-P(1)equilibriumE2-NADH-hydroxypyruvate-P(2)equilibriumE3-NADH-hydroxypyruvate-P + H+(3)equilibriumE3-NAD+-3-phosphoglycerate(4)equilibriumE4-NAD+-3-phosphoglycerate Steps 1,2, and 4 are ternary complex isomerizations. Step 3 is the hydride transfer. Under steady state conditions isomerization 2 is the rate-determining step in the direction of hydroxypyruvate-P reduction at higher pH values. At lower pH values, the hydride transfer step is also partially rate-determining. The rate-determining step in the direction of 3-phosphoglycerate oxidation occurs subsequent to the hydride transfer step at higher pH values. At lower pH values the rate is determined by both isomerization 4 and the hydride transfer step. Isomerizations 1, 2, and 4 were inhibited by serine, an allosteric inhibitor, indicating that the inactive conformation of the enzyme is incapable of performing any of the steps of the ternary complex interconversion. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase corresponds to a V-type allosteric enzyme. When the enzyme-NADH complex was mixed with hydroxypyruvate-P at pH 8.5, a rapid quenching of enzymebound NADH fluorescence occurred. This process was studied under pseudo-first order conditions and shown to be the result of hydroxypyruvate-P binding.     

The kinetic deuterium isotope effect as applied to metabolic deactivation of imatinib to the des-methyl metabolite,CGP74588

There has recently been a burgeoning interest in impeding drug metabolism by replacing hydrogen atoms with deuterium to invoke a kinetic isotope effect. Imatinib, a front-line therapy for both chronic myeloid leukemia and of gastrointestinal stromal tumours, is often substantially metabolised via N-demethylation to the significantly less active CGP74588. Since deuterium–carbon bonds are stronger than hydrogen–carbon bonds, we hypothesised that the N-trideuteromethyl analogue of imatinib might be subject to a reduced metabolic turnover as compared to imatinib and lead to different pharmacokinetic properties, and hence improved efficacy, in vivo. Consequently, we investigated whether the N-trideuteromethyl analogue would maintain target inhibition and show a reduced propensity for N-demethylation in in vitro assays with liver microsomes and following oral administration to rats. The N-trideuteromethyl compound exhibited similar activity as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor as imatinib and similar efficacy as an antiproliferative in cellular assays. In comparison to imatinib, the trideuterated analogue also showed reduced N-demethylation upon incubation with both rat and human liver microsomes, consistent with a deuterium isotope effect. However, the reduced in vitro metabolism did not translate into increased exposure of the N-trideuteromethyl analogue following intravenous administration of the compound to rats and no significant difference was observed for the formation of the N-desmethyl metabolite from either parent drug.     

Mechanism of the reaction catalyzed by DL-2-haloacid dehalogenase as determined from kinetic isotope effects

dl-2-Haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. 113 is a unique enzyme because it acts on the chiral carbons of both enantiomers, although its amino acid sequence is similar only to that of d-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas putida AJ1 that specifically acts on (R)-(+)-2-haloalkanoic acids. Furthermore, the catalyzed dehalogenation proceeds without formation of an ester intermediate; instead, a water molecule directly attacks the alpha-carbon of the 2-haloalkanoic acid. We have studied solvent deuterium and chlorine kinetic isotope effects for both stereoisomeric reactants. We have found that chlorine kinetic isotope effects are different: 1.0105 +/- 0.0001 for (S)-(-)-2-chloropropionate and 1.0082 +/- 0.0005 for the (R)-(+)-isomer. Together with solvent deuterium isotope effects on V(max)/K(M), 0.78 +/- 0.09 for (S)-(-)-2-chloropropionate and 0.90 +/- 0.13 for the (R)-(+)-isomer, these values indicate that in the case of the (R)-(+)-reactant another step preceding the dehalogenation is partly rate-limiting. Under the V(max) conditions, the corresponding solvent deuterium isotope effects are 1.48 +/- 0.10 and 0.87 +/- 0.27, respectively. These results indicate that the overall reaction rates are controlled by different steps in the catalysis of (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-reactants.     

Carbon-13 and deuterium isotope effects on the reaction catalyzed by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Carbon-13 and deuterium isotope effects have been measured on the reaction catalyzed by rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in an effort to locate the rate-limiting steps. With D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate as substrate, hydride transfer is a major, but not the only, slow step prior to release of the first product, and the intrinsic primary deuterium and 13C isotope effects on this step are 5-5.5 and 1.034-1.040, and the sum of the commitments to catalysis is approximately 3. The 13C isotope effects on thiohemiacetal formation and thioester phosphorolysis are 1.005 or less. The intrinsic alpha-secondary deuterium isotope effect at C-4 of the nicotinamide ring of NAD is approximately 1.4; this large normal value (the equilibrium isotope effect is 0.89) shows tight coupling of hydrogen motions in the transition state accompanied by tunneling. With D-glyceraldehyde as substrate, the isotope effects are similar, but the sum of commitments is approximately 1.5, so that hydride transfer is more, but still not solely, rate limiting for this slow substrate. The observed 13C and deuterium equilibrium isotope effects on the overall reaction from the hydrated aldehyde are 0.995 and 1.145, while the 13C equilibrium isotope effect for conversion of a thiohemiacetal to a thioester is 0.994, and that for conversion of a thioester to an acyl phosphate is 0.997. Somewhat uncertain values for the 13C equilibrium isotope effects on aldehyde dehydration and formation of a thiohemiacetal are 1.003 and 1.004.     

Solvent deuterium isotope effect on the oxidation of o-diphenols by tyrosinase

A solvent deuterium isotope effect on the catalytic affinity (K(m)) and rate constant (k(cat)) of tyrosinase in its action on 4-tert-butylcatechol (TBC) was observed. Both parameters decreased as the molar fraction of deuterated water in the medium increased, while the k(cat)/K(m) ratio remained constant. In a proton inventory study, the representation of k(cat)(f(n))/k(cat)(f(0)) and K(m)(f(n))/K(m)(f(0)) vs. n (atom fractions of deuterium) was linear, indicating that, of the four protons transferred from the two molecules of substrate and which are oxidized in one turnover, only one is responsible for the isotope effects. The fractionation factor of 0.64+/-0.02 contributed to identifying the possible proton acceptor. Possible mechanistic implications are discussed.     

Evidence that both protium and deuterium undergo significant tunneling in the reaction catalyzed by bovine serum amine oxidase

The magnitudes of primary and secondary H/T and D/T kinetic isotope effects have been measured in the bovine serum amine oxidase catalyzed oxidation of benzylamine from 0 to 45 degrees C. Secondary H/T and D/T kinetic effects are small and in the range anticipated from equilibrium isotope effects; Arrhenius preexponential factors (AH/AT and AD/AT) determined from the temperature dependence of isotope effects also indicate semiclassical behavior. By contrast, primary H/T and D/T isotope effects, 35.2 +/- 0.8 and 3.07 +/- 0.07, respectively, at 25 degrees C, are larger than semiclassical values and give anomalously low preexponential factor ratios, AH/AT = 0.12 +/- 0.04 and AD/AT = 0.51 +/- 0.10. Stopped-flow studies indicate similar isotope effects on cofactor reduction as seen in the steady state, consistent with a single rate-limiting C-H bond cleavage step for Vmax/Km. The comparison of primary and secondary isotope effects allows us to rule out appreciable coupling between the primary and secondary hydrogens at C-1 of the substrate. From the properties of primary isotope effects, we conclude that both protium and deuterium undergo significant tunneling in the course of substrate oxidation. These findings represent the first example of quantum mechanical effects in an enzyme-catalyzed proton abstraction reaction.     

Mechanism of inhibition of dopamine beta-monooxygenase by quinol and phenol derivatives, as determined by solvent and substrate deuterium isotope effects.

The mechanism of interaction of quinols and phenols with dopamine beta-monooxygenase (D beta M) has been investigated. The ratio of quinone formation (from catechol) to oxygen consumption rises from a value of 1 in the presence of phenethylamine substrate to 2 in the absence of substrate. These results implicate quinol oxidation at both the reductant- and substrate-binding sites of D beta M. In the presence of saturating ascorbate, catechol and p-hydroquinol behave as mechanism-based inhibitors of D beta M, with partitioning ratios of turnover to inactivation of 21:1 and 41:1, respectively. Phenol is found to inactivate the enzyme in a manner similar to p-cresol, suggesting that the methyl group of p-cresol is not an essential component of enzyme inhibition. Solvent isotope effects on inactivation and turnover have been measured for various inactivators. Although the majority of these inhibitors, including catechol, p-hydroquinol, aniline, phenethylenediamine, and benzylhydrazine, are characterized by relatively small solvent isotope effects (1.5-2.5) on the inactivation rate constant (ki), solvent isotope effects on ki for phenol and p-cresol are 5.7 and 7.4, respectively. By contrast, solvent isotope effects on the turnover of p-cresol are almost unity. Using p-cresol-d7 as substrate, we observe D(kcat) = 5.2 and D(kcat/Km) = 3.1, while isotope effects on inactivation are D(ki) = 0.95 and D(ki/Ki) = 0.59. These results lead us to propose that inhibitors fall into two mechanistic classes, involving either one-electron oxidation to form radical cation intermediates (quinols) or hydrogen atom abstraction (phenols).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Isotopically sensitive regioselectivity in the oxidative deamination of a homologous series of diamines catalyzed by diamine oxidase.

The equivalence of aminomethylene groups in selected diamine substrates of diamine oxidase was exploited for the determination of intramolecular isotope effects. In the series of substrates, [1,1-2H2]-1,3-diaminopropane, [1,1-2H2]-1,5-diaminopentane, [1,1-2H2]-1,6-diaminohexane, [1,1-2H2]-1,7-diaminoheptane and [alpha,alpha-2H2]-4-(aminomethyl)benzylamine, the preference of the enzyme for reaction at the unlabeled methylene was found to vary from 1.45 to 10.5-fold. The observed partitioning ratios go through a minimum value with 1,5-diaminopentane, the best substrate of diamine oxidase of the compounds tested. The results suggest that fast substrates have less opportunity to reorient into alternate binding conformations while bound to the active site of the enzyme. On the other hand, diamine substrates tested that cannot exist in energetically favorable conformations with internitrogen distances of about 7-8 A showed larger intramolecular isotope effects.     

Mechanism of the reaction catalyzed by dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli: pH and deuterium isotope effects with NADPH as the variable substrate

The variations with pH of the kinetic parameters and primary deuterium isotope effects for the reaction of NADPH with dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli have been determined. The aims of the investigations were to elucidate the chemical mechanism of the reaction and to obtain information about the location of the rate-limiting steps. The V and V/KNADPH profiles indicate that a single ionizing group at the active center of the enzyme must be protonated for catalysis, whereas the Ki profiles show that the binding of NADPH to the free enzyme and of ATP-ribose to the enzyme-dihydrofolate complex is pH independent. From the results of deuterium isotope effects on V/KNADPH, it is concluded that NADPH behaves as a sticky substrate. It is this stickiness that raises artificially the intrinsic pK value of 6.4 for the Asp-27 residue of the enzyme-dihydrofolate complex [Howell, E. E., Villafranca, J. E., Warren, M. S., Oatley, S. J., & Kraut, J. (1986) Science (Washington, D.C.) 231, 1123] to an observed value of 8.9. Thus, the binary enzyme complex is largely protonated at neutral pH. The elevation of the intrinsic pK value of 6.4 for the ternary enzyme-NADPH-dihydrofolate complex to 8.5 is not due to the kinetic effects of substrates. Rather, it is the consequence of the lower, pH-independent rate of product release and the faster pH-dependent catalytic step. At neutral pH, the proportion of enzyme present as a protonated ternary enzyme-substrate complex is sufficient to keep catalysis faster than product release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mechanism of urocanase as studied by deuterium isotope effects and labeling patterns

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) dependent urocanase (4'-imidazolone-5'-propionate hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.49) from Pseudomonas putida was found to catalyze an exchange reaction between solvent and the 4'-hydrogen of urocanate or imidazolepropionate at a rate faster than that of overall deuterium was compared to unlabeled urocanate as a substrate, no isotope rate effect was noted. For examination of the possibility of an NAD+-mediated intramolecular hydride transfer of the 4'-hydrogen to a position on the side chain of oxoimidazolepropionate, the origins of hydrogen at positions 2 and 3 in the propionate chain were studied as a function of reaction time and extent of exchange of the 4'-hydrogen. No transfer of hydrogen from the 4' position to the side chain was observed, thereby eliminating mechanisms requiring hydride transfer via NADH between these positions. Catalytic rates in 1H2O vs. 2H2O revealed a 3-fold difference which was ascribed to a rate-limiting proton addition step. Similarly, a 5-fold decrease in Vmax was found for the reverse reaction when oxoimidazole[2,3-2H2]propionate was compared to unlabeled oxoimidazolepropionate. These data support a mechanism involving water addition across the conjugated double bond system of urocanate, rather than an internal oxidation--reduction process, yet NAD+ is required. A mechanism is proposed which uses electron delocalization in the imidazole nucleus, via an imidazole--NAD adduct, to facilitate water attack and subsequent formation of oxoimidazolepropionate.