Hydrophobic formate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas sp. 101 in the system of reverse micelles of aerosol OT in octane

NAD(+)-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) was hydrophobized with palmitoyl chloride to give the samples with various modification degrees (2-10). The native and modified FDHs were comparatively studied in the system of reverse micelles of Aerosol OT in octane. Like the native, the modified enzyme displayed three maxima in the curve of dependence of its catalytic activity on the degree of surfactant hydration (the micelle size), which reflect the enzyme functioning in the form of a monomer, dimer, or octamer. The peak corresponding to the functioning of the FDH dimer was found to decrease along with an increase in the modification degree. Thus, the modified enzyme mainly functions in the form of monomer and octamer. The modified FDH displayed membranotropy and revealed the dependence of catalytic activity on surfactant concentration.     

A single mutation in the NAD-specific formate dehydrogenase from Candida methylica allows the enzyme to use NADP

An homology model of Candida methylica formate dehydrogenase (cmFDH) was constructed based on the Pseudomonas sp. 101 formate dehydrogenase (psFDH) structure. An aspartic acid residue in the model was predicted to interact with the adenine ribose of the NAD cofactor, in common with many NAD-dependent oxoreductases. Replacement of this aspartic acid residue by serine in cmFDH removed the absolute requirement for NAD over NADP shown by the wild type enzyme. Taken with similar results shown by d- and l-lactate dehydrogenases, this suggests that an aspartic acid in this position is a major determinant of coenzyme specificity in NAD/NADP-dependent dehydrogenases.     

Bacterial formate dehydrogenase. Increasing the enzyme thermal stability by hydrophobization of alpha-helices

NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.2, FDH) from methylotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas sp.101 exhibits the highest stability among the similar type enzymes studied. To obtain further increase in the thermal stability of FDH we used one of general approaches based on hydrophobization of protein alpha-helices. Five serine residues in positions 131, 160, 168, 184 and 228 were selected for mutagenesis on the basis of (i) comparative studies of nine FDH amino acid sequences from different sources and (ii) with the analysis of the ternary structure of the enzyme from Pseudomonas sp.101. Residues Ser-131 and Ser-160 were replaced by Ala, Val and Leu. Residues Ser-168, Ser-184 and Ser-228 were changed into Ala. Only Ser/Ala mutations in positions 131, 160, 184 and 228 resulted in an increase of the FDH stability. Mutant S168A was 1.7 times less stable than the wild-type FDH. Double mutants S(131,160)A and S(184,228)A and the four-point mutant S(131,160,184,228)A were also prepared and studied. All FDH mutants with a positive stabilization effect had the same kinetic parameters as wild-type enzyme. Depending on the position of the replaced residue, the single point mutation Ser/Ala increased the FDH stability by 5-24%. Combination of mutations shows near additive effect of each mutation to the total FDH stabilization. Four-point mutant S(131,160,184,228)A FDH had 1.5 times higher thermal stability compared to the wild-type enzyme.     

甲酸脱氢酶及其在手性生物制造中的应用

氧化还原生物合成体系在绿色生物制造手性化合物中具有重要应用价值.甲酸脱氢酶(formate dehydrogenase,FDH)能氧化甲酸盐生成二氧化碳,同时将NAD(P)+还原为NAD(P)H,是氧化还原生物合成中辅酶再生体系的关键酶.但天然的FDH催化效率低、稳定性差、辅酶利用率不高等缺点制约了其在工业生产中的应用...     

Coimmobilization of malate dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase in polyethyleneglycol(#4000)diacrylate gel by droplet gel-entrapping method

A new immobilization technique suitable for coupled enzymes requiring cofactors was established. This is a droplet gel-entrapping method in which many small droplets including the enzymes are fixed in the gel. The first emulsion was prepared by mixing of a solution containing thermostable malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) with benzene containing a surfactant. The first emulsion was added to a solution containing polyethyleneglycol(#4000)diacrylate and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide to prepare the second emulsion (w/o/w). After the second emulsion was gelled by addition of potassium persulfate and 3-dimethylaminopropionitrile, the benzene was removed. The expressed MDH and FDH activities of the MDH-FDH immobilized gel were 7.1 and 13.9% of the initial activities, respectively. The K(m) values of the gel were 0.60mM for formate and 1.5muM for NAD, respectively. The K(m) for formate and NAD were found to be extremely low. By using the column packed with 30 g gel having the MDH activity of 41.7 units and the FDH activity of 11.1 units, 13.8mM oxalacetate was completely converted to malate at 30 degrees C. The malate production rate was not affected by the concentration of more than 50mM formate, more than 2mM oxalacetate, and more than 0.1 mM NAD, respectively. Long-term malate production was demonstrated at 30 degrees C by passing the substrate solution containing the two substrates and NAD through the column. The maximum conversion ratio (7.8%) was obtained at the fifth day, and 83% of maximum productivity was maintained even after 3 weeks. The expressed FDH activity at the fifth day was calculated to be 20.5% of the initial activity.     

Purification and characterization of formate dehydrogenase from Ancylobacter aquaticus strain KNK607M,and cloning of the gene

Ancylobacter aquaticus strain KNK607M, which had high NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) activity, was newly isolated. The enzyme, purified to homogeneity, was a dimer composed of identical subunits with a molecular mass of 44 kDa. The specific activity was 9.5 u/mg, and the enzyme was optimum at pH 6.3 and 50 degrees C, most stable at pH 7.0, and stable at 50 degrees C or lower. The apparent Km values for formate and NAD+ were 2.4 and 0.057 mM, respectively. The enzyme was specific to formate and was inhibited by SH reagents and heavy metal ions. The cloned gene of FDH contained one open reading frame (ORF) of 1206 base pairs, predicted to encode a polypeptide of 401 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight of 43,895; this gene was highly expressed in E. coli cells. The FDH had high identity to other FDHs, i.e., those of Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Moraxella, and Paracoccus, which were 91.3%, 90.8%, 84.2%, and 82.3%, respectively.     

Structure-function relationships in human glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase. Role of Glu-67 and Arg-368 in the catalytic mechanism

The active-site zinc in human glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) undergoes coenzyme-induced displacement and transient coordination to a highly conserved glutamate residue (Glu-67) during the catalytic cycle. The role of this transient coordination of the active-site zinc to Glu-67 in the FDH catalytic cycle and the associated coenzyme interactions were investigated by studying enzymes in which Glu-67 and Arg-368 were substituted with Leu. Structures of FDH.adenosine 5'-diphosphate ribose (ADP-ribose) and E67L.NAD(H) binary complexes were determined. Steady-state kinetics, isotope effects, and presteady-state analysis of the E67L enzyme show that Glu-67 is critical for capturing the substrates for catalysis. The catalytic efficiency (V/K(m)) of the E67L enzyme in reactions involving S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-hydroxymethylglutathione (HMGSH) and 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid (12-HDDA) were 25 000-, 3000-, and 180-fold lower, respectively, than for the wild-type enzyme. The large decrease in the efficiency of capturing GSNO and HMGSH by the E67L enzyme results mainly because of the impaired binding of these substrates to the mutant enzyme. In the case of 12-HDDA, a decrease in the rate of hydride transfer is the major factor responsible for the reduction in the efficiency of its capture for catalysis by the E67L enzyme. Binding of the coenzyme is not affected by the Glu-67 substitution. A partial displacement of the active-site zinc in the FDH.ADP-ribose binary complex indicates that the disruption of the interaction between Glu-67 and Arg-368 is involved in the displacement of active-site zinc. Kinetic studies with the R368L enzyme show that the predominant role of Arg-368 is in the binding of the coenzyme. An isomerization of the ternary complex before hydride transfer is detected in the kinetic pathway of HMGSH. Steps involved in the binding of the coenzyme to the FDH active site are also discerned from the unique conformation of the coenzyme in one of the subunits of the E67L.NAD(H) binary complex.     

Adaptation of a thermophilic enzyme, 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, to low temperatures

Random mutagenesis coupled with screening of the active enzyme at a low temperature was applied to isolate cold-adapted mutants of a thermophilic enzyme. Four mutant enzymes with enhanced specific activities (up to 4.1-fold at 40 degrees C) at a moderate temperature were isolated from randomly mutated Thermus thermophilus 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase. Kinetic analysis revealed two types of cold-adapted mutants, i.e. k(cat)-improved and K(m)-improved types. The k(cat)-improved mutants showed less temperature-dependent catalytic properties, resulting in improvement of k(cat) (up to 7.5-fold at 40 degrees C) at lower temperatures with increased K(m) values mainly for NAD. The K(m)-improved enzyme showed higher affinities toward the substrate and the coenzyme without significant change in k(cat) at the temperatures investigated (30-70 degrees C). In k(cat)-improved mutants, replacement of a residue was found near the binding pocket for the adenine portion of NAD. Two of the mutants retained thermal stability indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme. Extreme thermal stability of the thermophilic enzyme is not necessarily decreased to improve the catalytic function at lower temperatures. The present strategy provides a powerful tool for obtaining active mutant enzymes at lower temperatures. The results also indicate that it is possible to obtain cold-adapted mutant enzymes with high thermal stability.     

Functional roles of ATP-binding residues in the catalytic site of human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme

Human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme is inhibited by ATP. The X-ray crystal structures have revealed that two ATP molecules occupy both the active and exo site of the enzyme, suggesting that ATP might act as an allosteric inhibitor of the enzyme. However, mutagenesis studies and kinetic evidences indicated that the catalytic activity of the enzyme is inhibited by ATP through a competitive inhibition mechanism in the active site and not in the exo site. Three amino acid residues, Arg165, Asn259, and Glu314, which are hydrogen-bonded with NAD+ or ATP, are chosen to characterize their possible roles on the inhibitory effect of ATP for the enzyme. Our kinetic data clearly demonstrate that Arg165 is essential for catalysis. The R165A enzyme had very low enzyme activity, and it was only slightly inhibited by ATP and not activated by fumarate. The values of K(m,NAD) and K(i,ATP) to both NAD+ and malate were elevated. Elimination of the guanidino side chain of R165 made the enzyme defective on the binding of NAD+ and ATP, and it caused the charge imbalance in the active site. These effects possibly caused the enzyme to malfunction on its catalytic power. The N259A enzyme was less inhibited by ATP but could be fully activated by fumarate at a similar extent compared with the wild-type enzyme. For the N259A enzyme, the value of K(i,ATP) to NAD+ but not to malate was elevated, indicating that the hydrogen bonding between ATP and the amide side chain of this residue is important for the binding stability of ATP. Removal of this side chain did not cause any harmful effect on the fumarate-induced activation of the enzyme. The E314A enzyme, however, was severely inhibited by ATP and only slightly activated by fumarate. The values of K(m,malate), K(m,NAD), and K(i,ATP) to both NAD+ and malate for E314A were reduced to about 2-7-folds compared with those of the wild-type enzyme. It can be concluded that mutation of Glu314 to Ala eliminated the repulsive effects between Glu314 and malate, NAD+, or ATP, and thus the binding affinities of malate, NAD+, and ATP in the active site of the enzyme were enhanced.     

Pilot scale production and isolation of recombinant NAD+- and NADP+-specific formate dehydrogenases.

The expression of the recombinant wild-type NAD+- and mutant NADP+-dependent formate dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.2., FDH) from the methanol-utilizing bacterium Pseudomonas sp. 101 in Escherichia coli cells has been improved to produce active and soluble enzyme up to the level of 50% of total soluble proteins. The cultivation process for E. coli/pFDH8a and E. coli/pFDH8aNP cells was optimized and scaled up to a volume of 100 L. A downstream purification process has been developed to produce technical grade NAD+- and NADP+-specific formate dehydrogenases in pilot scale, utilizing extraction in aqueous two-phase systems.     

Distinct conformation-mediated functions of an active site loop in the catalytic reactions of NAD-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase

The three-dimensional structures of NAD-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH), which resemble each other, imply that the two enzymes commonly employ certain main chain atoms, which are located on corresponding loop structures in the active sites of the two enzymes, for their respective catalytic functions. These active site loops adopt different conformations in the two enzymes, a difference likely attributable to hydrogen bonds with Asn97 and Glu141, which are also located at equivalent positions in D-LDH and FDH, respectively. X-ray crystallography at 2.4-A resolution revealed that replacement of Asn97 with Asp did not markedly change the overall protein structure but markedly perturbed the conformation of the active site loop in Lactobacillus pentosus D-LDH. The Asn97-->Asp mutant D-LDH exhibited virtually the same k(cat), but about 70-fold higher K(M) value for pyruvate than the wild-type enzyme. For Paracoccus sp. 12-A FDH, in contrast, replacement of Glu141 with Gln and Asn induced only 5.5- and 4.3-fold increases in the K(M) value, but 110 and 590-fold decreases in the k(cat) values for formate, respectively. Furthermore, these mutant FDHs, particularly the Glu141-->Asn enzyme, exhibited markedly enhanced catalytic activity for glyoxylate reduction, indicating that FDH is converted to a 2-hydroxy-acid dehydrogenase on the replacement of Glu141. These results indicate that the active site loops play different roles in the catalytic reactions of D-LDH and FDH, stabilization of substrate binding and promotion of hydrogen transfer, respectively, and that Asn97 and Glu141, which stabilize suitable loop conformations, are essential elements for proper loop functioning.     

Effect of interactions between amino acid residues 43 and 61 on thermal stability of bacterial formate dehydrogenases

NAD⁺-dependent formate dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.2, FDH) of methylotrophic bacteria Pseudomonas sp. 101 (PseFDH) and Mycobacterium vaccae N10 (MycFDH) exhibit high homology. They differ in two amino acid residues only among a total of 400, i.e., Ile35 and Glu61 in MycFDH substitute for Thr35 and Lys61 as in PseFDH. However, the rate constant for MycFDH thermal inactivation in the temperature range of 54-65°C is 4-6-times higher than the corresponding rate constant for the enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. 101. To clarify the role of these residues in FDH stability the dependence of the apparent rate constant for enzyme inactivation on phosphate concentration was studied. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal inactivation were obtained for both recombinant wild-type and mutant forms, i.e., MycFDH Glu61Gln, Glu61Pro, Glu61Lys and PseFDH Lys61Arg. It has been shown that the lower stability of MycFDH compared to that of PseFDH is caused mainly by electrostatic repulsion between Asp43 and Glu61 residues. Replacement of Lys61 with an Arg residue in the PseFDH molecule does not result in an increase in stability.     

Regulation of the formate dehydrogenase gene, FDH1, in the methylotrophic yeast Candida boidinii and growth characteristics of an FDH1-disrupted strain on methanol, methylamine, and choline.

The structural gene (FDH1) coding for NAD(+)-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) was cloned from a genomic library of Candida boidinii, and the FDH1 gene was disrupted in the C. boidinii genome (fdh1 delta) by one-step gene disruption. In a batch culture experiment, although the fdh1 delta strain was still able to grow on methanol, its growth was greatly inhibited and a toxic level of formate was detected in the medium. In a methanol-limited chemostat culture at a low dilution rate (0.03 to 0.05 h[-1]), formate was not detected in the culture medium of the fdh1 delta strain; however, the fdh1 delta strain showed only one-fourth of the growth yield of the wild-type strain. Expression of FDH1 was found to be induced by choline or methylamine (used as a nitrogen source), as well as by methanol (used as a carbon source). Induction of FDH1 was not repressed in the presence of glucose when cells were grown on methylamine, choline, or formate, and expression of FDH1 was shown to be regulated at the mRNA level. Growth on methylamine or choline as a nitrogen source in a batch culture was compared between the wild type and the fdh1 delta mutant. Although the growth of the fdh1 delta mutant was impaired and the level of formate was higher in the fdh1 delta mutant than in the wild-type strain, the growth defect caused by FDH1 gene disruption was small and less severe than that caused by growth on methanol. As judged from these results, the main physiological role of FDH with all of the FDH1-inducing growth substrates seems to be detoxification of formate, and during growth on methanol, FDH seems to contribute significantly to the energy yield.     

Molecular modeling of formate dehydrogenase: the formation of the Michaelis complex

The formation of the reactive enzyme–substrate complex of formate dehydrogenase has been investigated by molecular dynamics techniques accounting for different conformational states of the enzyme. Simulations revealed that the transport of substrate to the active site through the substrate channel proceeds in the open conformation of enzyme due to the crucial role of the Arg284 residue acting as a vehicle. However, formate binding in the active site of the open conformation leads to the formation of a nonproductive enzyme–substrate complex. The productive Michaelis complex is formed only in the closed enzyme conformation after the substrate and coenzyme have bound, when required rigidity of the binding site and reactive formate orientation due to interactions with Arg284, Asn146, Ile122, and His332 residues is attained. Then, the high occupancy (up to 75%) of the reactive substrate–coenzyme conformation is reached, which was demonstrated by hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations using various semiempirical Hamiltonians.     

Molecular modeling of formate dehydrogenase: the formation of the Michaelis complex

The formation of the reactive enzyme-substrate complex of formate dehydrogenase has been investigated by molecular dynamics techniques accounting for different conformational states of the enzyme. Simulations revealed that the transport of substrate to the active site through the substrate channel proceeds in the open conformation of enzyme due to the crucial role of the Arg284 residue acting as a vehicle. However, formate binding in the active site of the open conformation leads to the formation of a nonproductive enzyme-substrate complex. The productive Michaelis complex is formed only in the closed enzyme conformation after the substrate and coenzyme have bound, when required rigidity of the binding site and reactive formate orientation due to interactions with Arg284, Asn146, Ile122, and His332 residues is attained. Then, the high occupancy (up to 75%) of the reactive substrate-coenzyme conformation is reached, which was demonstrated by hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations using various semiempirical Hamiltonians.     

Accumulation of pyruvate by changing the redox status in Escherichia coli

Pyruvate was produced from glucose by Escherichia coli BW25113 that contained formate dehydrogenase (FDH) from Mycobacterium vaccae. In aerobic shake-flask culture (K (L) a?=?4.9?min(-1)), the recombinant strain produced 6.7?g pyruvate?l(-1) after 24?h with 4?g sodium formate?l(-1) and a yield of 0.34?g pyruvate?g?glucose(-1). These values were higher than those of the original strain (0.2?g?l(-1) pyruvate and 0.02?g pyruvate?g?glucose(-1)). Based on the reaction mechanism of FDH, the introduction of FDH into E. coli enhances the accumulation of pyruvate by the regeneration of NADH from NAD(+) since NAD(+) is a shared cosubstrate with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which decarboxylates pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and CO(2). The oxygenation level was enough high to inactivate lactate dehydrogenase, which was of benefit to pyruvate accumulation without lactate as a by-product.     

The artificial evolution of an enzyme by random mutagenesis: the development of formaldehyde dehydrogenase

A unique variant of glutathione independent formaldehyde dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas putida was obtained by random mutagenesis using the PCR-reaction. This YM042 mutant, S318G, was a cold-adapted formaldehyde dehyrogenase. The activity at 29 degrees C of the variant was 1.7-fold higher than that of the wild type. The K(m) values of the mutant at 37 degrees C were 0.40 mM for NAD(+) and 2.5 mM for formaldehyde, while those of the wild-type were 0.18 mM for NAD(+) and 2.1 mM for formaldehyde. The catalytic efficiency for formaldehyde was about 1.5-fold greater in the mutant than in the wild-type enzyme. The optimum pHs and temperatures of the mutant and the wild-type enzyme were 7.5, and 8.0 and 37 degrees C, and 47 degrees C, respectively. The thermal stability of the mutant was lower than that of the wild type.     

Heterologous production of extreme alkaline thermostable NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase with wide-range pH activity from Myceliophthora thermophila

NAD⁺-dependent formate dehydrogenase(s) (EC 1.2.1.2, FDH) catalyzes the interconversion of formate anion to carbon dioxide coupled with the conversion of NAD⁺ or NADH. FDHs attract significant attention in biotechnology due to their potential applications in NAD(H)-dependent industrial biocatalysis as well as in the production of renewable fuels and chemicals from carbon dioxide. In the present work, a new FDH from thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophile (MtFDH) was characterized. The gene of the enzyme was synthesised, cloned, expressed in E. coli, as 6His-tagged protein, and purified to homogeneity by metal chelate affinity chromatography. Kinetic analysis suggested that MtFDH exhibits higher catalytic efficiency on NaHCO₃ compared to formate. Notable, recombinant MtFDH displays a pH optimum for the conversion of formate anion to carbon dioxide at extreme alkaline pH (pH 10.5). Thermal stability analysis showed that the enzyme displays good thermostability with T_m 48 °C. Homology modelling and phylogenetic analysis suggested that the enzyme belongs to the D-specific 2-hydroxy acid dehydrogenases family. The active-site residues are well conserved compared to other homologous FDHs. The results of the present work provide new knowledge on the structure, function and diversity of FDHs and indicate that MtFDH possess a huge potential for CO₂ reduction or NADH generation and under extreme alkaline conditions.     

Characterization of the NAD+ binding site of Candida boidinii formate dehydrogenase by affinity labelling and site-directed mutagenesis.

The 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of ADP (oADP) has been shown to be an affinity label for the NAD+ binding site of recombinant Candida boidinii formate dehydrogenase (FDH). Inactivation of FDH by oADP at pH 7.6 followed biphasic pseudo first-order saturation kinetics. The rate of inactivation exhibited a nonlinear dependence on the concentration of oADP, which can be described by reversible binding of reagent to the enzyme (Kd = 0.46 mM for the fast phase, 0.45 mM for the slow phase) prior to the irreversible reaction, with maximum rate constants of 0.012 and 0.007 min-1 for the fast and slow phases, respectively. Inactivation of formate dehydrogenase by oADP resulted in the formation of an enzyme-oADP product, a process that was reversed after dialysis or after treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol (> 90% reactivation). The reactivation of the enzyme by 2-mercaptoethanol was prevented if the enzyme-oADP complex was previously reduced by NaBH4, suggesting that the reaction product was a stable Schiff's base. Protection from inactivation was afforded by nucleotides (NAD+, NADH and ADP) demonstrating the specificity of the reaction. When the enzyme was completely inactivated, approximately 1 mol of [14C]oADP per mol of subunit was incorporated. Cleavage of [14C]oADP-modified enzyme with trypsin and subsequent separation of peptides by RP-HPLC gave only one radioactive peak. Amino-acid sequencing of the radioactive tryptic peptide revealed the target site of oADP reaction to be Lys360. These results indicate that oADP inactivates FDH by specific reaction at the nucleotide binding site, with negative cooperativity between subunits accounting for the appearance of two phases of inactivation. Molecular modelling studies were used to create a model of C. boidinii FDH, based on the known structure of the Pseudomonas enzyme, using the MODELLER 4 program. The model confirmed that Lys360 is positioned at the NAD+-binding site. Site-directed mutagenesis was used in dissecting the structure and functional role of Lys360. The mutant Lys360-->Ala enzyme exhibited unchanged kcat and Km values for formate but showed reduced affinity for NAD+. The molecular model was used to help interpret these biochemical data concerning the Lys360-->Ala enzyme. The data are discussed in terms of engineering coenzyme specificity.     

Contributions of valine-292 in the nicotinamide binding site of liver alcohol dehydrogenase and dynamics to catalysis

The participation of Val-292 in catalysis by alcohol dehydrogenase and the involvement of dynamics were investigated. Val-292 interacts with the nicotinamide ring of the bound coenzyme and may facilitate hydride transfer. The substitution of Val-292 with Ser (V292S) increases the dissociation constants for the coenzymes (NAD(+) by 50-fold, NADH by 75-fold) and the turnover numbers by 3-7-fold. The V292S enzyme crystallized in the presence of NAD(+) and 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl alcohol has an open conformation similar to the structure of the wild-type apo-enzyme, rather than the closed conformation observed for ternary complexes with wild-type enzyme. The V292S substitution perturbs the conformational equilibrium of the enzyme and decreases the kinetic complexity, which permits study of the hydride transfer step with steady-state kinetics. Eyring plots show that the DeltaH for the oxidation (V(1)) of the protio and deuterio benzyl alcohols is 13 kcal/mol and that the kinetic isotope effect of 4.1 is essentially temperature-independent. Eyring plots for the catalytic efficiency for reduction of benzaldehyde (V(2)/K(p)) with NADH or NADD are distinctly convex, being temperature-dependent from 5 to 25 degrees C and temperature-independent from 25 to 50 degrees C; the kinetic isotope effect of 3.2 for V(2)/K(p) is essentially independent of the temperature. The temperature dependencies and isotope effects for V(1) and V(2)/K(p) are not adequately explained by semiclassical transition state theory and are better explained by hydride transfer occurring through vibrationally assisted tunneling.