On the role of arginine-glutamic acid ion pair in the ATP hydrolysis

The complex between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 4-guanidinobutyric acid (GBA) has been studied by infrared spectroscopy dry and hydrated (60% relative humidity). Partial nonenzymic hydrolysis has been detected, as deduced from characteristic bands of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic orthophosphate formation. An infrared continuum, which increases upon hydration, demonstrates that the hydrogen bonded system in this complex has a large proton polarizability due to collective proton fluctuation. On this basis, a mechanism for splitting of lytic water molecules is also discussed.