title: Allosteric linkages between beta-site covalent transformations and alpha-site activation and deactivation in the tryptophan synthase bienzyme complex.
abstract: This work examines two aspects of the catalytic mechanism and allosteric regulation of the tryptophan synthase bienzyme complex from Salmonella typhimurium: (a) the chemical mechanism by which indole and other nucleophiles react with the enzyme-bound alpha-aminoacrylate Schiff base intermediate, E(A-A), to form quinonoidal intermediates, E(Q), and (b) the effects of covalent transformations at the beta-site on the catalytic activity of the alpha-site. Transient kinetic studies in combination with alpha-secondary deuterium isotope effects are undertaken to determine the mechanism of nucleophile addition to E(A-A). These studies establish that nucleophilic attack is best described by a two-step reaction sequence consisting of a binding step that is followed by Michael addition to the conjugated double bond of E(A-A). Analysis of isotope effects suggests that the transition state for indole addition gives an E(A-A) beta-carbon that resembles an sp3 center, while the stronger nucleophiles, indoline and beta-mercaptoethanol, have transition states that appear to more closely resemble an sp2 beta-carbon. The effects of beta-site covalent transformations on alpha-site catalysis were studied using quasi-stable beta-site intermediates and the alpha-site substrate analogue 3-[6-nitroindole]-D-glycerol 3'-phosphate (6-nitro-IGP). It was found that the cleavage of 6-nitro-IGP is strongly activated by the formation of E(A-A) and various E(Q) species at the beta-site but not by external aldimine species. Therefore, we conclude that the conversion of the L-Ser external aldimine to E(A-A) is the beta-site process which activates the alpha-site, while conversion of E(Q) to the L-Trp external aldimine triggers deactivation of the alpha-site. These findings are discussed within the context of allosteric regulation of substrate channeling in tryptophan synthase catalysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Leja
authors.forename: E U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Woehl
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D001665:Binding Sites; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007211:Indoles / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000201:enzymology; D014367:Tryptophan Synthase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D014367:Tryptophan Synthase