title: Purification and characterization of an enzyme involved in oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage reactions in the methionine salvage pathway of Klebsiella pneumoniae.
abstract: The 5-methylthio-D-ribose moiety of 5'-(methylthio)-adenosine is converted to methionine in a wide variety of organisms. 2,3-Diketo-5-methylthio-1-phosphopentane is an advanced intermediate in the methionine recycling pathway present in the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae. This unusual metabolite is oxidatively cleaved to yield formate (from C-1), 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyrate (the transamination product of methionine), and 3-methylthiopropionate. To further characterize this oxidative conversion, the desthio analog of the naturally occurring diketone, namely 2,3-diketo-1-phosphohexane I, was synthesized. If the metabolism of I is analogous to that of 2,3-diketo-5-methylthio-1-phosphopentane it should be converted to formate, 2-ketopentanoate, and butyrate. An enzyme (E-1), which mediates the oxidative conversion of I to formate and 2-ketopentanoate, was isolated from extracts of K. pneumoniae. E-1 was purified 100-fold to homogeneity in 10% yield. The native enzyme is a monomeric protein of M(r) 27,000. The activity of E-1 requires magnesium ion as a cofactor. No other prosthetic groups were detected. Incubation of the enzyme with I, under anaerobic conditions, led to the discovery of two intermediates. These species have been identified by 1H and 13C NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy, and model chemistry studies as 2-hydroxy-3-keto-1-phospho-1-hexene II, generated by enolization of I; and 1,2-dihydroxy-3-keto-1-hexene III, generated by enzymatic dephosphorylation of II. Intermediates II and III are released from the active site of the enzyme; III accumulates under anaerobic conditions. Under aerobic conditions, III is non-enzymically oxidized to 2-ketopentanoate, formate, and other products. Compound II was also generated by heating I at pH 7.5 for 7 min. Action of alkaline phosphatase on II produces III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Parasitology, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey 07065.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wray
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Abeles
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C084223:2,3-diketo-1-phosphohexane; D002244:Carbon; D008715:Methionine; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase