title: Uncovering the enzymatic pKa of the ribosomal peptidyl transferase reaction utilizing a fluorinated puromycin derivative.
abstract: The ribosome-catalyzed peptidyl transferase reaction displays a complex pH profile resulting from two functional groups whose deprotonation is important for the reaction, one within the A-site substrate and a second unidentified group thought to reside in the rRNA peptidyl transferase center. Here we report the synthesis and activity of the beta,beta-difluorophenylalanyl derivative of puromycin, an A-site substrate. The fluorine atoms reduce the pK(a) of the nucleophilic alpha-amino group (<5.0) such that it is deprotonated at all pHs amenable to ribosomal analysis (pH 5.2-9.5). In the 50S modified fragment assay, this substrate reacts substantially faster than puromycin at neutral or acidic pH. The reaction follows a simplified pH profile that is dependent only upon deprotonation of a titratable group within the ribosomal active site. This feature will simplify characterization of the peptidyl transferase reaction mechanism. On the basis of the reaction efficiency of the doubly fluorinated substrate compared to the unfluorinated derivative, the Bronsted coefficient for the nucleophile is estimated to be substantially smaller than that reported for uncatalyzed aminolysis reactions, which has important mechanistic implications for the peptidyl transferase reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Seila
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strobel
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011691:Puromycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C027217:2-fluorophenylalanine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D011691:Puromycin; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases