.alpha.-Deuterium and carbon-13 isotope effects for methyl transfer catalyzed by catechol O-methyltransferase. SN2-like transition state

1979 ◽  
Vol 101 (15) ◽  
pp. 4359-4365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed F. Hegazi ◽  
Ronald T. Borchardt ◽  
Richard L. Schowen

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul Wolfe ◽  
Chan-Kyung Kim ◽  
Kiyull Yang ◽  
Noham Weinberg ◽  
Zheng Shi

Using ab initio molecular orbital theory mainly at the 3-21+G level, intramolecular SN2 methyl transfer between two oxygens confined within a rigid template is found to proceed exclusively by a high energy retention mechanism when the oxygens are separated by three or four bonds, and by a high energy inversion mechanism when the oxygens are separated by six bonds. Both mechanisms exist when the oxygens are separated by five bonds. The CH3/CD3 kinetic isotope effects are normal (1.21-1.34) in the retention processes and inverse (0.66-0.81) in the inversion reactions. In the case of inversion, compression of C-H bonds of the transition state by structural effects in the plane perpendicular to the O-C-O plane increases the inverse isotope effect. The retention barriers are high because retention is inherently unfavorable, even when pericyclic stabilization of the transition state is possible. The inversion barriers are high because a rigid template cannot accommodate a linear O-CH3 -O structure, and the O-C-O bending vibration is stiff (the Eschenmoser effect). Using a novel design strategy, a nonrigid template has been found in which the barrier and the CH3/CD3 kinetic isotope effect are the same as in an intermolecular reaction.Key words: Eschenmoser effect, isotope effect, compression, SN2, sigmatropic rearrangement.



2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (11) ◽  
pp. 2916-2921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Du ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Vern L. Schramm

Human DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) maintains the epigenetic state of DNA by replicating CpG methylation signatures from parent to daughter strands, producing heritable methylation patterns through cell divisions. The proposed catalytic mechanism of DNMT1 involves nucleophilic attack of Cys1226 to cytosine (Cyt) C6, methyl transfer from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) to Cyt C5, and proton abstraction from C5 to form methylated CpG in DNA. Here, we report the subangstrom geometric and electrostatic structure of the major transition state (TS) of the reaction catalyzed by human DNMT1. Experimental kinetic isotope effects were used to guide quantum mechanical calculations to solve the TS structure. Methyl transfer occurs after Cys1226 attack to Cyt C6, and the methyl transfer step is chemically rate-limiting for DNMT1. Electrostatic potential maps were compared for the TS and ground states, providing the electronic basis for interactions between the protein and reactants at the TS. Understanding the TS of DNMT1 demonstrates the possibility of using similar analysis to gain subangstrom geometric insight into the complex reactions of epigenetic modifications.









1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-113
Author(s):  
Saul Wolfe ◽  
Chan-Kyung Kim ◽  
Kiyull Yang ◽  
Noham Weinberg ◽  
Zheng Shi

Using ab initio molecular orbital theory mainly at the 3-21 + G level, intramolecular SN2 methyl transfer between two oxygens confined within a rigid template is found to proceed exclusively by a high energy retention mechanism when the oxygens are separated by three or four bonds, and by a high energy inversion mechanism when the oxygens are separated by six bonds. Both mechanisms exist when the oxygens are separated by five bonds. The CH3/CD3 kinetic isotope effects are normal (1.21-1.34) in the retention processes and inverse (0.66-0.81) in the inversion reactions. In the case of inversion, compression of C-H bonds of the transition state by structural effects in the plane perpendicular to the O-C-O plane increases the inverse isotope effect. The retention barriers are high because retention is inherently unfavorable, even when pericyclic stabilization of the transition state is possible. The inversion barriers are high because a rigid template cannot accommodate a linear O-CH3-O structure, and the O-C-O bending vibration is stiff (the Eschenmoser effect). Using a novel design strategy, a nonrigid template has been found in which the barrier and the CH3/CD3 kinetic isotope effect are the same as in an intermolecular reaction.Key words: Eschenmoser effect, isotope effect, compression, SN2, sigmatropic rearrangement.



1966 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 1377-1384
Author(s):  
A. V. Willi

Kinetic carbon-13 and deuterium isotope effects are calculated for the SN2 reaction of CH3I with CN-. The normal vibrational frequencies of CH3I, the transition state I · · · CH3 · · · CN, and the corresponding isotope substituted reactants and transition states are evaluated from the force constants by solving the secular equation on an IBM 7094 computer.Values for 7 force constants of the planar CH3 moiety in the transition state (with an sp2 C atom) are obtained by comparison with suitable stable molecules. The stretching force constants related to the bonds being broken or newly formed (fCC, fCC and the interaction between these two stretches, /12) are chosen in such a way that either a zero or imaginary value for νʟ≠ will result. Agreement between calculated and experimental methyl-C13 isotope effects (k12/ k13) can be obtained only in sample calculations with sufficiently large values of f12 which lead to imaginary νʟ≠ values. Furthermore, the difference between fCI and fCC must be small (in the order of 1 mdyn/Å). The bending force constants, fHCI and fHCC, exert relatively little influence on k12/k13. They are important for the D isotope effect, however. As soon as experimental data on kH/kD are available it will be possible to derive a value for fHCC in the transition state if fHCI is kept constant at 0.205 mdynA, and if fCI, fCC and f12 are held in a reasonable order of magnitude. There is no agreement between experimental and calculated cyanide-C13 isotope effects. Possible explanations are discussed. — Since fCI and fCC cannot differ much it must be concluded that the transition state is relatively “symmetric”, with approximately equal amounts of bond making and bond breaking.





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