Ionization characteristics of the Cys-25/His-159 interactive system and of the modulatory group of papain: resolution of ambiguity by electronic perturbation of the quasi-2-mercaptopyridine leaving group in a new pyrimidyl disulphide reactivity probe

1. A new thiol-specific reactivity probe 4,4′-dipyrimidyl disulphide [compound (VII), m.p. 110 degrees C, pKa of its monohydronated form 0.91] was synthesized and used to resolve the ambiguity of interpretation of the behaviour of papain (EC 3.4.22.2) in alkaline media known to depend to varying extents on two ionizations with pKa values approx. 8.0-8.5 and > or = 9.5 respectively. 2. A new extensive pH-second-order rate constant (k) data set for the reaction of papain with 2-(acetamido)-ethyl 2′-pyridyl disulphide (IV) demonstrated the existence of a striking rate maximum at pH approx. 4, the independence of k around pH 8 and the increase in k with increase in pH across a pKa value of 10.0, behaviour similar to that of other 2-pyridyl disulphides (R-S-S-2-Py) that lack key substrate-like binding sites in R. 3. Although the simplest interpretation of the pKa value of 10.0 assigns it to the formation of (Cys-25)-S-/(His-159)-Im from the ion-pair state of the papain catalytic site, another interpretation may be conceived in which this pKa value is assigned to another group remote from the catalytic site, the state of ionization of which modulates catalytic-site behaviour. This alternative assignment is shown to require compensating effects in the pH region around 8 such that the formation of (Cys-25)-S-/(His-159)-Im across pKa 8.0-8.5 is without net kinetic effect in the reactions of simple 2-pyridyl disulphides such as compound (IV) and 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide (II). 4. The lower basicity of compound (VII) relative to that of compound (II) (pKa 2.45) was predicted to diminish or abolish the compensation postulated as a possibility in reactions of 2-pyridyl disulphides because of the decreased effectiveness of reaction via a (His-159)-Im+H-assisted transition state. The characteristics of the pH-dependence of the reaction of papain with compound (VII) which are quite different from those for its reaction with compound (II) support both this prediction and the alternative assignment with a value of 8.3 for the pKa of the formation of (Cys-25)-S-/(His-159)-Im. 5. Evidence that the behaviour of papain towards both substrates and some substrate-derived time-dependent inhibitors is determined not only by the loss of the (Cys-25)-S-/(His-159)-Im+H ion-pair state by dehydronation with pKa 8.3 but also by another ionization of pKa approx. 10.0 is briefly discussed.

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Investigation of the catalytic site of actinidin by using benzofuroxan as a reactivity probe with selectivity for the thiolate-imidazolium ion-pair systems of cysteine proteinases. Evidence that the reaction of the ion-pair of actinidin (pKI 3.0, pKII 9.6) is modulated by the state of ionization of a group associated with a molecular pKa of 5.5

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2130713 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 213 (3) ◽

pp. 713-718 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

E Salih ◽

K Brocklehurst

Keyword(s):

Cysteine Proteinase ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Thiol Group ◽

Order Rate Constant ◽

Ion Pair ◽

The State ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Analogous Reaction ◽

Decreasing Ph ◽

Electrophilic Reactivity

Benzofuroxan reacts with the catalytic-site thiol group of actinidin (EC 3.4.22.14, the cysteine proteinase from Actinidia chinensis) to produce stoicheiometric amounts of the chromophoric reduction product, o-benzoquinone dioxime, and of a catalytically inactive derivative of actinidin that is devoid of thiol and that is assumed to contain, initially at least, the sulphenic acid of cysteine-25. A similar result applies also to papain (EC 3.4.22.2). The rate of o-benzoquinone dioxime formation is neither increased by inclusion of 2-mercaptoethanol or hydroxylamine in the reaction mixture nor decreased by changing the solvent from H2O to 2H2O. The change of solvent was shown to be without effect also on the rate of reaction of benzofuroxan with papain. These results suggest that the reactions of benzofuroxan with both actinidin and papain involve rate-determining attack of the catalytic-site thiol group to produce an intermediate adduct that then reacts rapidly with water to form enzyme sulphenic acid and o-benzoquinone dioxime. The pH-dependence of the second-order rate constant for the reaction of benzofuroxan with actinidin was determined in the pH range 4.3-10.2. In marked contrast with the analogous reaction of papain (reported by Shipton & Brocklehurst [(1977) Biochem. J. 167, 799-810]) the pH-k profile for the actinidin reaction clearly contains a sigmoidal component with pKa 5.5, in which k increases with decreasing pH. These data together with the molecular pKa values for S-/ImH+ ion-pair formation and decomposition (3.0 and 9.6) suggest that the combined nucleophilic-electrophilic reactivity of the ion-pair of actinidin might be controlled by the state of ionization of another ionizing group, associated with the molecular pKa of 5.5. The pH-dependence of k for the reaction of actinidin with benzofuroxan at 25 degrees C at I 0.1 in aqueous buffers containing 6.7% (v/v) ethanol is probably adequately described by: k = k1/(1 + [H+]/KI + KII/[H+]) + k2/(1 + [H+]/KII + KIII/ [H+] + k3/(1 + [H+]/KIII) in which kI = 2.55 M -1 X s -1, k2 = 1.35 M -1, k3 = 0.93 M -1 X s -1, pKI = 3.0, pKII = 5.5 and pKIII = 9.6. By contrast, the analogous reaction of papain may be described by the same equation but with kI = 0, k2 = 2.2 M -1 X s -1, k3 = 1.3 M -1 X s -1, pKII = 3.6 and pKIII = 9.0.

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Chemical evidence for the pH-dependent control of ion-pair geometry in cathepsin B. Benzofuroxan as a reactivity probe sensitive to differences in the mutual disposition of the thiolate and imidazolium components of cysteine proteinase catalytic sites

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2380103 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 238 (1) ◽

pp. 103-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

F Willenbrock ◽

K Brocklehurst

Keyword(s):

Cathepsin B ◽

Cysteine Proteinase ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Thiol Group ◽

Ion Pair ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Alkaline Media ◽

Weakly Alkaline ◽

Stem Bromelain ◽

Ph Range

Benzofuroxan reacts with the catalytic-site thiol group of cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1) to produce stoichiometric amount of the chromophoric reduction product, o-benzoquinone dioxime. In a study of the pH-dependence of the kinetics of this reaction, most data were collected for the bovine spleen enzyme, but the more limited data collected for the rat liver enzyme were closely similar both in the magnitude of the values of the second-order rate constants (k) and in the shape of the pH-k profile. In acidic and weakly alkaline media, the reaction is faster than the reactions of benzofuroxan with some other cysteine proteinases. For example, in the pH region around 5-6, the reaction of cathepsin B is about 10 times faster than that of papain, 15 times faster than that of stem bromelain and 6 times faster than that of ficin. The pH-dependence of k for the reaction of cathepsin B with benzofuroxan was determined in the pH range 2.7-8.3. In marked contrast with the analogous reactions of papain, ficin and stem bromelain [reported by Shipton & Brocklehurst (1977) Biochem. J. 167, 799-810], the pH-k profile for the cathepsin B reaction contains a sigmoidal component with pKa 5.2 in which k increases with decrease in pH. This modulation of the reactivity of the catalytic-site -S-/-ImH+ ion-pair state of cathepsin B (produced by protonic dissociation from -SH/-ImH+ with pKa approx. 3) towards a small, rigid, electrophilic reagent, in a reaction that appears to involve both components of the ion-pair for efficient reaction, suggests that the state of ionization of a group associated with a molecular pKa of approx. 5 may control ion-pair geometry. This might account for the remarkable finding [reported by Willenbrock & Brocklehurst (1984) Biochem. J. 222, 805-814] that, although the ion-pair appears to be generated in cathepsin B as the pH is increased across pKa 3.4, catalytic competence is not generated until the pH is increased across pKa 5-6.

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The interplay of electrostatic fields and binding interactions determining catalytic-site reactivity in actinidin. A possible origin of differences in the behaviour of actinidin and papain

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2590443 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 259 (2) ◽

pp. 443-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

D Kowlessur ◽

M O'Driscoll ◽

C M Topham ◽

W Templeton ◽

E W Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Bonding ◽

Ligand Binding ◽

Transition State ◽

Rate Constant ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Order Rate Constant ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Binding Interactions ◽

Electrostatic Fields ◽

Transition State Geometry

1. The pH-dependence of the second-order rate constant (k) for the reaction of actinidin (EC 3.4.22.14) with 2-(N'-acetyl-L-phenylalanylamino)ethyl 2'-pyridyl disulphide was determined and the contributions to k of various hydronic states were evaluated. 2. The data were used to assess the consequences for transition-state geometry of providing P2/S2 hydrophobic contacts in addition to hydrogen-bonding opportunities in the S1-S2 intersubsite region. 3. The P2/S2 contacts (a) substantially improve enzyme-ligand binding, (b) greatly enhance the contribution to reactivity of the hydronic state bounded by pKa 3 (the pKa characteristic of the formation of catalytic-site-S-/-ImH+ state) and pKa 5 (a relatively minor contributor in reactions that lack the P2/S2 contacts), such that the major rate optimum occurs at pH 4 instead of at pH 2.8-2.9, and (c) reveal the kinetic influence of a pKa approx. 6.3 not hitherto observed in reactions of actinidin. 4. Possibilities for the interplay of electrostatic effects and binding interactions in both actinidin and papain (EC 3.4.22.2) are discussed.

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Studies on Horseradish Peroxidase. VII. A Kinetic Study of the Oxidation of Iodide by Horseradish Peroxidase Compound II

Canadian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1139/v71-511 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 49 (18) ◽

pp. 3059-3063 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

R. Roman ◽

H. B. Dunford ◽

M. Evett

Keyword(s):

Ionic Strength ◽

Horseradish Peroxidase ◽

Kinetic Study ◽

Rate Constant ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Order Rate Constant ◽

Acid Dissociation ◽

Ph Range ◽

Compound Ii ◽

Kinetics Of

The kinetics of the oxidation of iodide ion by horseradish peroxidase compound II have been studied as a function of pH at 25° and ionic strength of 0.11. The logarithm of the second-order rate constant decreases linearly from 2.3 × 105 to 0.1 M−1 s−1 with increasing pH over the pH range 2.7 to 9.0. The pH dependence of the reaction is explained in terms of an acid dissociation outside the pH range of the study.

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Clarification of the pH-dependent kinetic behaviour of papain by using reactivity probes and analysis of alkylation and catalysed acylation reactions in terms of multihydronic state models: implications for electrostatics calculations and interpretation of the consequences of site-specific mutations such as Asp-158-Asn and Asp-158-Glu

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2940201 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 294 (1) ◽

pp. 201-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

G W Mellor ◽

M Patel ◽

E W Thomas ◽

K Brocklehurst

Keyword(s):

Alkylating Agents ◽

Kinetic Studies ◽

High Reactivity ◽

Ion Pair ◽

Alkaline Media ◽

Compound I ◽

Complex Behaviour ◽

Ph Dependent ◽

State Models ◽

Pair State

1. The complex behaviour of papain (EC 3.4.22.2) in acidic media has been investigated by (a) stopped-flow reactivity probe kinetics using 4,4′-dipyrimidyl disulphide (I) and 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide (II) as thiol-specific time-dependent inhibitors with markedly different susceptibilities to activation by hydronation (protonation) and (b) using the multitasking application program SKETCHER for the rapid evaluation of pH-dependent kinetic data by means of interactive manipulation of calculated curves. 2. The substantially lower basicity of (I) (pKa 0.91) than that of (II) (pKa 2.45) combined with retention of high reactivity permitted the pKa for the formation of the (Cys-25)-S-/(His-159)-Im+H ion-pair state of papain to be determined kinetically as 3.4, a value close to that (3.3) deduced by potentiometric difference titration [Lewis, Johnson and Shafer (1976) Biochemistry 15, 5009-5017] and lower than the value (approx. 4) often reported from pH-dependent kinetic studies. The higher values are now known to arise from inadequate data analysis that does not take account of other overlapping kinetically influential ionizations. 3. Re-evaluation of the extensive sets of pH-kcat/Km data for the hydrolysis of nine substrates by papain reported by Polgár and Halász (1978) (Eur. J. Biochem. 88, 513-521) by making use of SKETCHER, the known pKa value (3.4) from the reaction with compound (I) and two additional kinetically influential pKa values deduced from the reaction with compound (II) now permits the identification of the pH-dependent events in reactions of papain with inhibitors and substrates. 4. A major conclusion is that, whereas in reactions of simple alkylating agents and compound (I) full nucleophilic character of (Cys-25)-S-/(His-159)-Im+H is provided by hydronic dissociation with pKa 3.3-3.4, in catalysis relatively little catalytic competence is produced consequent upon ion-pair formation. Substantial catalytic competence requires further hydronic dissociation with pKa approx. 4, and for cationic substrates further enhancement is produced by hydronic dissociation with pKa approx. 5. 5. The present work, together with the kinetic analysis of reactions of papain in alkaline media reported by Mellor, Thomas, Topham and Brocklehurst [Biochem. J. (1993) 290, 289-296], defines the kinetically influential ionizations of papain as 3.4, 4.0, 5.0, 8.3 and 10.0 of which 3.4 and 8.3 relate to the formation and subsequent dehydronation of the ion-pair state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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A re-appraisal of the structural basis of stereochemical recognition in papain. Insensitivity of binding-site-catalytic-site signalling to P2-chirality in a time-dependent inhibition

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2660645 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 266 (3) ◽

pp. 645-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

W Templeton ◽

D Kowlessur ◽

E W Thomas ◽

C M Topham ◽

K Brocklehurst

Keyword(s):

Transition State ◽

Binding Site ◽

Kinetic Data ◽

Model Building ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Thiol Group ◽

Order Rate Constant ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Structural Basis ◽

Compound I

1. 2-(N'-Acetyl-D-phenylalanylamino)ethyl 2′-pyridyl disulphide (compound I) [m.p. 123-124 degrees C; [alpha]20D -7.1 degrees (c 0.042 in methanol)] was synthesized, and the results of a study of the pH-dependence of the second-order rate constant (k) for its reaction with the catalytic-site thiol group of papain (EC 3.4.22.2), together with existing kinetic data for the analogous reaction of the L-enantiomer (compound II), were used to evaluate the consequences for transition-state geometry of the difference in chirality at the P2 position of the probe molecule. 2. The kinetic data suggest that the D-enantiomer binds approx. 40-fold less tightly to papain than the L-enantiomer but that the binding-site-catalytic-site signalling that results in a (His-159)-Im(+)-H-assisted transition state occurs equally effectively in the interaction of the former probe as in that of the latter. This results in pH-k profiles for the reactions of both enantiomers each characterized by four macroscopic pKa values (3.7-3.9, 4.1-4.3, 7.9-8.3 and 9.4-9.5) in which k is maximal at pH approx. 6 where the -Im(+)-H-assisted transition state is most fully developed. 3. Model building indicates that both enantiomers can bind to papain such that the phenyl ring of the N-acetylphenylalanyl group makes hydrophobic contacts in the binding pocket of the S2 subsite with preservation of the three hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the substrate analogue reagent and (Asp-158) C = O, (Gly-66) C = O, and (Gly-66)-N-H of papain. Earlier predictions that binding of N-acyl-D-phenylalanine derivatives to papain would be prevented on steric grounds [Berger & Schechter (1970) Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London B 257, 249-264; Lowe & Yuthavong (1971) Biochem. J. 124, 107-115; Lowe (1976) Tetrahedron 32, 291-302] were based on assumed models that are not consistent with the X-ray-diffraction data for papain inhibited by alkylation of Cys-25 with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Ala-chloromethane [Drenth, Kalk & Swen (1976) Biochemistry 15, 3731-3738]. 4. The possibility that the kinetic expression of P2-S2 stereospecificity may depend on the nature of the chemistry occurring in the catalytic site of papain is discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Differences in the chemical and catalytic characteristics of two crystallographically ‘identical’ enzyme catalytic sites. Characterization of actinidin and papain by a combination of pH-dependent substrate catalysis kinetics and reactivity probe studies targeted on the catalytic-site thiol group and its immediate microenvironment

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2470181 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 247 (1) ◽

pp. 181-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

E Salih ◽

J P G Malthouse ◽

D Kowlessur ◽

M Jarvis ◽

M O'Driscoll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ph Dependence ◽

Thiol Group ◽

Ion Pair ◽

Low Ph ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Cysteine Proteinases ◽

Acidic Media ◽

Acid Media ◽

Catalytic Sites

The characteristics of actinidin (EC 3.4.22.14) and papain (EC 3.4.22.2), two cysteine proteinases whose catalytic-site regions appear to superimpose to a degree that approaches atomic co-ordinate accuracy of both crystal structures, were evaluated by determining (a) the pH-dependence in acid media of the acylation process of the catalytic act (k+2/Ks) using N alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide (L-Bz-Arg-Nan) as substrate and (b) the sensitivity of the reactivity of the catalytic-site thiol group and its pH-dependence to structural change in small, thiol-specific, two-protonic-state reactivity probes (2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide and methyl 2-pyridyl disulphide) where enzyme-probe contacts should be restricted to areas close to the catalytic site. Distortion of the catalytic sites of the two enzymes at pH less than 4 was evaluated over time-scales appropriate for both stopped-flow reactivity probe kinetics (less than or equal to 1-2 s) and steady-state substrate catalysis kinetics (3-5 min) by using the 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide monocation as a titrant for non-distorted catalytic sites. This permitted a lower pH limit to be defined for valid kinetic analysis of both types. The behaviour of the enzymes at pH less than 4 requires a kinetic model in which the apparently biomolecular reaction of enzyme with probe reagent is separated from the process leading to loss of conformational integrity by a potentially reversible step. The acylation of actinidin with L-Bz-Arg-Nan in acidic media occurs in two protonic states, one produced by raising the pH across pKa less than 4 which probably characterizes the formation of -S-/-ImH+ ion pair (pKa approx. 3) and the other, of higher reactivity, produced by raising the pH across pKa 5.5, which may characterize rearrangement of catalytic-site geometry. The pH-dependence of the acylation of papain by L-Bz-Arg-Nan is quite different and is not influenced by protonic dissociation with pKa values in the range 5-6. The earlier conclusion that the acylation of papain depends on two protonic dissociations each with pKa approx. 4 was confirmed. This argument is now more firmly based because titration with 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide permits the loss of conformational integrity to be taken into account in the analysis of the kinetic data at very low pH. Methyl 2-pyridyl disulphide was synthesized by reaction of pyridine-2-thione with methyl methanethiolsulphonate and its pKa at I = 0.1 was determined by spectral analysis at 307 nm to be 2.8.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Studies on Horseradish Peroxidase. XI. On the Nature of Compounds I and II as Determined from the Kinetics of the Oxidation of Ferrocyanide

Canadian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1139/v73-088 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 582-587 ◽

Cited By ~ 213

Author(s):

M. L. Cotton ◽

H. B. Dunford

Keyword(s):

Horseradish Peroxidase ◽

Rate Constant ◽

Active Sites ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Order Rate Constant ◽

Second Order ◽

Compound I ◽

Order Rate ◽

Compound Ii ◽

Kinetics Of

In order to investigate the nature of compounds I and II of horseradish peroxidase, the kinetics were studied of ferrocyanide oxidation catalyzed by these compounds which were prepared from three different oxidizing agents. The pH dependence of the apparent second-order rate constant for ferrocyanide oxidation by compound I, prepared from ethyl hydroperoxide and m-chloroperbenzoic acid, was interpreted in terms of an ionization on the enzyme with a pKa = 5.3, identical to that reported previously for hydrogen peroxide. The second-order rate constant for the compound II-ferrocyanide reaction also showed the same pH dependence for the three oxidizing substrates. However, with more accurate results, the compound II-ferrocyanide reaction was reinterpreted in terms of a single ionization with pKa = 8.5. The same dependence of ferrocyanide oxidation on pH suggests structurally identical active sites for compounds I and II prepared from the three different oxidizing substrates.

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Variation in the pH-dependent pre-steady-state and steady-state kinetic characteristics of cysteine-proteinase mechanism: evidence for electrostatic modulation of catalytic-site function by the neighbouring carboxylate anion

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj20030177 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 372 (3) ◽

pp. 735-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Syeed HUSSAIN ◽

Surapong PINITGLANG ◽

Tamara S. F. BAILEY ◽

James D. REID ◽

Michael A. NOBLE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Steady State ◽

Cysteine Proteinase ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Rate Determining Step ◽

Steady State Kinetic ◽

Pka Value ◽

Site Function ◽

Hydrolysis Of ◽

State Kinetic

The acylation and deacylation stages of the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-Phe-Gly methyl thionoester catalysed by papain and actinidin were investigated by stopped-flow spectral analysis. Differences in the forms of pH-dependence of the steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic parameters support the hypothesis that, whereas for papain, in accord with the traditional view, the rate-determining step is the base-catalysed reaction of the acyl-enzyme intermediate with water, for actinidin it is a post-acylation conformational change required to permit release of the alcohol product and its replacement in the catalytic site by the key water molecule. Possible assignments of the kinetically influential pKa values, guided by the results of modelling, including electrostatic-potential calculations, and of the mechanistic roles of the ionizing groups, are discussed. It is concluded that Asp161 is the source of a key electrostatic modulator (pKa 5.0±0.1) in actinidin, analogous to Asp158 in papain, whose influence is not detected kinetically; it is always in the ‘on’ state because of its low pKa value (2.8±0.06).

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Evaluation of hydrogen-bonding and enantiomeric P2-S2 hydrophobic contacts in dynamic aspects of molecular recognition by papain

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2870881 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 287 (3) ◽

pp. 881-889 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

M Patel ◽

I S Kayani ◽

W Templeton ◽

G W Mellor ◽

E W Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Bonding ◽

Molecular Recognition ◽

Rate Constant ◽

Kinetic Data ◽

Ph Dependence ◽

Order Rate Constant ◽

Second Order ◽

Catalytic Site ◽

Order Rate ◽

S2 Subsite

1. 2-(N′-Acetyl-D-phenylalanyl)hydroxyethyl 2′-pyridyl disulphide (compound IV) (m.p. 59 degrees C; [alpha]D20 -6.6 degrees (c 1.2 in methanol)) was synthesized. 2. The results of a study of the pH-dependence of the second-order rate constant (k) for its reaction with the catalytic-site thiol group (Cys-25) of papain (EC 3.4.22.2) together with analogous kinetic data for the reactions of related time-dependent inhibitors, notably the L-enantiomer of compound (IV) (compound III) and the L- and D-enantiomers of 2-(N′-acetylphenylalanylamino)ethyl 2′-pyridyl disulphide (compounds I and II respectively), were used to assess the contributions of the (P1)-NH ... O = C < (Asp-158) and (P2) > C = O ... H-N-(Gly-66) hydrogen bonds and enantiomeric P2-S2 hydrophobic contacts in two manifestations of dynamic molecular recognition in papain-ligand association: (a) signalling to the catalytic-site region to provide for a (His-159)-IM(+)-H-assisted transition state and (b) the dependence of P2-S2 stereoselectivity on hydrogen-bonding interactions outside the S2 subsite. The analysis involved determination of the reactivities of individual ionization states of the reactions (pH-independent rate constants, k) and associated macroscopic pKa values and difference kinetic specificity energies (delta delta GKS = -RT1n(k1/k2), where k1 is the pH-independent second-order rate constant for reaction with one inhibitor and k2 is the analogous rate constant in the same ionization state for reaction with another inhibitor so that, when the structural change provides that k2 > k1, delta delta GKS is positive. 3. The kinetic data further illuminate the nature of the interdependence of binding interactions in papain first noted by Kowlessur, Topham, Thomas, O'Driscoll, Templeton & Brocklehurst [(1989) Biochem. J. 258, 755-764] in the S2 subsite, S1-S2 intersubsite and catalytic-site regions. Of particular note is the apparent dependence of the binding of the N-Ac-D-Phe moiety on the binding of the leaving group to (His-159)-Im+H and the fact that the resulting rate enhancement is more effective when (P1)-N-H is absent than when it is present. This result revealed by kinetic analysis goes beyond the conclusion suggested by model building that it is possible to make all of the binding contacts in complexes involving the D-enantiomers [(II) and (IV)] as in those involving the L-enantiomers [(I) and (III)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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