Entrapment of the Fastest Known Carbonic Anhydrase with Biomimetic Silica and Its Application for CO2 Sequestration

Capturing and storing CO2 is of prime importance. The rate of CO2 sequestration is often limited by the hydration of CO2, which can be greatly accelerated by using carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) as a catalyst. In order to improve the stability and reusability of CA, a silica-condensing peptide (R5) was fused with the fastest known CA from Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense (SazCA) to form R5-SazCA; the fusion protein successfully performed in vitro silicification. The entrapment efficiency reached 100% and the silicified form (R5-SazCA-SP) showed a high activity recovery of 91%. The residual activity of R5-SazCA-SP was two-fold higher than that of the free form when stored at 25 °C for 35 days; R5-SazCA-SP still retained 86% of its activity after 10 cycles of reuse. Comparing with an uncatalyzed reaction, the time required for the onset of CaCO3 formation was shortened by 43% and 33% with the addition of R5-SazCA and R5-SazCA-SP, respectively. R5-SazCA-SP shows great potential as a robust and efficient biocatalyst for CO2 sequestration because of its high activity, high stability, and reusability.

Fine-Tuning of Sequence Specificity by Near Attack Conformations in Enzyme-Catalyzed Peptide Hydrolysis

The catalytic role of near attack conformations (NACs), molecular states that lie on the pathway between the ground state (GS) and transition state (TS) of a chemical reaction, is not understood completely. Using a computational approach that combines Bürgi–Dunitz theory with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, the role of NACs in catalyzing the first stages of HIV-1 protease peptide hydrolysis was previously investigated using a substrate that represents the recognized SP1-NC cleavage site of the HIV-1 Gag polyprotein. NACs were found to confer no catalytic effect over the uncatalyzed reaction there ( Δ Δ G N ‡ ∼ 0 kcal/mol). Here, using the same approach, the role of NACs across multiple substrates that each represent a further recognized cleavage site is investigated. Overall rate enhancement varies by | Δ Δ G ‡ | ∼ 12–15 kcal/mol across this set, and although NACs contribute a small and approximately constant barrier to the uncatalyzed reaction (< Δ G N ‡ u > = 4.3 ± 0.3 kcal/mol), they are found to contribute little significant catalytic effect ( | Δ Δ G N ‡ | ∼ 0–2 kcal/mol). Furthermore, no correlation is exhibited between NAC contributions and the overall energy barrier ( R 2 = 0.01). However, these small differences in catalyzed NAC contributions enable rates to match those required for the kinetic order of processing. Therefore, NACs may offer an alternative and subtle mode compared to non-NAC contributions for fine-tuning reaction rates during complex evolutionary sequence selection processes—in this case across cleavable polyproteins whose constituents exhibit multiple functions during the virus life-cycle.

Sulfonamide Inhibition Profile of the β-Carbonic Anhydrase from Malassezia restricta, An Opportunistic Pathogen Triggering Scalp Conditions

The critical CO2 hydration reaction to bicarbonate and protons is catalyzed by carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1). Their physiological role is to assist the transport of the CO2 and HCO3− at the cellular level, which will not be ensured by the low velocity of the uncatalyzed reaction. CA inhibition may impair the growth of microorganisms. In the yeasts, Candida albicans and Malassezia globosa, the activity of the unique β-CA identified in their genomes was demonstrated to be essential for growth of the pathogen. Here, we decided to investigate the sulfonamide inhibition profile of the homologous β-CA (MreCA) identified in the genome of Malassezia restricta, an opportunistic pathogen triggering dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Among 40 investigated derivatives, the best MreCA sulfonamide inhibitors were dorzolamide, brinzolamide, indisulam, valdecoxib, sulthiam, and acetazolamide (KI < 1.0 μM). The MreCA inhibition profile was different from those of the homologous enzyme from Malassezia globosa (MgCA) and the human isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II). These results might be useful to for designing CA inhibitor scaffolds that may selectively inhibit the dandruff-producing fungi.

Why do thioureas and squaramides slow down the Ireland–Claisen rearrangement?

A range of chiral hydrogen-bond-donating organocatalysts was tested in the Ireland–Claisen rearrangement of silyl ketene acetals. None of these organocatalysts was able to impart any enantioselectivity on the rearrangements. Furthermore, these organocatalysts slowed down the Ireland–Claisen rearrangement in comparison to an uncatalyzed reaction. The catalyst-free reaction proceeded well in green solvents or without any solvent. DFT calculations showed that the activation barriers are higher for reactions involving hydrogen-donating organocatalysts and kinetic experiments suggest that the catalysts bind stronger to the starting silyl ketene acetals than to transition structures thus leading to inefficient rearrangement reactions.

Novel (2-amino-4-arylimidazolyl)propanoic acids and pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazoles via the domino reactions of 2-amino-4-arylimidazoles with carbonyl and methylene active compounds

The unexpectedly uncatalyzed reaction between 2-amino-4-arylimidazoles, aromatic aldehydes and Meldrum’s acid has selectively led to the corresponding Knoevenagel–Michael adducts containing a free amino group in the imidazole fragment. The adducts derived from Meldrum’s acid have been smoothly converted into 1,7-diaryl-3-amino-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-5-ones and 3-(2-amino-4-aryl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-arylpropanoic acids. The interaction of 2-amino-4-arylimidazoles with aromatic aldehydes or isatins and acyclic methylene active compounds has led to the formation of pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-6-carbonitriles, pyrrolo[1,2-с]imidazole-6-carboxylates and spiro[indoline-3,7'-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazoles], which can be considered as the analogues of both 3,3’-spirooxindole and 2-aminoimidazole marine sponge alkaloids.

Unexpected medium effect on the mechanism for aminolysis of aryl phenyl carbonates in acetonitrile and H2O: transition-state structure in the catalytic pathway

Upward curvature in the kinetic plots of pseudo first-order rate constants (kobsd) vs. [amine] for the aminolysis of aryl phenyl carbonates (5a–5j) in MeCN demonstrates that these reactions proceed via a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T±) that partitions between catalyzed and uncatalyzed routes to give the products. Yukawa–Tsuno plots for the reactions of 5a–5j with piperidine result in excellent linear correlations with ρY = 4.82 and r = 0.47 for the uncatalyzed reaction versus ρY = 2.21 and r = 0.21 for the catalyzed reaction. Brønsted plots for reactions of 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-phenyl phenyl carbonate (5f) with a series of cyclic secondary amines exhibit excellent linear correlations with βnuc = 0.87 and 0.58 for the uncatalyzed and catalyzed reactions, respectively. The ΔH‡ and ΔS‡ values are 0.92 kcal/mol and –50.1 cal/mol K, respectively, for the catalyzed reaction of 5f with piperidine. Deuterium kinetic isotope effects found for reactions of 5f with piperidine/deuterated piperidine are 0.84 (uncatalyzed) and 1.42 (catalyzed). Multi-parameter analysis supports a concerted catalytic pathway involving a six-membered cyclic transition state rather than a traditionally accepted stepwise pathway with an anionic intermediate. The current unexpected results, where T± is the essential central intermediate in this aminolysis, contrast with previous calculation studies that deemed T± unstable in gas phase or MeCN.

Regioselective and Catalyst-Free Epoxidation of (E)-3-[3-(2-Hydroxyaryl)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl]chromones

The uncatalyzed reaction of hydrogen peroxide with (E)-3-[3-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl]chromones resulted in a regio­selective epoxidation of the chromone intracyclic C(2)=C(3) double bond to afford unique isomeric (E)-7a-[3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl]-1aH-oxireno[2,3-b]chromen-7(7aH)-ones in high yields. 2D NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction were used to elucidate the structures of the chromanone epoxides. Density functional theoretical studies demonstrated a high electrophilicity of the starting chromones.

Comparison of the Anion Inhibition Profiles of the α-CA Isoforms (SpiCA1, SpiCA2 and SpiCA3) from the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora pistillata

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are widespread metalloenzymes used by living organisms to accelerate the CO2 hydration/dehydration reaction at rates dramatically high compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. These enzymes have different isoforms and homologues and can be found in the form of cytoplasmic, secreted or membrane-bound proteins. CAs play a role in numerous physiological processes including biomineralization and symbiosis, as is the case in reef-building corals. Previously, molecular and biochemical data have been obtained at the molecular level in the branching coral Stylophora pistillata for two coral isoforms which differ significantly in their catalytic activity and susceptibility to inhibition with anions and sulfonamides. More recently it has been determined that the genome of S. pistillata encodes for 16 CAs. Here, we cloned, expressed, purified and characterized a novel α-CA, named SpiCA3, which is cytoplasmic and ubiquitously expressed in all the cell layers including the calcifying cells. SpiCA3 is the most effective CA among the coral isoforms investigated and the most efficient catalyst known up to date in Metazoa. We also investigated the inhibition profiles of SpiCA3 and compared it with those obtained for the two other isoforms in the presence of inorganic anions and other small molecules known to interfere with metalloenzymes. These results suggest that S. pistillata has adapted its CA isoforms to achieve the physiological functions in different physicochemical microenvironments.

Transition State Interactions in a Promiscuous Enzyme: Sulfate and Phosphate Monoester Hydrolysis byPseudomonas aeruginosaArylsulfatase

ABSTRACTPseudomonas aeruginosaarylsulfatase (PAS) hydrolyses sulfate and, promiscuously, phosphate monoesters. Enzyme-catalyzed sulfate transfer is crucial to a wide variety of biological processes, but detailed studies of the mechanistic contributions to its catalysis are lacking. We present an investigation based on linear free energy relationships (LFERs) and kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) of PAS and active site mutants that suggest a key role for leaving group (LG) stabilization. In LFERs wild type PAS has a much less negative Br0nsted coefficient (βleaving groupobs-Enz= −0.33) than the uncatalyzed reaction (βleavingroupobs= −1.81). This situation is diminished when cationic active site groups are exchanged for alanine. The considerable degree of bond breaking during the TS is evidenced by an18ObridgeKIE of 1.0088. LFER and KIE data for several active site mutants point to leaving group stabilization by active-site lysine K375, in cooperation with histidine H211.15N KIEs combined with an increased sensitivity to leaving group ability of the sulfatase activity in neat D2O (Δβleaving groupH-D= +0.06) suggest that the mechanism for S-Obridgebond fission shifts, with decreasing leaving group ability, from charge compensation via Lewis acid interactions towards direct proton donation.18OnonbridgeKIEs indicate that the TS for PAS-catalyzed sulfate monoester hydrolysis has a significantly more associative character compared to the uncatalyzed reaction, while PAS-catalyzed phosphate monoester hydrolysis does not show this shift. This difference in enzyme-catalyzed TSs appears to be the major factor favoring specificity toward sulfate over phosphate in this promiscuous hydrolase, since other features are either too similar (uncatalyzed TS) or inherently favor phosphate (charge).