Snapshot of a key intermediate in enzymatic thiamin catalysis: crystal structure of the alpha-carbanion of (alpha,beta-dihydroxyethyl)-thiamin diphosphate in the active site of transketolase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

ABSTRACT: Kinetic and spectroscopic data indicated that addition of the donor substrate hydroxypyruvate to the thiamin diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzyme transketolase (TK) led to the accumulation of the alpha-carbanion/enamine of (alpha,beta-dihydroxyethyl) ThDP, the key reaction intermediate in enzymatic thiamin catalysis. The three-dimensional structure of this intermediate trapped in the active site of yeast TK was determined to 1.9-A resolution by using cryocrystallography. The electron density suggests a planar alpha-carbanion/enamine intermediate having the E-configuration. The reaction intermediate is firmly held in place through direct hydrogen bonds to His-103 and His-481 and an indirect hydrogen bond via a water molecule to His-69. The 4-NH(2) group of the amino-pyrimidine ring of ThDP i

SUBMITTER: Fiedler E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC117350 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature