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Title: The reaction mechanism of methyl-coenzyme M reductase: How an enzyme enforces strict binding order

Journal Article · · Journal of Biological Chemistry
 [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is a nickel tetrahydrocorphinoid (coenzyme F430) containing enzyme involved in the biological synthesis and anaerobic oxidation of methane. MCR catalyzes the conversion of methyl-2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (methyl-SCoM) and N-7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate (CoB7SH) to CH4 and the mixed disulfide CoBS-SCoM. In this study, the reaction of MCR from Methanothermobacter marburgensis, with its native substrates was investigated using static binding, chemical quench, and stopped-flow techniques. Rate constants were measured for each step in this strictly ordered ternary complex catalytic mechanism. Surprisingly, in the absence of the other substrate, MCR can bind either substrate; however, only one binary complex (MCR·methyl-SCoM) is productive whereas the other (MCR·CoB7SH) is inhibitory. Moreover, the kinetic data demonstrate that binding of methyl-SCoM to the inhibitory MCR·CoB7SH complex is highly disfavored (Kd = 56 mM). However, binding of CoB7SH to the productive MCR·methyl-SCoM complex to form the active ternary complex (CoB7SH·MCR(NiI)·CH3SCoM) is highly favored (Kd = 79 μM). Only then can the chemical reaction occur (kobs = 20 s-1 at 25 °C), leading to rapid formation and dissociation of CH4 leaving the binary product complex (MCR(NiII)·CoB7S-·SCoM), which undergoes electron transfer to regenerate Ni(I) and the final product CoBS-SCoM. In conclusion, this first rapid kinetics study of MCR with its natural substrates describes how an enzyme can enforce a strictly ordered ternary complex mechanism and serves as a template for identification of the reaction intermediates.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-08ER15931
OSTI ID:
1348414
Journal Information:
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 290, Issue 15; ISSN 0021-9258
Publisher:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 36 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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  • Pelmenschikov, Vladimir; Blomberg, Margareta R. A.; Siegbahn, Per E. M.
  • Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 124, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja011664r
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Cited By (9)

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The radical mechanism of biological methane synthesis by methyl-coenzyme M reductase journal May 2016
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Methane and Inflammation - A Review (Fight Fire with Fire) journal December 2019
Coordinational activation of methane and other alkanes by metal complexes journal August 2016
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Computational Insights into the Reaction Mechanisms of Nickel-Catalyzed Hydrofunctionalizations and Nickel-Dependent Enzymes journal March 2018
Energy Conservation and Hydrogenase Function in Methanogenic Archaea, in Particular the Genus Methanosarcina journal September 2019
Elucidation of the biosynthesis of the methane catalyst coenzyme F430 journal February 2017