Alternative Oxidation by Isopenicillin N Synthase Observed by X-Ray Diffraction.
Ogle, J.M., Clifton, I.J., Rutledge, P.J., Elkins, J.M., Burzlaff, N.I., M Adlington, R., Roach, P.L., Baldwin, J.E.(2001) Chem Biol 8: 1231
- PubMed: 11755401 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1074-5521(01)00090-4
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1HB1, 1HB2, 1HB3, 1HB4 - PubMed Abstract: 
Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) catalyses formation of bicyclic isopenicillin N, precursor to all penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics, from the linear tripeptide delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine. IPNS is a non-haem iron(II)-dependent enzyme which utilises the full oxidising potential of molecular oxygen in catalysing the bicyclisation reaction. The reaction mechanism is believed to involve initial formation of the beta-lactam ring (via a thioaldehyde intermediate) to give an iron(IV)-oxo species, which then mediates closure of the 5-membered thiazolidine ring. Here we report experiments employing time-resolved crystallography to observe turnover of an isosteric substrate analogue designed to intercept the catalytic pathway at an early stage. Reaction in the crystalline enzyme-substrate complex was initiated by the application of high-pressure oxygen, and subsequent flash freezing allowed an oxygenated product to be trapped, bound at the iron centre. A mechanism for formation of the observed thiocarboxylate product is proposed. In the absence of its natural reaction partner (the N-H proton of the L-cysteinyl-D-valine amide bond), the proposed hydroperoxide intermediate appears to attack the putative thioaldehyde species directly. These results shed light on the events preceding beta-lactam closure in the IPNS reaction cycle, and enhance our understanding of the mechanism for reaction of the enzyme with its natural substrate.
Organizational Affiliation: 
The Dyson Perrins Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK.