Inhibition of alanine racemase by alanine phosphonate: detection of an imine linkage to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in the enzyme-inhibitor complex by solid-state nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract

Inhibition of alanine racemase from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus by (1-aminoethyl)phosphonic acid (Ala-P) proceeds via a two-step reaction pathway in which reactivation occurs very slowly. In order to determine the mechanism of inhibition, we have recorded low-temperature, solid-state 15N NMR spectra from microcrystals of the [15N]Ala-P-enzyme complex, together with specra of series of model compounds that provide the requisite database for the intepretation of the 15N chemical shifts. Proton-decoupled spectra of the microcrystals exhibit a line at .apprx.150 ppm, which conclusively demonstrates the presence of a protonated Ala-P-PLP aldimine and thus clarifies the structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. We also report the pH dependence of Ala-P binding to alanine racemase.