DHDPS (dihydrodipicolinate synthase; EC 4.2.1.52) is the enzyme that catalyses the first unique step of lysine biosynthesis in plants and micro-organisms. As such, it has attracted much attention as a target for herbicide and anti-microbial action. DHDPS has two substrates: pyruvate and (S)-aspartate β-semialdehyde [(S)-ASA]. There are various literature reports that suggest that high levels of (S)-ASA inhibit the enzyme [Karsten (1997) Biochemistry 36, 1730–1739; Stahly (1969) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 191, 439–451], whereas others have not observed this phenomenon. We have resolved this long-running literature debate and shown unequivocally that this difference in reported behaviour can be attributed to differences in the preparation of (S)-ASA used by each researcher. DHDPS is not inhibited by its substrate; rather, the inhibition is due to an, as yet, unidentified inhibitor in preparations of the substrate generated by ozonolysis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that (R)-ASA is neither an inhibitor nor a substrate of DHDPS from Escherichia coli.
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February 2004
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Research Article|
February 01 2004
Dihydrodipicolinate synthase is not inhibited by its substrate, (S)-aspartate beta-semialdehyde
Renwick C. J. DOBSON;
Renwick C. J. DOBSON
School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Juliet A. GERRARD;
Juliet A. GERRARD
1
School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail juliet.gerrard@canterbury.ac.nz).
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F. Grant PEARCE
F. Grant PEARCE
School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Biochem J (2004) 377 (3): 757–762.
Article history
Received:
September 11 2003
Revision Received:
October 21 2003
Accepted:
October 28 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
October 28 2003
Citation
Renwick C. J. DOBSON, Juliet A. GERRARD, F. Grant PEARCE; Dihydrodipicolinate synthase is not inhibited by its substrate, (S)-aspartate beta-semialdehyde. Biochem J 1 February 2004; 377 (3): 757–762. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj20031389
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