Structure Report for: 4I4C

Kellett, W.F., Brunk, E., Desai, B.J., Fedorov, A.A., Almo, S.C., Gerlt, J.A., Rothlisberger, U., Richards, N.G.

Title: Computational, structural, and kinetic evidence that Vibrio vulnificus FrsA is not a cofactor-independent pyruvate decarboxylase
Kellett WF, Brunk E, Desai BJ, Fedorov AA, Almo SC, Gerlt JA, Rothlisberger U, Richards NG
Ref: Biochemistry, 52:1842, 2013 : PubMed
Abstract


ESTHER: Kellett_2013_Biochemistry_52_1842
PubMedSearch: Kellett 2013 Biochemistry 52 1842
PubMedID: 23452154
Gene_locus related to this paper: vibvy-y856

Abstract

The fermentation-respiration switch (FrsA) protein in Vibrio vulnificus was recently reported to catalyze the cofactor-independent decarboxylation of pyruvate. We now report quantum mechanical/molecular mechenical calculations that examine the energetics of C-C bond cleavage for a pyruvate molecule bound within the putative active site of FrsA. These calculations suggest that the barrier to C-C bond cleavage in the bound substrate is 28 kcal/mol, which is similar to that estimated for the uncatalyzed decarboxylation of pyruvate in water at 25 degrees C. In agreement with the theoretical predictions, no pyruvate decarboxylase activity was detected for recombinant FrsA protein that could be crystallized and structurally characterized. These results suggest that the functional annotation of FrsA as a cofactor-independent pyruvate decarboxylase is incorrect.