Evidence for the Two Phosphate Binding Sites of an Analogue of the Thioacyl Intermediate for the Trypanosoma cruzi Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase-Catalyzed Reaction, from Its Crystal Structure.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) catalyzes the reversible oxidative phosphorylation of d-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (GAP) into d-glycerate 1,3-bisphosphate (1,3-diPG) in the presence of NAD+ and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Within the active site, two anion-binding sites were ascribed to the binding of the C3 phosphate of GAP (Ps) and to the binding of the attacking phosphate ion (Pi). The role played by these two sites in the catalytic mechanism in connection with the functional role of coenzyme exchange (NADH−NAD+ shuttle) has been investigated by several studies leading to the C3 phosphate flipping model proposed by Skarzynski et al. [Skarzynski, T., Moody, P. C., and Wonacott, A. J. (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 193, 171−187]. This model has not yet received direct confirmation. To gain further insight into the role of both sites, we synthesized irreversible inhibitors which form with the essential cysteine residue a thioacyl enzyme analogue of the catalytic intermediate. Here we report the refine...