Inactivation of B/sub 12/-dependent ribonucleotide reductase by 2'-azido-2'-deoxyarabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate

The Coenzyme B/sub 12/-dependent ribonucleotide triphosphate reductase (RTPR) from Lactobacillus leichmannii is rapidly inactivated by the substrate analog 2-azido-2'-deoxy-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate (N/sub 3/araATP). This reaction has been probed using N/sub 2/ araATP specifically radiolabeled in the sugar and base moieties. Unlike the inactivation of this enzyme by 2'-halo nucleotides, reaction of RTPR with N/sub 3/araATP does not result in formation of PPPi, adenine, or azide ion. Instead, the phosphate, sugar, and base moieties remain bound to the protein after gel filtration of the inactive protein. One equivalent of coenzyme is destroyed during the inactivation, producing 5'-deoxyadenosine and cob(II)alamin. No/sup 3/H/sub 2/O is formed when RTPR is inactivated with (3'-/sup 3/H)N/sub 3/araATP. These results suggest that inactivation occurs either through reaction of an enzyme group with the azido moiety or through formation of a tight-binding product.