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The Structure of the Elusive Urease–Urea Complex Unveils the Mechanism of a Paradigmatic Nickel‐Dependent Enzyme
Author(s) -
Mazzei Luca,
Cianci Michele,
Benini Stefano,
Ciurli Stefano
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201903565
Subject(s) - urease , urea , chemistry , catalysis , enzyme , hydrolase , substrate (aquarium) , active site , hydroxide , hydrolysis , combinatorial chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , ecology
Urease, the most efficient enzyme known, contains an essential dinuclear Ni II cluster in the active site. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea, inducing a rapid pH increase that has negative effects on human health and agriculture. Thus, the control of urease activity is of utmost importance in medical, pharmaceutical, and agro‐environmental applications. All known urease inhibitors are either toxic or inefficient. The development of new and efficient chemicals able to inhibit urease relies on the knowledge of all steps of the catalytic mechanism. The short (microseconds) lifetime of the urease–urea complex has hampered the determination of its structure. The present study uses fluoride to substitute the hydroxide acting as the co‐substrate in the reaction, preventing the occurrence of the catalytic steps that follow substrate binding. The 1.42 Å crystal structure of the urease–urea complex, reported here, resolves the enduring debate on the mechanism of this metalloenzyme.