Interactions between alpha-amino acids and cobalt(II) bovine-carbonic anhydrase

The results of a study on the interaction between cobalt(II) bovine carbonic anhydrase and the alpha-amino acids L(+) and D(-)alanine, glycine and betaine are reported. L(+)alanine and glycine have been found to have larger affinity for the enzyme than D(-)alanine whereas no sizable affinity is shown by betaine. The electronic spectra indicate that these systems are similar to that containing the acetate ion. Utilizing the inhibition properties of L(+)alanine at various pH an analysis of the species involved in the inhibition reaction is presented.