[Study of the enzymatic hydrolysis of a phosphonic ester using microcalorimetry]

A "Batch" microcalorimeter is used at 30 degrees C for the study of the hydrolysis of 4-nitro-phenylphenylphosphonate with a calf-intestinal phosphonate esterase, in a tris buffer, pH 8. The yield of enzymatic hydrolysis is estimated by spectrophotometric determination of the p--nitrophenol evolved; we have then calculated the apparent molar enthalph of the reaction. (delta Happ = -72,2 kj. mol-1). Phenylphosphonic acid, the second reaction product, is not transphosphonylated on tris. The second acidity of phenylphosphonic acid was studied at 30 degrees C by sodium hydroxide electrotitration (pKa2 = 7,13) and by "Flow" microcalorimetry (delta Hionization = 19,8 kj.mol-1). In the same manner at 30 degrees C, we measured the heat of ionization of p-nitrophenol (delta Hionization = 26,75 kj.mol-1). These findings allow a calculation for the actual heat of hydrolysis of 4-nitro-phenyl-phenylphosphonate (delta Hrho = -29,7 kj.mol-1).