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Substrate Binding Primes Human Tryptophan 2,3-Dioxygenase for Ligand Binding.
Karin Nienhaus1, Vincent Hahn1, Manuel Hüpfel1
1Institute of Applied Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) , Wolfgang-Gaede-Straße 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Human tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (hTDO) exists in two conformations affecting ligand binding. Substrate binding favors the fast-binding conformation, enhancing catalytic efficiency by preventing unproductive heme oxidation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Human heme enzyme tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (hTDO) catalyzes dioxygen insertion into L-tryptophan.
- The dynamic active site and mechanism of hTDO complex formation remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate complex formation in hTDO using time-resolved spectroscopy.
- Elucidate the role of active site solvation and substrate binding in hTDO kinetics.
Main Methods:
- Time-resolved optical spectroscopy
- Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy
- Carbon monoxide (CO) as a ligand
Main Results:
- hTDO exists in two conformations with distinct ligand binding rates.
- Substrate binding shifts equilibrium towards the fast-ligand-binding conformation.
- Active site solvation plays a critical role in observed kinetic differences.
Conclusions:
- Ternary complex formation is predominantly substrate-first, then ligand.
- This mechanism enhances catalytic efficiency by suppressing nonproductive heme oxidation.
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