Choline oxidases

Choline oxidase catalyzes the four-electron, two-step, flavin-mediated oxidation of choline to glycine betaine. The enzyme is important both for medical and biotechnological reasons, because glycine betaine is one among a limited number of compatible solutes used by cells to counteract osmotic pressure. From a fundamental standpoint, choline oxidase has emerged as one of the paradigm enzymes for the oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by flavoproteins. Mechanistic, structural, and computational studies have elucidated the mechanism of action of the enzyme from Arthrobacter globiformis at the molecular level. Both choline and oxygen access to the active site cavity are gated and tightly controlled. Amino acid residues involved in substrate binding, and their contribution, have been identified. The mechanism of choline oxidation, with a hydride transfer reaction, an asynchronous transition state, the formation and stabilization of an alkoxide transient species, and a quantum mechanical mode of reaction, has been elucidated. The importance of nonpolar side chains for oxygen localization and of the positive charge harbored on the substrate for activation of oxygen for reaction with the reduced flavin have been recognized. Interesting phenomena, like the formation of a metastable photoinduced flavin-protein adduct, the reversible formation of a bicovalent flavoprotein, and the trapping of the enzyme in inactive conformations, have been described. This review summarizes the current status of our understanding on the structure-function-dynamics of choline oxidase.