Stereochemistry of the methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylation reaction

The steric course of the decarboxylation of (S)-methylmalonyl-CoA to propionyl-CoA, catalyzed by the biotin-dependent sodium pump methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase of Veillonella alcalescens was determined. The decarboxylation of (S)-methylmalonyl-CoA in 3H2O yielded (R)-[2-3H]propionyl-CoA; and the decarboxylation of (S)-[2-3H]methylmalonyl-CoA in H2O produced (S)-[2-3H]propionyl-CoA. The results demonstrate retention of configuration during the decarboxylation reaction. The substrate stereochemistry of methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase is thus the same as that of all other biotin-containing enzymes investigated.