The mechanisms of action of cAMP. A quantum chemical study

Quantum chemical calculations were performed on the formation of intermediates with trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) configurations in the hydrolysis of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) with phosphodiesterases and the activation of protein kinases by cAMP. The results show that in the reaction sequence concerning the hydrolysis of cAMP with phosphodiesterase the TBP intermediate must possess an equatorial-apical cyclic phosphate ring with the 3'-oxygen atom in the apical position. This could be an additional reason for the sensitivity of the 3' position in cAMP towards modifications in comparison with the 5' position. According to the calculations, a mechanistic model is presented for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cAMP with the involvement of a covalently bonded enzyme-nucleotide intermediate. Also a model is offered for the activation of protein kinase by cAMP. The activation of protein kinase is assumed to proceed via diequatorial-ring-positioned TBP intermediates resulting in the formation of a covalent bond between cAMP and the protein kinase with retention of the cyclic phosphate ring. It seems likely that the enzyme-nucleotide intermediate enforces a conformational change in the enzyme, which causes the dissociation of the regulatory and catalytic subunit of the protein kinase, necessary for a physiological response.