Characterisation of the citrate synthase reaction with propionyl-CoA

Experiments with propionyl-CoA stereoselectively deuteriated in the propionyl moiety demonstrate that the formation of (2S,3S)-methylcitric acid (1) catalysed by citrate (si)-synthase occurs with inversion of configuration in the propionyl moiety; the absolute configurations of the methylcitric acids 1 and 2 indicate a si attack on oxaloacetate. Deuterium in the pro-S position is exchanged for protium 60 times faster than deuterium in the pro-R position. Experiments with (R,S)-(2-2H1)propionyl-CoA allowed the determination of isotope effects. For the enzymatic formation of 1, a primary deuterium isotope effect kH/kD = 1.8 and a secondary alpha-deuterium isotope effect kH/kD = 0.99 were calculated; both are effects on Vmax/KM.