Direct observation of the participation of flavin in product formation by thyX-encoded thymidylate synthase.

The synthesis of thymine for DNA is catalyzed by the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS). A family of flavin-dependent TSs encoded by the thyX gene has been discovered recently. These newly discovered TSs require a reducing substrate in addition to 2'-deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2THF), suggesting that the enzyme-bound flavin is a redox intermediary in catalysis. The oxidation of the reduced flavin of the TS from Campylobacter jejuni has been observed directly upon mixing with dUMP and CH2THF under anaerobic conditions, thus providing the first direct demonstration of its redox role in catalysis. Product analysis showed that the one mole of 2'-deoxythymidine monophosphate is formed along with one mole of tetrahydrofolate for each mole of reduced enzyme-bound flavin. The classic TS inactivator 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP) was able to bind to the reduced enzyme but was unable to oxidize the flavin, even in the presence of CH2THF. Furthermore, the nucleotide binding site of the enzyme treated with FdUMP and CH2THF was irreversibly blocked, suggesting the formation of a stable substrate adduct analogous to that formed by the well-studied thyA-encoded TS. The formation of inactivated enzyme without flavin oxidation indicates that methylene transfer from the folate to the nucleotide occurs prior to flavin redox chemistry.