Probing the reaction mechanism of the D-ala-D-ala dipeptidase, VanX, by using stopped-flow kinetic and rapid-freeze quench EPR studies on the Co(II)-substituted enzyme.

In an effort to probe the reaction mechanism of VanX, the d-ala-d-ala dipeptidase required for high-level vancomycin resistance in bacteria, stopped-flow kinetic and rapid-freeze quench EPR studies were conducted on the Co(II)-substituted enzyme when reacted with d-ala-d-ala. The intensity of the Co(II) ligand field band at 550 nm decreased (epsilon550 = 140 to 18 M-1 cm-1) when VanX was reacted with substrate, suggesting that the coordination number of the metal increases from 5 to 6 upon substrate binding. The stopped-flow trace was fitted to a kinetic mechanism that suggests the presence of an intermediate whose breakdown is rate-limiting. Rapid-freeze quench EPR studies verified the presence of a reaction intermediate that exhibits an unusually low hyperfine constant (33 G), which suggests a bidentate coordination of the intermediate to the metal center. The EPR studies also identified a distinct enzyme product complex. The results were used to offer a detailed reaction mechanism for VanX that can be used to guide future inhibitor design efforts.