Biochemical characterization of L-DOPA 2,3-dioxygenase, a single-domain type I extradiol dioxygenase from lincomycin biosynthesis.

L-DOPA-2,3-dioxygenase from Streptomyces lincolnensis is a single-domain type I extradiol dioxygenase of the vicinal oxygen chelate superfamily and catalyzes the second step in the metabolism of tyrosine to the propylhygric acid moiety of the antibiotic, lincomycin. S. lincolnensis L-DOPA-2,3-dioxygenase was overexpressed, purified and reconstituted with Fe(II). The activity of L-DOPA-2,3-dioxygenase was kinetically characterized with L-DOPA (K(M)=38 microM, k(cat)=4.2 min(-1)) and additional catecholic substrates including dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid, catechol and D-DOPA. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid was characterized as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme (K(i) =2.2 mM). Site-directed mutagenesis and its effects on enzymatic activity were used to identify His14 and His70 as iron ligands.