| Literature DB >> 1961725 |
Abstract
Cyanide is a competitive inhibitor of carbon dioxide in the vitamin K-dependent glutamate carboxylase system, which plays a central role in the function of the blood clotting cascade. The mechanism of cyanide inhibition has been obscure for some time. At pH 7.2, cyanide (pKa = 9.21) will exist in solution as hydrogen cyanide to the extent of 99%. Hydrogen cyanide is linear triatomic molecule able to serve as a surrogate for carbon dioxide at the enzyme active site. Hydrogen cyanide is an acid; it will quench the deprotonated glutamate carbanion precursor to gamma-carboxyglutamate, resulting in inhibition of the carboxylation sequence.Entities:
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Year: 1991 PMID: 1961725 PMCID: PMC52973 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.23.10583
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ISSN: 0027-8424 Impact factor: 11.205