Identification of the active-site residue of gamma-cystathionase labeled by the suicide inactivator beta, beta, beta-trifluoroalanine.

Inactivation of gamma-cystathionase by beta, beta, beta-trifluoroalanine, a suicide inactivator of the enzyme, results in covalent labeling of an amino group of the protein [Silverman, R. B., & Abeles, R. H. (1977) Biochemistry 16, 5515-5520]. We have established that this modified amino function is the epsilon-NH2 group of a lysine residue. A heptapeptide which includes this modified lysine residue was isolated, and its sequence was found to be Cys-Ser-Ala-Thr-Lys-Tyr-Met. The amino acid sequence was the same as that determined for peptides containing the active-site lysine residue which forms a Schiff base with pyridoxal phosphate. Therefore the epsilon-NH2 group of the active-site lysine which binds pyridoxal phosphate is capable of interacting with the beta carbon of trifluoroalanine, and presumably the beta carbon of normal substrates. We therefore propose that this lysine residue may function as a proton-transfer agent in the reactions catalyzed by gamma-cystathionase.