Reaction Coordinate of Isopenicillin N Synthase: Oxidase versus Oxygenase Activity

Abstract

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) can have both oxidase and oxygenase activity depending on the substrate. For the native substrate, ACV, oxidase activity exists; however, for the substrate analogue ACOV, which lacks an amide nitrogen, IPNS exhibits oxygenase activity. The potential energy surfaces for the O−O bond elongation and cleavage were calculated for three different reactions: homolytic cleavage via traditional Fenton chemistry, heterolytic cleavage, and nucleophilic attack. These surfaces show that the hydroperoxide−ferrous intermediate, formed by O₂-activated H atom abstraction from the substrate, can exploit different reaction pathways and that interactions with the substrate govern the pathway. The hydrogen bonds from hydroperoxide to the amide nitrogen of ACV polarize the σ* orbital of the peroxide toward the proximal oxygen, facilitating heterolytic cleavage. For the substrate analogue ACOV, this hydrogen bond is no longer present, leading to nucleophilic attack on the substrate intermediate C−S bond. After cleavage of the hydroperoxide, the two reaction pathways proceed with minimal barriers, resulting in the closure of the β-lactam ring for the oxidase activity (ACV) or formation of the thiocarboxylate for oxygenase activity (ACOV).