NMR Studies of Protonation and Hydrogen Bond States of Internal Aldimines of Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Acid–Base in Alanine Racemase, Aspartate Aminotransferase, and Poly-l-lysine

Using 15N solid-state NMR, we have studied protonation and H-bonded states of the cofactor pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) linked as an internal aldimine in alanine racemase (AlaR), aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), and poly-l-lysine. Protonation of the pyridine nitrogen of PLP and the coupled proton transfer from the phenolic oxygen (enolimine form) to the aldimine nitrogen (ketoenamine form) is often considered to be a prerequisite to the initial step (transimination) of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Indeed, using 15N NMR and H-bond correlations in AspAT, we observe a strong aspartate-pyridine nitrogen H-bond with H located on nitrogen. After hydration, this hydrogen bond is maintained. By contrast, in the case of solid lyophilized AlaR, we find that the pyridine nitrogen is neither protonated nor hydrogen bonded to the proximal arginine side chain. However, hydration establishes a weak hydrogen bond to pyridine. To clarify how AlaR is activated, we performed 13C and 15N solid-state NMR experiments on i...