Femtosecond dynamics coupled to chemical barrier crossing in a Born-Oppenheimer enzyme

Contributions of fast (femtosecond) dynamic motion to barrier crossing at enzyme catalytic sites is in dispute. Human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) forms a ribocation-like transition state in the phosphorolysis of purine nucleosides and fast protein motions have been proposed to participate in barrier crossing. In the present study, ¹³C-, ¹⁵N-, ²H-labeled human PNP (heavy PNP) was expressed, purified to homogeneity, and shown to exhibit a 9.9% increase in molecular mass relative to its unlabeled counterpart (light PNP). Kinetic isotope effects and steady-state kinetic parameters were indistinguishable for both enzymes, indicating that transition-state structure, equilibrium binding steps, and the rate of product release were not affected by increased protein mass. Single-turnover rate constants were slowed for heavy PNP, demonstrating reduced probability of chemical barrier crossing from enzyme-bound substrates to enzyme-bound products. In a second, independent method to probe barrier crossing, heavy PNP exhibited decreased forward commitment factors, also revealing mass-dependent decreased probability for barrier crossing. Increased atomic mass in human PNP alters bond vibrational modes on the femtosecond time scale and reduces on-enzyme chemical barrier crossing. This study demonstrates coupling of enzymatic bond vibrations on the femtosecond time scale to barrier crossing.