Organic Chemistry and Protein Crystallography Probing Enzyme Mechanisms with Transition State Analogs

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to describe what is deduced about the source of the catalytic power for enzymes, using as guides the crystal structures of the enzymes complexed with transition-state analogs. We start with an overview of transition-state theory and its application to enzyme-catalyzed reactions. We proceed to consideration of the transition-state analogs as probes for the interactions that occur at enzyme active sites. Finally, we describe the case study in an enzyme, glutathione synthetase, and consider a practical approach to enzyme mechanisms using transition-state analogs.