Good vibrations in enzyme-catalysed reactions

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Fast motions (femtosecond to picosecond) and their potential involvement during enzyme-catalysed reactions have ignited considerable interest in recent years. Their influence on reaction chemistry has been inferred indirectly from studies of the anomalous temperature dependence of kinetic isotope effects and computational simulations. But can such motion reduce the width and height of energy barriers along the reaction coordinate, and contribute to quantum mechanical and/or classical nuclear-transfer chemistry? Here we discuss contemporary ideas for enzymatic reactions invoking a role for fast 'promoting' (or 'compressive') motions that, in principle, can aid hydrogen-transfer reactions. Of key importance is the direct demonstration of a role for compressive motions and the ability to understand in atomic detail the structural origin of these fast motions, but so far this has not been achieved. Here we discuss both indirect experimental evidence that supports a role for compressive motion and the additional insight gained from computational simulations. ©© 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)161-168
    Number of pages7
    JournalNature Chemistry
    Volume4
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2012

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Good vibrations in enzyme-catalysed reactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this