Reversible Inhibition of the Esterase Activity of Carboxypeptidase A by Carboxylate Anions

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Abstract
Reversible inhibition of the hydrolysis of O-(hippuryl)-L-3-phenyllactic acid by carboxypeptidase A has been studied for 26 carboxylate ion inhibitors at 25°, pH 7.5, and ionic strength 0.2 (NaCl). Competitive inhibition, partially competitive inhibition, and mixed inhibition kinetics were observed. Within homologous series, strictly competitive inhibition by the lower members gave way to partially competitive inhibition with higher members, while homologs having very large hydrocarbon moieties displayed mixed inhibition kinetics. Partially competitive inhibition in this system is not consistent with a scheme involving only 1:1 enzyme–inhibitor complexes; rather, higher order enzyme–inhibitor complexes will be necessary for a complete description of the inhibition mechanism.Inhibition constants (log Ki) for the aliphatic carboxylate ions which are strictly competitive inhibitors, are closely correlated linearly with Hansch's π-parameter for hydrophobicity. This quantitatively confirms the importance of hydrophobic interactions between carboxypeptidase A and inhibiting ions. Carboxylate ions containing aromatic rings are less effective inhibitors than expected on the basis of the π-parameters of their hydrocarbon moieties. The dependence of log Ki on π in this system is unusually strong for a binding phenomenon, and suggests that an inhibitor-dependent conformational change may also be involved.

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