The Roles of Acids and Bases In Enzyme Cotalysis

摘要

The concepts of organic chemistry have translated quite smoothly into an understanding of biochemical enzyme mechanisms. Probably the most important step encountered in organic mechanisms is the proton transfer that converts neutral reactants into high energy cations or anions. Subsequent steps usually involve further proton transfers that shuttle the intermediates between similarly charged and neutral species. The slow steps in these mechanisms often involve proton transfers from strong acids (or to strong bases) that provide the "driving force" to allow the formation of the high-energy intermediates. The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters is a good example of these principles.