GTP hydrolysis is a biologically crucial reaction, being involved in regulating almost all cellular processes. Despite their vital importance the fundamental mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis by GTPases remains highly controversial.The present work demonstrate that a general base is not needed in the active site, as the preferred mechanism for GTP hydrolysis is a conserved solvent-assisted pathway. This pathway involves the rate-limiting nucleophilic attack of a water molecule, leading to a short-lived intermediate that tautomerizes to form the final products.

Computational modeling of biological phosphate hydrolysis

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