Nitrile hydratase metalloenzymes are unique and important biocatalysts that are used industrially to produce high value amides from their corresponding nitriles. After more than three decades since their discovery, the mechanism of this class of enzymes is becoming clear with evidence from multiple recent studies that the cysteine-derived sulfenato ligand of the active site metal serves as the nucleophile that initially attacks the nitrile. Recent advances regarding this mechanism using high resolution mass spectrometry to track the turnover-dependent exchange of 18O-labeled oxygen from water to protein and eventually substrate will be discussed.

Insights into the mechanism of a cobalt-type nitrile hydratase

251st National Meeting (2016)

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