Modeling of reaction steps relevant to deoxyuridylate (dUMP) enzymatic methylation and thymidylate synthase mechanism-based inhibition

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 1998 Feb;15(4):703-15. doi: 10.1080/07391102.1998.10508986.

Abstract

Theoretical quantum mechanical ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations on molecular systems, modeling processes related to the specificity of thymidylate synthase inactivation are reported. We considered several steps of the methylation of the substrate dUMP and 4- or 5-mono- and 4,5-bisubstituted dUMP analogs, as well. The following reactions were modeled: the cysteine residue (Cys198 in the L.casei enzyme) nucleophilic attack on the substrate and the substrate C(5)-H proton abstraction. The substrate was modeled by the 1-methyluracil molecule and its structural analogs. The cysteine Cys198 residue was modeled by the methylmercaptane molecule. The substrate-enzyme binary complex was modeled by the 1-methyl-5,6-dihydro-6-thiomethyl-uracil (P1) molecule. The present theoretical calculations suggest that the cysteine nucleophilic attack on the substrate may result in the SH-group addition to the pyrimidine C(5)=C(6) bond in the course of a weakly exothermic reaction. The formerly presumed enolate carbanion appeared to be weakly stable or unstable and it can readily split into the thiol and pyrimidine residues. The s2-thio- (P2) and s2,4-dithio- (P3) substrate analogs should form stable thiolate anions after cysteine residue attachment to the C(6) position of the pyrimidine ring. Studies of the deformed P1 molecule interacting with a water molecule bound to the pyrimidine C(4)=O carbonyl residue allow a suggestion that this water molecule may be directly involved in the C(5)-H proton abstraction and may serve as a proton transmitter between the substrate and the proton acceptor residue, possibly located on the cofactor N10-nitrogen. Interaction of the pyrimidine C(4)=O group, or its modification, with the N5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate N(10) nitrogen atom is suggested as an additional factor influencing the inhibition process.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Deoxycytidine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine Monophosphate / chemistry
  • Deoxyuracil Nucleotides / chemistry*
  • Fluorodeoxyuridylate / chemistry
  • Methylation
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Quantum Theory
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry
  • Tetrahydrofolates / chemistry
  • Thymidylate Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Uracil / analogs & derivatives
  • Uracil / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Deoxyuracil Nucleotides
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Tetrahydrofolates
  • Water
  • 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid
  • Deoxycytidine Monophosphate
  • Fluorodeoxyuridylate
  • N-4-hydroxy-2'-deoxycytidylic acid
  • Uracil
  • 1-methyluracil
  • 2'-deoxyuridylic acid
  • Thymidylate Synthase
  • Cysteine