Biochemistry Online: An Approach Based on Chemical Logic

Biochemistry Online

CHAPTER 8 - OXIDATION/PHOSPHORYLATION 

B:  OXIDATIVE ENZYMES

BIOCHEMISTRY - DR. JAKUBOWSKI

 04/15/16

Learning Goals/Objectives for Chapter 8B:  After class and this reading, students will be able to

  • state the type of oxidizing reagent used and the products forms on oxidation reactions catalyzed by dehydrogenases, monoxygenases (hydroxylases), dioxygenases, and oxidases;
  • draw the reactive end of NAD+ and mechanisms showing it's reactions with substrates in enzyme-catalyzed two electron oxidation reactions;
  • explain differences in chemical reactivity of NAD+ and FAD in one and two electrons oxidations and with dioxygen;
  • describe the stereochemistry of the alcohol dehydrogenase-catalyzed oxidation of prochiral ethanol by NAD+;
  • explain why FAD/FADH2 are often tightly bound to dehydrogenases in contrast to NAD+/NADH where are freely diffusable substrates;
  • given standard reduction potentials, determine the ΔGo' for given redox reactions;
  • explain why different FAD and other flavin containing dehydrogenases have varying standard reduction potentials for the flavin but NAD+ dependent dehydrogenase have only one;
  • describe the role of heme in mono- and dioxygenases in activating dioxygen and minimizing side reactions of ROSs;
  • describe the biological role of cytochrome P450s;
  • define and give examples of oxidases;
  • compare the contrast the role of the heme in carrying hemoglobin and myoglobin, monoxygenases, and in oxidases.

B2.  The Chemistry of NAD+ and FAD

NAD+ is a derivative of nicotinic acid or nicotinamide.

Figure:  NAD+ is a derivative of nicotinic acid or nicotinamide.

It and its reduction product, NADH, exists in the cells as interconvertible members of a pool whose total concentration does not vary significantly with time. Hence, if carbohydrates and lipds are being oxidized by NAD+ to produce energy in the form of ATP, levels of NAD+ would begin to fall as NADH rises. A mechanism must be be present to regenerate NAD+ from NADH if oxidation is to continue. As we will see later, this happens in the muscle under anaerobic conditions (if dioxygen is lacking as when you are running a 100 or 200 m race, or if you are being chased by a saber-toothed tiger) when pyruvate + NADH react to form lactate + NAD+.

Under aerobic conditions (sufficient dioxygen available), NADH is reoxidized in the mitochondria by electron transport through a variety of mobile electron carriers, which pass electrons to dioxygen (using the enzyme complex cytochrome C oxidase) to form water.

NAD+/NADH can undergo two electron redox steps, in which a hydride is transferred from an organic molecule to the NAD+, with the electrons flowing to the positively charged nitrogen of NAD+ which serves as an electron sink. NADH does not react well with dioxgyen, since single electron transfers to/from NAD+/NADH produce free radical species which can not be stabilized effectively. All NAD+/NADH reactions in the body involve 2 electron hydride transfers.

Figure:  All NAD+/NADH reactions in the body involve 2 electron hydride transfers

FAD (or flavin mononucleotide-FMN) and its reduction product, FADH2, are derivatives of riboflavin.

Figure:  derivatives of riboflavin

 

FAD/FADH2 differ from NAD+/NADH since they are bound tightly (Kd  approx 10-7 - 10-11 M)  to enyzmes which use them. This is because FADH2 is susceptible to reaction with dioxygen, since FAD/FADH2 can form stable free radicals arising from single electron transfers. FAD/FADH2 can undergo 1 OR 2 electrons transfers.

Figure: FAD/FADH2 can undergo 1 OR 2 electrons transfers

FAD/FADH2 are tightly bound to enzymes so as to control the nature of the oxidizing/reducing agent that interact with them. (i.e. so dioxygen in the cell won't react with them in the cytoplasm.) If bound FAD is used to oxidize a substrate, the enzyme would be inactive in any further catalytic steps unless the bound FADH2 is reoxidized by another oxidizing agent.

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