Lysozyme has two critical acidic residues to catalyze the hydrolysis of a sugar bond. One is an Asp and the other is a Glu. Which residue is more likely to act as the general acid/base during the mechanism and why?
Out of the two amino acids mentioned, Asp would act as the general acid/base during the mechanism. This is due to the fact that, in Asp the -COOH group of the side chain is much more closer to the -NH2 and -COOH functionality which would make the -COOH proton more electrophilic in nature by pulling electrons towards them. Whereas, this electron pull effect is reduced with increasing distance between the side chain -COOH and the electronegative N and -COOH functionality is Glu.
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