γ-Glutamylcysteine synthetase (γGCS, EC 6.3.2.2) catalyzes the formation of γ-glutamylcysteine from l-glutamic acid (Glu) and l-cysteine (Cys) in an ATP-dependent manner. While γGCS can use various amino acids as substrate, little is known about whether it can use non-amino acid compounds in place of Cys. We determined that γGCS from Escherichia coli has the ability to combine Glu and amines to form γ-glutamylamides. The reaction rate depended on the length of the methylene chain of the amines in the following order: n-propylamine > butylamine > ethylamine >> methylamine. The optimal pH for the reaction was narrower and more alkaline than for the reaction with an amino acid. The newly found catalytic ability of γGCS was used in the production of theanine (γ-glutamylethylamine). The resting cells of E. coli expressing γGCS, in which ATP was regenerated through glycolysis, synthesized 12.1 mm theanine (18 h) from 429 mm ethylamine.
γ-谷
氨酰半胱
氨酸合成酶(γGCS,
EC 6.3.2.2)以
ATP 依赖性方式催化 l-谷
氨酸(Glu)和 l-半胱
氨酸(Cys)形成γ-谷
氨酰半胱
氨酸。虽然γGCS可以使用多种
氨基酸作为底物,但人们对它是否可以使用非
氨基酸化合物代替Cys知之甚少。我们确定大肠杆菌中的γGCS能够将Glu和胺结合形成γ-谷
氨酰胺。反应速率取决于胺的亚甲基链长度,顺序如下:
正丙胺 >
丁胺 >
乙胺 >>
甲胺。与与
氨基酸反应相比,该反应的最佳 pH 值更窄、碱性更强。新发现的 γGCS 催化能力被用于生产
茶氨酸(γ-谷
氨酰
乙胺)。表达 γGCS 的大肠杆菌静息细胞通过糖酵解再生
ATP,在 18 小时内从 429 毫米
乙胺中合成了 12.1 毫米
茶氨酸。