Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics studies on the sulfoxidation of dimethyl sulfide by compound I and compound 0 of cytochrome P450: which is the better oxidant?

J Phys Chem A. 2009 Oct 29;113(43):11635-42. doi: 10.1021/jp9023926.

Abstract

The cytochromes P450 are ubiquitous enzymes that are involved in key metabolizing processes in the body through the monoxygenation of substrates; however, their active oxidant is elusive. There have been reports that implicate that two oxidants, namely, the iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical (compound I) and the iron(III)-hydroperoxo complex (compound 0), both act as oxidants of sulfoxidation reactions, which contrasts theoretical studies on alkene epoxidation by compounds I and 0 that implicated compound 0 as a sluggish oxidant. To resolve this controversy and to establish the potency of compound I and compound 0 in sulfoxidation reactions, we have studied dimethyl sulfide sulfoxidation by both oxidants using the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) technique on cytochrome P450 enzymes and have set up a model of two P450 isozymes: P450(cam) and P450(BM3). The calculations support earlier gas-phase density functional theory modeling and show that compound 0 is a sluggish oxidant that is unable to compete with compound I. Furthermore, compound I is shown to react with dimethyl sulfide via single-state reactivity on a dominant quartet spin state surface.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Camphor 5-Monooxygenase / chemistry*
  • Camphor 5-Monooxygenase / metabolism*
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Metalloporphyrins / chemistry
  • Metalloporphyrins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxidants / chemistry
  • Oxidants / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Quantum Theory*
  • Safrole / analogs & derivatives*
  • Safrole / metabolism
  • Sulfides / metabolism*

Substances

  • Metalloporphyrins
  • Oxidants
  • Sulfides
  • Iron
  • Camphor 5-Monooxygenase
  • dimethyl sulfide
  • Safrole
  • sulfoxide