Electrocatalytic hydrocarbon hydroxylation by ethylbenzene dehydrogenase from Aromatoleum aromaticum.

We report the electrocatalytic activity of ethylbenzene dehydrogenase (EBDH) from the β-proteobacterium Aromatoleum aromaticum. EBDH is a complex 155 kDa heterotrimeric molybdenum/iron-sulfur/heme protein which catalyzes the enantioselective hydroxylation of nonactivated ethylbenzene to (S)-1-phenylethanol without molecular oxygen as cosubstrate. Furthermore, it oxidizes a wide range of other alkyl-substituted aromatic and heterocyclic compounds to their secondary alcohols.

BN/CC isosteric compounds as enzyme inhibitors: N- and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine inhibit ethylbenzene hydroxylation as nonconvertible substrate analogues.

Good substrate gone bad! BN/CC isosterism of ethylbenzene leads to N-ethyl-1,2-azaborine and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine. In contrast to ethylbenzene, which is the substrate for ethylbenzene dehydrogenase (EbDH), N-ethyl-1,2-azaborine (see scheme; Fc=Ferricenium tetrafluoroborate) and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine are strong inhibitors of EbDH. Thus, the changes provided by BN/CC isosterism can lead to new biochemical reactivity.

Substrate and inhibitor spectra of ethylbenzene dehydrogenase: perspectives on application potential and catalytic mechanism.

Ethylbenzene dehydrogenase (EbDH) catalyzes the initial step in anaerobic degradation of ethylbenzene in denitrifying bacteria, namely, the oxygen-independent hydroxylation of ethylbenzene to (S)-1-phenylethanol. In our study we investigate the kinetic properties of 46 substrate analogs acting as substrates or inhibitors of the enzyme. The apparent kinetic parameters of these compounds give important insights into the function of the enzyme and are consistent with the predicted catalytic mechanism based on a quantum chemical calculation model.