The hydrolysis of phosphoric monoesters by acid phosphatases is thought to proceed via the formation of a phosphoenzyme intermediate, but no stereochemical evidence exists on this point. We have carried out the transphosphorylation from phenyl (R)-[16O, 17O, 18O] phosphate to (S)-propane-1,2-diol in the presence of homogeneous bovine liver acid phosphatase, and have found that the reaction proceeds with greater 90% overall retention of configuration at phosphorus. This stereochemical course of phospho transfer during the enzyme-catalyzed reaction of the phosphoric monoester is consistent with a double displacement mechanism in which each step proceeds with inversion of the stereochemistry at phosphorus, and is similar to the behavior of the bacterial alkaline phosphatase.
“Stereochemistry of phospho transfer catalyzed by bovine liver acid phosphatase”, J. Biol. Chem., 1981, 256(20), 10453-5.
Abstract: