Structure-Based Mechanism for Oxidative Decarboxylation Reactions Mediated by Amino Acids and Heme Propionates in Coproheme Decarboxylase (HemQ)

Coproheme decarboxylase catalyzes two sequential oxidative decarboxylations with H₂O₂ as the oxidant, coproheme III as substrate and cofactor, and heme <i>b</i> as the product. Each reaction breaks a CC bond and results in net loss of hydride, via steps that are not clear. Solution and solid-state structural characterization of the protein in complex with a substrate analog revealed a highly unconventional H₂O₂-activating distal environment with the reactive propionic acids (2 and 4) on the opposite side of the porphyrin plane. This suggested that, in contrast to direct CH bond cleavage catalyzed by a high-valent iron intermediate, the coproheme oxidations must occur through mediating amino acid residues. A tyrosine that hydrogen bonds to propionate 2 in a position analogous to the substrate in ascorbate peroxidase is essential for both decarboxylations, while a lysine that salt bridges to propionate 4 is required solely for the second. A mechanism is proposed in which propionate 2 relays an oxidizing equivalent from a coproheme compound I intermediate to the reactive deprotonated tyrosine, forming Tyr^•. This residue then abstracts a net hydrogen atom (H^•) from propionate 2, followed by migration of the unpaired propionyl electron to the coproheme iron to yield the ferric harderoheme and CO₂ products. A similar pathway is proposed for decarboxylation of propionate 4, but with a lysine residue as an essential proton shuttle. The proposed reaction suggests an extended relay of heme-mediated e^–/H⁺ transfers and a novel route for the conversion of carboxylic acids to alkenes