Prior evidence supporting the direct observation of phosphorane intermediates in enzymatic phosphoryl transfer reactions was based on the interpretation of electron density corresponding to trigonal species bridging the donor and acceptor atoms. Close examination of the crystalline state of β-phosphoglucomutase, the archetypal phosphorane intermediate-containing enzyme, reveals that the trigonal species is not PO − 3 , but is MgF − 3 (trifluoromagnesate). Although MgF − 3 complexes are transition state analogues rather than phosphoryl group transfer reaction intermediates, the presence of fluorine nuclei in near-transition state conformations offers new opportunities to explore the nature of the interactions, in particular the independent measures of local electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding distributions using 19 F NMR. Measurements on three β-PGM-MgF − 3 -sugar phosphate complexes show a remarkable relationship between NMR chemical shifts, primary isotope shifts, NOEs, cross hydrogen bond F⋯H-N scalar couplings, and the atomic positions determined from the highresolution crystal structure of the β-PGM-MgF − 3 -G6P complex. The measurements provide independent validation of the structural and isoelectronic MgF − 3 model of near-transition state conformations.19F NMR | phosphoryl transfer enzyme | transition state analogue | trifluoromagnesate T he mono-and diesters of phosphoric acid have commanding and ubiquitous roles in all species of life. As structural components they show remarkable stability to spontaneous hydrolysis under near physiological conditions (25°C), with half-lives for P-O bond cleavage in phosphate diesters estimated at ca. 10 7 years and for monoesters ca. 10 12 years (1, 2). Yet, they are susceptible to enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis and phosphoryl group transfer reactions either between two oxygens, or between oxygen and nitrogen or sulfur, with turnover numbers adequate to support a vast array of biological processes, e.g. Serratia nuclease k cat ca. 2; 500 s −1 (3), E. coli alkaline phosphatase k cat ≥ 45 s −1 (4), and human protein tyrosine phosphatase β k cat ca.

Etoposide is one of the most successful chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of human cancers. The drug kills cells by inhibiting the ability of topoisomerase II to ligate nucleic acids that it cleaves during the double-stranded DNA passage reaction. Etoposide is composed of a polycyclic ring system (rings A-D), a glycosidic moiety at the C4 position, and a pendant ring (E-ring) at the C1 position. Although drug-enzyme contacts, as opposed to drug-DNA interactions, mediate the entry of etoposide into the topoisomerase II-drug-DNA complex, the substituents on etoposide that interact with the enzyme have not been identified. Therefore, saturation transfer difference [ 1 H]-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and protein-drug competition binding assays were employed to define the groups on etoposide that associate with yeast topoisomerase II and human topoisomerase IIα. Results indicate that the geminal protons of the A-ring, the H5 and H8 protons of the B-ring, as well as the H2' and H6' protons and the 3'-and 5'-methoxyl protons of the pendent E-ring interact with both enzymes in the binary protein-ligand complexes. In contrast, no significant nuclear Overhauser enhancement signals arising from the C-ring, the D-ring, or the C4 glycosidic moiety were observed with either enzyme, suggesting that there is limited or no contact between these portions of etoposide and topoisomerase II in the binary complex. The functional importance of E-ring substituents was confirmed by topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage assays.Etoposide is one of the most successful chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of human cancers (1-4). The drug currently is in its third decade of clinical use and is front line