CuII carboxypeptidase A-catalysed hydrolysis of S-(trans-cinnamoyl)-L-α-mercapto-β-phenylpropionate

Abstract

Cu^II carboxypeptidase A has been found to catalyse the hydrolysis of S-(trans-cinnamoyl)-L-α-mercapto-β-phenylpropionate at pH 7.5 and 25 °C at a rate similar to that of the catalytic hydrolysis of the thiolester by the native zinc enzyme; this is the first observation of catalytic activity for the copper form of the enzyme and makes possible mechanistic investigations of this metallo-carboxypeptidase species.