Decarboxylation of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids by the Prenylated-FMN-dependent Enzyme Phenazine-1-carboxylic Acid Decarboxylase
Prathamesh M. Datar, E. Neil G. Marsh
Abstract
Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid decarboxylase (PhdA) is a member of the expanding class of prenylated-FMN-dependent (prFMN) decarboxylase enzymes. These enzymes have attracted interest for their ability to catalyze (de)carboxylation reactions on aromatic rings and conjugated double bonds. Here we describe a method to reconstitute PhdA with prFMN that produces an active and stable form of the holo-enzyme that does not require prereduction with dithionite for activity. We establish that oxidized phenazine-1-carboxylate (PCA) is the substrate for decarboxylation, with kcat = 2.6 s–1 and KM = 53 μM. PhdA also catalyzes the much slower exchange of solvent deuterium into the product, phenazine, with an apparent turnover number of 0.8 min–1. The enzyme was found to catalyze the decarboxylation of a broad range of polyaromatic carboxylic acids, including anthracene-1-carboxylic acid. Previously described prFMN-dependent aromatic (de)carboxylases have utilized electron-rich phenolic or heterocyclic molecules as substrates. PhdA extends the substrate range of prFMN-dependent (de)carboxylases to electron-poor and unfunctionalized aromatic systems, suggesting that it may prove a useful catalyst for the regioselective (de)carboxylation of otherwise unreactive aromatic molecules.