Abstract
The inactivation of chymotrypsin by 5-benzyl-6-chloro-2-pyrone has been studied. Chloride analysis of the inactivated enzyme suggests that chlorine is no longer present in the complex. 13C NMR spectroscopy of chymotrypsin inactivated with 5-benzyl-6-chloro-2-pyrone-2,d-13C2 shows the presence of two new resonances from the protein-bound inactivator. The chemical shift values of these resonances are consistent with an intact pyrone ring on the enzyme as well as the replacement of the C-6 chlorine by a different heteroatom. X-ray diffraction analysis at 1.5-Á resolution of the inactivator-enzyme complex demonstrates that the oxygen of the active site serine residue (serine-195) is covalently attached to C-6 of the inactivator and that the pyrone ring is intact. The 5-benzyl group of the inactivator is bound to the enzyme in the hydrophobic specificity pocket.