Ketimine reductase/CRYM catalyzes reductive alkylamination of α-keto acids, confirming its function as an imine reductase.

André Hallen, Arthur J L Cooper, Jason R Smith, Joanne F Jamie, Peter Karuso

Amino acids 2015 Nov

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Recently, crystalized mouse ketimine reductase/CRYM complexed with NADPH was found to have pyruvate bound in its active site. We demonstrate that the enzyme binds α-keto acids, such as pyruvate, in solution, and catalyzes the formation of N-alkyl-amino acids from alkylamines and α-keto acids (via reduction of imine intermediates), but at concentrations of these compounds not expected to be encountered in vivo. These findings confirm that, mechanistically, ketimine reductase/CRYM acts as a classical imine reductase and may explain the finding of bound pyruvate in the crystallized protein.

Citation

André Hallen, Arthur J L Cooper, Jason R Smith, Joanne F Jamie, Peter Karuso. Ketimine reductase/CRYM catalyzes reductive alkylamination of α-keto acids, confirming its function as an imine reductase. Amino acids. 2015 Nov;47(11):2457-61