Substitution of both histidines in the active site of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase 1 exposes underlying pH dependencies

Histidine residues 44 and 48 in yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) bind to the coenzymes NAD(H) and contribute to catalysis. The individual H44R and H48Q substitutions alter the kinetics and pH dependencies, and now the roles of other ionizable groups in the enzyme were studied in the doubly substituted H44R/H48Q ADH. The substitutions make the enzyme more resistant to inactivation by diethyl pyrocarbonate, modestly improve affinity for coenzymes, and substantially decrease catalytic efficiencies for ethanol oxidation and acetaldehyde reduction. The pH dependencies for several kinetic parameters are shifted from pK values for wild-type ADH of 7.3–8.1 to values for H44R/H48Q ADH of 8.0–9.6, and are assigned to the water or alcohol bound to the catalytic zinc. It appears that the rate of binding of NAD+ is electrostatically favored with zinc-hydroxide whereas binding of NADH is faster with neutral zinc-water. The pH dependencies of catalytic efficiencies (V/EtKm) for ethanol oxidation and acetaldehyde reduction are similarly controlled by deprotonation and protonation, respectively. The substitutions make an enzyme that resembles the homologous horse liver H51Q ADH, which has Arg-47 and Gln-51 and exhibits similar pK values. In the wild-type ADHs, it appears that His-48 (or His-51) in the proton relay systems linked to the catalytic zinc ligands modulate catalytic efficiencies. •H44R/H48Q substitutions partially protect against inactivation by diethyl pyrocarbonate.•H44R/H48Q substitutions modestly increase affinity for coenzymes at pH 7.3.•H44R/H48Q substitutions decrease catalytic efficiencies 20 to 50-fold.•H44R/H48Q substitutions expose simpler pH dependencies for catalytic reactions.•Ionization of the catalytic zinc-water or alcohol controls steps in the mechanism.