Enzymatic control of cycloadduct conformation ensures reversible 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition in a prFMN dependent decarboxylase

The UbiD enzyme plays an important role in bacterial ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) biosynthesis. It belongs to a family of reversible decarboxylases that interconvert propenoic or aromatic acids with the corresponding alkenes or aromatic compounds using a prenylated flavin (prFMN) cofactor. This cofactor is suggested to support (de)carboxylation through a reversible 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process. Here we report an atomic-level description of the reaction of the UbiD related ferulic acid decarboxylase with substituted propenoic and propiolic acids (data ranging from 1.01 to 1.39 Å). The enzyme is only able to couple (de)carboxylation of cinnamic acid-type compounds to reversible 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, while formation of dead-end prFMN cycloadducts occurs with distinct propenoic and propiolic acids. The active site imposes considerable strain on covalent intermediates formed with cinnamic and phenylpropiolic acids. Strain reduction through mutagenesis negatively affects catalytic rates with cinnamic acid, indicating a direct link between enzyme-induced strain and catalysis that is supported by computational studies.