Mechanism of lysozyme
Lysozyme digests bacterial cell walls by breaking
b(1- 4) glycosidic bonds between (N- acetylmuramic
acid (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
The structure of lysozyme. Glu35 and Asp52 are shown in white.
Mechanism of Lysozyme
1) Glu35 acts as a Gen
Acid, donating a
proton to the
glycosidic oxygen
2) The carbonium ion
intermediate is
stabilized by Asp52
3) The oxygen from a
water molecule
attacks the
carbocation, finishing
the mechanism with
reprotonation of
Glu35