Janda K D, Schloeder D, Benkovic S J, Lerner R A
Department of Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Science. 1988 Sep 2;241(4870):1188-91. doi: 10.1126/science.3413482.
Catalysis of amide bond hydrolysis is of singular importance in enzymology. An antibody was induced to an analog of a high-energy intermediate anticipated along the reaction coordinate of amide hydrolysis. This antibody is an amidase with high specificity and a large rate enhancement (250,000) relative to the uncatalyzed reaction. This reaction represents the kinetically most difficult hydrolysis reaction yet catalyzed by an antibody.