How Does the Catalytic Mechanism of Nitrile Hydratase Work?
The catalytic mechanism of NHase involves the coordination of the nitrile substrate to the metal ion present in the active site. The metal ion, either cobalt or iron, plays a critical role in activating the nitrile for nucleophilic attack by water. This results in the formation of an imidate intermediate, which is subsequently hydrolyzed to yield the corresponding amide. The exact mechanism may vary slightly depending on the metal ion involved, but the general steps remain consistent across different NHases.
