Consequences of Covalent and Non-Covalent Interactions on Conformational Preferences and pi-Electron Delocalization for the Substrate (Pyruvate) and Inhibitor (Oxamate) of Lactate Dehydrogenase - DFT Studies

Conformational preferences and pi-electron delocalization for the isolated substrate (pyruvate) and inhibitor (oxamate) of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), their protonated forms, adducts with alkali metal cations, and complexes with imidazole and/or the guanidinium cation (models for His195 and Arg171 of the LDH pocket, respectively) have been investigated at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-31++G(d,p) level. Covalent and non covalent bonds in acids, adducts and complexes cause greater conformational changes for pyruvate than for oxamate. Delocalization of pi electrons for the OCO frag ments is similar for similar structures. For isolated anions, adducts and complexes, the HOMED(OCO) values are between 0.9 and 1.0. For protonated forms, the HOMED(OCO) val ues are re duced to 0.55-0.75. Delocalization of pi electrons for the CCO fragment in pyruvate and for the NCO fragment in oxamate in creases when the anions form covalent and non-covalent bonds with other ions and molecules. The HOMED(CCO) values vary from 0.1 to 0.5 forsigma-pi conjugated pyruvate, whereas the HOMED(NCO) values vary from 0.9 to 1.0 for n-pi conjugated oxamate.