Probing Eudesmane Cation−π Interactions in Catalysis by Aristolochene Synthase with Non-canonical Amino Acids

Stabilization of the reaction intermediate eudesmane cation (3) through interaction with Trp 334 during catalysis by aristolochene synthase from Penicillium roqueforti was investigated by site-directed incorporation of proteinogenic and non-canonical aromatic amino acids. The amount of germacrene A (2) generated by the mutant enzymes served as a measure of the stabilization of 3. 2 is a neutral intermediate, from which 3 is formed during PR-AS catalysis by protonation of the C6,C7 double bond. The replacement of Trp 334 with para-substituted phenylalanines of increasing electron-withdrawing properties led to a progressive accumulation of 2 that showed a good correlation with the interaction energies of simple cations such as Na⁺ with substituted benzenes. These results provide compelling evidence for the stabilizing role played by Trp 334 in aristolochene synthase catalysis for the energetically demanding transformation of 2 to 3.