Influence of Water and Enzyme on the Post-Transition State Bifurcation of NgnD-Catalyzed Ambimodal [6+4]/[4+2] Cycloaddition

The enzyme NgnD catalyzes an ambimodal cyclo-addition that bifurcates to [6+4]- and [4+2]-adducts. Both products have been isolated in experiments, but it remains unknown how enzyme and water influence the bifurcation selectivity at the femtosecond time scale. Here, we study the impact of water and enzyme on the post-transition state bifurcation of NgnD-catalyzed [6+4]/[4+2] cycloaddition by integrating quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics quasiclassical dynamics simulations and biochemical assays. The ratio of [6+4]/[4+2] products significantly differs in the gas phase, water, and enzyme. Biochemical assays were employed to validate computational predictions. The study informs how water and enzyme affect the bifurcation selectivity through perturbation of the reaction dynamics in the femtosecond time scale, revealing the fundamental roles of condensed media in dynamically controlling the chemical selectivity for biosynthetic reactions.