Role of ATP and enzyme-bound nascent peptides in the control of elongation for mycobacillin synthesis

The enzyme fraction A, a constituent of the three-fraction (A, B and C) enzyme complex mycobacillin synthetase, elongated tri- and tetra-peptides, under enzyme-bound conditions, to tetra- and penta-peptides respectively in the presence of the 'next' amino acid (in the mycobacillin sequence). The enzyme fraction B synthesized hexapeptide from free pentapeptide and the next amino acid, but synthesized heptapeptide from hexapeptide only under enzyme-bound conditions in the presence of the next amino acid. Similarly, the enzyme fraction C synthesized decapeptide from free nonapeptide in the presence of the next amino acid, but undecapeptide only from enzyme-bound decapeptide in the presence of the next amino acid during the elongation process. The Km values for the initiating reactions for each of the three enzyme fractions were 6-7-fold lower than those for the succeeding reactions catalysed by each of the enzyme fractions. The specificity of the initiation and elongation is discussed in the light of these findings.