Direct transfer of one-carbon units in the transformylations of de novo purine biosynthesis

It is shown that the transfer of formyl units in the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway as catalyzed by glycinamide ribonucleotide (GAR) transformylase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) transformylase probably proceeds through a direct displacement mechanism involving only formyl donor (10-CHO-H4folate) and formyl acceptor (GAR or AICAR). The inability to observe enzyme-catalyzed solvent oxygen incorporation or uncoupling by hydroxylamine of 1:1 stoichiometry between formylated acceptor [formylglycinamide ribonucleotide or 5-(formylamino)imidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide] and deformylated donor implies the absence of an amidine intermediate and suggests that either a formylated enzyme-bound intermediate is not formed or such an intermediate is not accessible to hydroxylamine.