Propionyl-coenzyme A synthetases (PrpE) of Salmonella choleraesuis and Ralstonia solanacearum sharing 62% identity in amino acid sequence to each other were cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Both enzymes catalyzed acetyl-, propionyl-, butyryl- and acrylyl-coenzyme A formation with the highest k cat/K m values for propionate. They displayed sigmoidal homotrophic autoactivation kinetics for propionate but not for the other acyl substrates tested. Besides, substrate inhibition kinetics was observed for co-substrates, i.e. ATP and CoA. Based on the kinetic data reported herein, the reaction mechanisms of the enzyme are discussed.
