2-Succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylate synthase (EC 4.2.99.20), also known as SHCHC synthase is encoded by the menH gene in Escherichia coli and functions in the synthesis of vitamin K. The specific step in the synthetic pathway that SHCHC synthase catalyzes is the conversion of 5-enolpyruvoyl-6-hydroxy-2-succinylcyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate to (1R,6R)-6-hydroxy-2-succinylcyclohexa-2,4-diene-1-carboxylate and pyruvate. Background Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin known to aid in blood clotting. It is recommended that all newborns receive an injection of vitamin K in order to prevent excessive bleeding of the brain after birth. There are two major forms of vitamin K that occur naturally. Phylloquinone, also known as K1, is synthesized by plants and is the major form of vitamin K in the diet. Menaquinone, K2, includes a range of forms that are synthesized by bacteria in the gut. Vitamin K is synthesized from the molecule chorismate in a nine step conversion process. SHCHC synthase catalyzes the third step in the process. Chemistry Reaction scheme Enzyme Structure The crystal structure of the MenH enzyme in E.coli (SHCHC synthase) exists as a complex of three protein molecules shown in the diagram. SHCHC synthase forms an alpha/beta hydrolase fold with a central set of seven parallel beta sheets surrounded by alpha helixes on both sides. A cap of five alpha helixes serves to enclose the active site. The enzyme exists in an open form until it binds the substrate, when it morphs into a closed form with an active catalytic triad. Energetic analysis shows that SHCHC synthase has a low energetic burden for catalytic activity. This means the enzyme is more prone to mutation and is one of the most diverse enzymes in the vitamin K synthetic pathway. Only fifteen amino acid residues are absolutely conserved across mutations of the enzyme. Catalytic Mechanism The active site contains a catalytic triad of syrine, histine and arginine, which is conserved across all mutants and is proposed to initiate the reaction. The triad residues are located at Ser86, Asp210, and His232. This triad is proposed to catalyze a proton extraction which triggers a transfer of electrons leading to the elimination of pyruvate and formation of SHCHC. Originally, it was proposed that the transition state was stabilized by a nontraditional oxyanion hole. Now a traditional oxyanion hole is favored, but not definitive. Reaction Mechanism Cofactors and Alternate Reactions SHCHC synthase is unaffected by traditional cofactors such as divalent metal ions and EDTA. The enzyme is fairly