Abstract 1749 Probing the Active Site of Guanylurea Hydrolase: Insights into Catalysis and Substrate Specificity

Metformin is one of the most regularly prescribed Type II diabetes drugs in the world, and its use is likely to expand as diabetes diagnoses rise globally. This drug and its main degradation byproduct, guanylurea, are not fully metabolized by humans and cannot be removed through conventional water treatment processes. These compounds have been detected in coastal waters around the world and are currently considered emerging pollutants. The goal of this research was to examine the catalytic mechanism and substrate specificity of Guanylurea Hydrolase (GuuH), a recently discovered enzyme that converts guanylurea to ammonia and guanidine.