Transient metabolon dynamics tune enzyme specificity | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Transient metabolon dynamics tune enzyme specificity Toru Nakayama, Riki Imaizumi, Toshiyuki Waki, Yoshikazu Hattori, and 26 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7450846/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Cells achieve metabolic precision by assembling enzymes into dynamic complexes, but the regulatory mechanism of these metabolons is unclear. Here, we characterize the chalcone synthase (CHS)–chalcone isomerase-like protein (CHIL) complex, a key component of flavonoid metabolons. Whereas crystallography provides a static view, our analyses reveal that CHS undergoes rapid, reversible binding cycles with CHIL that regulate catalysis in real time. CHIL removes coenzyme A, an inhibitor of Claisen cyclization, transiently reshapes the CHS active site, and guides the tetraketide intermediate toward productive cyclization, thereby suppressing derailment byproducts. These findings demonstrate a previously unproven and generalizable regulatory effect in metabolons: guided active-site tuning via transient enzyme association. This concept enhances our understanding of metabolon function and opens new avenues for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. Biological sciences/Biochemistry/Enzyme mechanisms Biological sciences/Structural biology Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files 03supplementaryinformation.pdf Supplementary information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7450846","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":518599818,"identity":"3300ece6-6834-45fe-9cbb-ba1963479e45","order_by":0,"name":"Toru 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