Demonstration of carbonium ion intermediate during lysozyme catalysis

X-ray analysis studies (1,2) on the relative modes of association of various inhibitors and substrates with lysozyme have led to a proposal for the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme (3,4). This proposal suggests that the enzyme catalyzes the formation of a carbonium ion at C1 of the glycosidic bond undergoing hydrolysis and, further, provides it with steric and electrostatic stabilization. To date, little evidence of a chemical nature has been available to test the mechanistic proposal.