The hydrolysis of phosphoglycolate begins with the nucleophilic attack by an aspartate residue on the electrophilic phosphorus of the phosphoglycolate. The susceptibility of the bond between phosphate and glycolate is heightened by two key interactions. An interaction with the cofactor, Mg2+, helps polarize the phosphate-oxygen bond and therefore increases the electrophilicity of the phosphorus atom. The other interaction of the phosphate with serine and lysine residues further increases the electrophilicity of the phosphorus atom. In addition, the Mg2+ also orients the nucleophilic aspartate.
