title: Structural and functional comparison of HemN to other radical SAM enzymes.
abstract: Radical SAM enzymes have only recently been recognized as an ancient family sharing an unusual radical-based reaction mechanism. This late appreciation is due to the extreme oxygen sensitivity of most radical SAM enzymes, making their characterization particularly arduous. Nevertheless, realization that the novel apposition of the established cofactors S-adenosylmethionine and [4Fe-4S] cluster creates an explosive source of catalytic radicals, the appreciation of the sheer size of this previously neglected family, and the rapid succession of three successfully solved crystal structures within a year have ensured that this family has belatedly been noted. In this review, we report the characterization of two enzymes: the established radical SAM enzyme, HemN or oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen III oxidase from Escherichia coli, and littorine mutase, a presumed radical SAM enzyme, responsible for the conversion of littorine to hyoscyamine in plants. The enzymes are compared to other radical SAM enzymes and in particular the three reported crystal structures from this family, HemN, biotin synthase and MoaA, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunhild
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Layer
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kervio
authors.forename: Gaby
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morlock
authors.forename: Dirk W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Retey
authors.forename: Wolf-Dieter
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Schubert
mesh_terms: D001286:Atropine Derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003304:Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003461:Crystallography; D013286:Datura stramonium / Q000201:enzymology; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013466:Sulfurtransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001286:Atropine Derivatives; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003304:Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase; D004798:Enzymes; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D013466:Sulfurtransferases; C063158:littorine; C109194:HemN protein, Bacteria; C087072:biotin synthase, E coli