title: Enzyme catalysis "reilluminated".
abstract: In a new light: The NADPH:protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) oxidoreductase (POR; see structure, green Pchlide, yellow NADPH) is a good model to investigate catalytical processes in enzymes, as its light activation allows an immediate start of the catalyzed reaction. By irradiation with weak, short laser pulses it is possible to detect conformation changes during the reaction and thus to uncover the elementary steps of the catalytic process.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Bioanorganische Chemie, Stiftstrasse 34-36, 45470 Mülheim, Germany. gaertner@mpi-muelheim.mpg.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gärtner
mesh_terms: D055162:Biocatalysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D009249:NADP / Q000737:chemistry; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000737:chemistry*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D009249:NADP; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C023886:protochlorophyllide reductase