The generation of 5′-deoxyadenosyl radicals by adenosylmethionine-dependent radical enzymes

✍ Scribed by Joseph T Jarrett

• Book ID: 104414752
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 176 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1367-5931
• DOI: 10.1016/s1367-5931(03)00022-x

✦ Synopsis

Adenosylmethionine-dependent radical enzymes provide a novel mechanism for generating the highly oxidizing 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical in an anaerobic reducing environment. Recent studies suggest a unique covalent interaction between adenosylmethionine and a catalytic iron-sulfur cluster that may promote inner-sphere electron transfer to the sulfonium, resulting in the reductive cleavage of a C[bond]S and the generation of a 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical. The utilization of this radical as a catalytic and stoichiometric oxidant in many different enzyme reactions reflects the broad diversity of radical enzymes throughout biology.