6jzy

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Long-chain alk(a/e)nes represent the major constituents of conventional transportation fuels. Biosynthesis of alkanes is ubiquitous in many kinds of organisms. Cyanobacteria possess two enzymes, acyl-acyl carrier protein (acyl-ACP) reductase (AAR) and aldehyde-deformylating oxygenase (ADO), which function in a two-step alkane biosynthesis pathway. These two enzymes act in series and possibly form a complex that efficiently converts long chain fatty acyl-ACP/fatty acyl-CoA into hydrocarbon. While the structure of ADO has been previously described, structures of both AAR and AAR-ADO complex have not been solved, preventing deeper understanding of this pathway. Here, we report a ligand-free AAR structure, and three AAR-ADO complex structures in which AARs bind various ligands. Our results reveal the binding pattern of AAR with its substrate/cofactor, and suggest a potential aldehyde-transferring channel from AAR to ADO. Based on our structural and biochemical data, we proposed a model for the complete catalytic cycle of AAR.

Structural insights into catalytic mechanism and product delivery of cyanobacterial acyl-acyl carrier protein reductase.,Gao Y, Zhang H, Fan M, Jia C, Shi L, Pan X, Cao P, Zhao X, Chang W, Li M Nat Commun. 2020 Mar 23;11(1):1525. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15268-y. PMID:32251275^[2]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.