Publication Abstract from PubMed
The crystal structure of biotin synthase from Escherichia coli in complex with S-adenosyl-L-methionine and dethiobiotin has been determined to 3.4 angstrom resolution. This structure addresses how "AdoMet radical" or "radical SAM" enzymes use Fe4S4 clusters and S-adenosyl-L-methionine to generate organic radicals. Biotin synthase catalyzes the radical-mediated insertion of sulfur into dethiobiotin to form biotin. The structure places the substrates between the Fe4S4 cluster, essential for radical generation, and the Fe2S2 cluster, postulated to be the source of sulfur, with both clusters in unprecedented coordination environments.
Crystal structure of biotin synthase, an S-adenosylmethionine-dependent radical enzyme.,Berkovitch F, Nicolet Y, Wan JT, Jarrett JT, Drennan CL Science. 2004 Jan 2;303(5654):76-9. PMID:14704425[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
