Crystal structure of AibC, a reductase involved in alternative de novo isovaleryl coenzyme A biosynthesis in Myxococcus xanthus.
Bock, T., Muller, R., Blankenfeldt, W.(2016) Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 72: 652-658
- PubMed: 27487931 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1107/S2053230X16011146
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
5K1S - PubMed Abstract: 
Isovaleryl coenzyme A (IV-CoA) performs a crucial role during development and fruiting-body formation in myxobacteria, which is reflected in the existence of a de novo biosynthetic pathway that is highly upregulated when leucine, the common precursor of IV-CoA, is limited. The final step in de novo IV-CoA biosynthesis is catalyzed by AibC, a medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase. Here, the crystal structure of AibC from Myxococcus xanthus refined to 2.55 Å resolution is presented. The protein adopts two different conformations in the crystal lattice, which is a consequence of partial interaction with the purification tag. Based on this structure, it is suggested that AibC most probably uses a Zn(2+)-supported catalytic mechanism in which NADPH is preferred over NADH. Taken together, this study reveals structural details of the alternative IV-CoA-producing pathway in myxobacteria, which may serve as a base for further biotechnological research and biofuel production.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.