Structure and Mechanism of Acetolactate Decarboxylase.
Marlow, V.A., Rea, D., Najmudin, S., Wills, M., Fulop, V.(2013) ACS Chem Biol 8: 2339
- PubMed: 23985082 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/cb400429h
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4BT2, 4BT3, 4BT4, 4BT5, 4BT6, 4BT7 - PubMed Abstract: 
Acetolactate decarboxylase catalyzes the conversion of both enantiomers of acetolactate to the (R)-enantiomer of acetoin, via a mechanism that has been shown to involve a prior rearrangement of the non-natural (R)-enantiomer substrate to the natural (S)-enantiomer. In this paper, a series of crystal structures of ALDC complex with designed transition state mimics are reported. These structures, coupled with inhibition studies and site-directed mutagenesis provide an improved understanding of the molecular processes involved in the stereoselective decarboxylation/protonation events. A mechanism for the transformation of each enantiomer of acetolactate is proposed.
Organizational Affiliation: 
MOAC Doctoral Training Centre, The University of Warwick , Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.