Project 4 Prof. Matthias Boll
2-Naphthoyl-CoA reductase: enzymatic aromatic ring reduction at a flavin cofactor
The main focus of this project is to characterize the flavin-dependent 2-naphthoyl-CoA reductase catalyzing a key reaction in anaerobic naphthalene catabolism. The structure, function and occurrence of this prototypical enzyme of a new class of arylcarboxyl-CoA reductases will be studied.
The specific aims of the project are i) heterologous expression of the gene from different anaerobic naphthalene- and phenanthrene-degrading cultures in E. coli and the isolation and characterization of the individual gene products; ii) determination of the stereochemical course of the reaction; iii) detailed spectroscopic studies (stop-flow UV/vis, EPR, ENDOR) of the cofactors; iv) attempts to solve the structure by crystallization and X-ray analysis of NCRs in order to elucidate the structure–function relationship.
Figure 1: Reactions catalyzed by and cofactors of dearomatizing arylcarboxyl–CoA reductases involved in the anaerobic degradation of monocyclic (A, B) and polycyclic (C) aromatic compounds. (A) ATP-dependent class I benzoyl–CoA reductases; (B) ATP-independent class II benzoyl-CoA reductase; (C) 2-naphthoyl-CoA reductase; the reaction of the latter appears not to be coupled to an exergonic reaction. The cofactors are presented in blue.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Matthias Boll
Institute of Biology II
Microbiology
Schänzlestr.1
79104 Freiburg
Phone: +49 (0) 761 203-2649
Fax: +49 (0) 761 203-2626
email: matthias.boll@biologie.uni-freiburg.de
http://www.ag-boll.uni-freiburg.de/