A new heme enzyme family forms hydrazine groups in diverse biosynthetic pathways.

ABSTRACT: Nitrogen-nitrogen (N-N) bond formation is an inherently challenging chemical process that plays a key role in the global nitrogen cycle. An array of microbial metalloenzyme complexes has evolved to shuttle nitrogen between biologically accessible reduced or oxidized states and its inert form as dinitrogen (N₂) gas. More recently, N-N bond formation has been observed in a more specialized context, natural product biosynthesis. Here, we report the discovery of a unique metalloenzyme complex that forms hydrazine functional groups in the biosynthetic pathways of structurally diverse natural products. This heterodimeric system consists of a heme enzyme from a previously unidentified family and a partner ferredoxin. Together, these enzymes effect the unprecedented four-electron reduct

SUBMITTER: Kenney GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12154649 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature