Dehydration of ribonucleotides catalyzed by ribonucleotide reductase: the role of the enzyme.

ABSTRACT: This article focuses on the second step of the catalytic mechanism for the reduction of ribonucleotides catalyzed by the enzyme Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR). This step corresponds to the protonation/elimination of the substrate's C-2' hydroxyl group. Protonation is accomplished by the neighbor Cys-225, leading to the formation of one water molecule. This is a very relevant step since most of the known inhibitors of this enzyme, which are already used in the fight against certain forms of cancer, are 2'-substituted substrate analogs. Even though some theoretical studies have been performed in the past, they have modeled the enzyme with minimal gas-phase models, basically represented by a part of the side chain of the relevant amino acids, disconnected from the protein backbone. This proce

SUBMITTER: Cerqueira NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1386789 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature