Cryo-EM structure of the fatty acid reductase LuxC-LuxE complex provides insights into bacterial bioluminescence.

ABSTRACT: The discovery of reduced flavin mononucleotide and fatty aldehydes as essential factors of light emission facilitated study of bacterial luminescence. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial luminescence have been studied for more than 60 years, the structure of the bacterial fatty acid reductase complex remains unclear. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of the Photobacterium phosphoreum fatty acid reductase complex LuxC-LuxE to a resolution of 2.79 Å. We show that the active site Lys238/Arg355 pair of LuxE is >30 Å from the active site Cys296 of LuxC, implying that catalysis relies on a large conformational change. Furthermore, mutagenesis and biochemical experiments support that the L-shaped cleft inside LuxC plays an important role in substrate binding and reaction. W

SUBMITTER: Tian Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9157457 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature