Structure and function of glutamyl-tRNA reductase involved in 5-aminolaevulinic acid formation

Abstract
In most bacteria, in archaea and in plants, the general precursor of all tetrapyrroles, 5-amino-laevulinic acid, is formed by two enzymes. The initial substrate, glutamyl-tRNA, is reduced by NADPH-dependent glutamyl-tRNA reductase to form glutamate 1-semialdehyde. The aldehyde is subsequently transaminated by glutamate-1-semi-aldehyde 2,1-aminomutase to yield 5-amino-laevulinic acid. The enzymic mechanism and the solved crystal structure of Methanopyrrus kandleri glutamyl-tRNA reductase are described. A pathway for metabolic channelling of the reactive aldehyde between glutamyl-tRNA reductase and the aminomutase is proposed.

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