The structure of aconitase

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Abstract
The crystal structure of the 80,000 Da FeS enzyme aconitase has been solved and refined at 2.1 Å resolution. The protein contains four domains; the first three from the N‐terminus are closely associated around the [3Fe–4S] cluster with all three cysteine ligands to the cluster being provided by the third domain. Associationof the larger C‐terminal domain with the first three domains createsan extensive cleft leading to the FeS cluster. Residues from all four domains contribute to the active site region, which is defined by the FeS cluster and a bound SOion. This region of the structure contains 4 Arg, 3 His, 3 Ser, 2 Asp, 1 Glu, 3 Asn, and 1 Gln residues, as well asseveral bound water molecules. Three of these side chains reside on a threeturn 310 helix in the first domain. The SOion is bound 9.3 Å from the center of the [3Fe–4S] cluster by the side chains of 2 Arg and 1 Gln rsidues. Each of 3 His side chains in the putative active site is paired with Asp or Glu side chains.