Cofactor diversity in biological oxidations: implications and applications

Until recently, it was generally believed that enzymatic oxidation and reduction requires the participation of either a nicotinamide (NAD(P)+) or a flavin (FAD, FMN), in agreement with the existence of NAD(P)/H-dependent dehydrogenases/reductases and flavoprotein dehydrogenases/reductases/oxidases. However, during the past 20 years, the unraveling of the enzymology of the oxidation and reduction of C1-compounds by bacteria has led to the discovery of many new redox cofactors, some of them discussed here as they have a wider physiological significance than just enabling enzymatic C1-conversions to occur. A good example is the quinone cofactors, encompassing PQQ (2,7,9-tricarboxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-f]-quinoline-4,5-dione), TTQ (tryptophyl tryptophanquinone), TPQ (topaquinone), LTQ (lysyl topaquinone), and several others whose structures have still to be elucidated. Another example is mycothiol (1-O-(2'-[N-acetyl-L-cysteinyl]amido-2'-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inosoitol), the counterpart of glutathione, once thought to be a universal coenzyme. Because these novel cofactors assist in reactions that can also be catalyzed by already known enzyme "classic cofactor" combinations, and first indications suggest that the chemistry of the reactions is not unique, one may wonder about the evolutionary background for this cofactor diversity. However, as will be illustrated by examples, from a practical point of view the diversity is beneficial, as it has increased the arsenal of enzymes suitable for application.