Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Isotopic Effect in Double Proton Transfer Process of Porphycene Investigated by Enhanced QM/MM Method
Published on: July 19, 2019
Structure of isochorismate synthase in complex with magnesium
James F Parsons1, Katherine M Shi, Jane E Ladner
1Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, USA. parsonsj@umbi.umd.edu
Abstract:
The electron carrier menaquinone is one of many important bacterial metabolites that are derived from the key intermediate chorismic acid. MenF, the first enzyme in the menaquinone pathway, catalyzes the isomerization of chorismate to isochorismate. Here, an improved structure of MenF in a new crystal form is presented. The structure, solved at 2.0 angstroms resolution in complex with magnesium, reveals a well defined closed active site. Existing evidence suggests that the mechanism of the reaction catalyzed by MenF involves nucleophilic attack of a water molecule on the chorismate ring. The structure reveals a well defined water molecule located in an appropriate position for activation by Lys190 and attack on the substrate.
Related Concept Videos
ATP Synthase: Structure
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
ATP Synthase: Mechanism
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
The Supercomplexes in the Crista Membrane
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
