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Updated: May 24, 2026
12:07
Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues
Published on: November 22, 2014
Cofactor biosynthesis through protein post-translational modification
1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|March 6, 2012
Summary
Post-translational modifications create novel cofactors with unique chemistries. Understanding the diverse roles of accessory factors in synthesizing these cofactors, like urease and tryptophan tryptophylquinone, is crucial for this expanding field.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Amino acid post-translational modifications enable the creation of novel cofactors.
- These cofactors possess chemical capabilities beyond standard amino acid side chains.
- Cofactor biosynthesis often involves multiple enzymes and accessory factors, complicating their study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on the biosynthesis of specific cofactors.
- To highlight recent findings on the functions of accessory factors in these systems.
- To showcase the diversity of cofactor biosynthesis and accessory factor roles.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on cofactor biosynthesis.
- Analysis of studies elucidating accessory factor functions.
- Synthesis of information on urease, nitrile hydratase, pyrroloquinoline quinone, hypusine, and tryptophan tryptophylquinone.
Main Results:
- Detailed overview of the biosynthesis pathways for selected cofactors.
- Identification and functional characterization of diverse accessory factors.
- Demonstration of the complex interplay between enzymes and accessory factors.
Conclusions:
- Post-translational modifications are a versatile source of novel cofactor chemistry.
- Accessory factors play critical, diverse roles in cofactor biosynthesis.
- This field is rapidly expanding, revealing intricate biological mechanisms.
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