Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Tungsten in biological systems

A Kletzin1, M W Adams

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-7229, USA.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Environmental response patterns in commercial classes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013
Same author

Yield stability of determinate and indeterminate dry bean cultivars.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013
Same author

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms of Malawian bean lines: further evidence for two major gene pools.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013
Same author

Mitochondrial genome size variation and restriction fragment length polymorphisms in threePhaseolus species.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013
Same author

Mitochondrial restriction fragment length polymorphisms in wild Phaseolus vulgaris L.: insights on the domestication of the common bean.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik·2013
Same author

The biochemical diversity of life near and above 100°C in marine environments.

Journal of applied microbiology·2010
Same journal

Feeding the invaders: How metabolic imbalance shapes infection and biofilm development.

FEMS microbiology reviews·2026
Same journal

Interactions between extracellular vesicles and viruses: lessons learned across species and kingdoms.

FEMS microbiology reviews·2026
Same journal

Killer Peptide: an antibody-derived self-assembling peptide bridging antimicrobial and host-defense mechanisms.

FEMS microbiology reviews·2026
Same journal

From gatekeeper to target: MAPK cascades as control circuits at the insect-microbe interface.

FEMS microbiology reviews·2026
Same journal

The role of fungal G protein-coupled receptors in interspecies cell-cell communication.

FEMS microbiology reviews·2026
Same journal

Convergent symbioses: morphology, life history, and niche specialization in coral and lichen mutualisms.

FEMS microbiology reviews·2026
See all related articles

Tungsten, unlike molybdenum, has a recently established biological role in prokaryotes, with some archaea being obligately dependent on it. This study explores the biochemistry and structure of tungstoenzymes, revealing insights into their catalytic mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Molybdenum's essential biological role is well-established, with ubiquitous molybdoenzymes.
  • Tungsten's biological significance is newly recognized, primarily in prokaryotes, unlike eukaryotes.
  • Certain hyperthermophilic archaea exhibit obligate tungsten dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biological role and metabolism of tungsten in various prokaryotic organisms.
  • To characterize the structure and function of tungstoenzymes and their catalytic mechanisms.
  • To explore the geochemical, ecological, biochemical, and phylogenetic factors differentiating tungsten- and molybdenum-dependent life.

Main Methods:

  • Purification and characterization of four distinct types of tungstoenzymes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Determination of the crystal structure of aldehyde ferredoxin oxidoreductase from Pyrococcus furiosus.
  • Comparative analysis of tungsten and molybdenum metabolism across diverse microbial species.

    • Main Results:

    • Four classes of tungstoenzymes were purified, including formate dehydrogenase and aldehyde oxidoreductases.
    • The crystal structure revealed a unique catalytic site with tungsten coordinated to pterin molecules and a magnesium ion.
    • Tungsten-dependent organisms were identified across archaea, bacteria, and methanogens, with hyperthermophilic archaea showing obligate dependence.

    Conclusions:

    • Tungsten plays a crucial redox role in various enzymes within prokaryotes, particularly in hyperthermophilic archaea.
    • The structural and biochemical data provide a foundation for understanding tungstoenzyme function and evolution.
    • The study highlights the diverse metabolic strategies involving tungsten and molybdenum across different life forms.