阿尔代脱酶超级家族:结构和功能的相关性和偏差

Aldehydes are named based on the systematic nomenclature rules set by the IUPAC. For acyclic aldehydes, the longest carbon chain containing the aldehydic (–CHO) group is considered the parent chain. The aldehyde is named by replacing the last letter “e” in the hydrocarbon name with “al”. For instance, a simple, seven-carbon-membered acyclic aldehyde is called heptanal, derived from heptane. The carbon chain is numbered starting from the aldehydic carbon, although...

Vanillin—a flavoring agent in vanilla, cinnamaldehyde—a molecule responsible for the distinct smell of cinnamon, and acetone—a strong-smelling ingredient in nail polish removers, all belong to a class of carbonyl compounds called aldehydes and ketones (Figure 1). Although both aldehydes and ketones contain the characteristic carbonyl (C=O) bond, their chemical structures vary with respect to the groups directly attached to the carbonyl carbon.
In aldehydes (Figures 1a and 1b),...

Protein families are groups of homologous proteins; that is, they have similarities in amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures. Protein families usually occur because of gene duplication, where an additional copy of a gene is inserted into the genome of an organism.   Mutations that change the amino acids but still allow the protein to be properly synthesized, will lead to new protein family members.   If these new proteins contain similar amino acids in key...

Oxidation of aldehydes and ketones results in the formation of carboxylic acids. Aldehydes, bearing hydrogen next to the carbonyl group, are easily oxidized compared to ketones. This is because an aldehydic proton can easily be abstracted during oxidation.
Aldehydes readily undergo oxidation in strong oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate and chromic acid. The oxidation can also be carried out using mild oxidizing agents such as silver oxide. In fact, aldehydes can be easily oxidized...

Protecting groups are compounds that can bind to a specific functional group in the presence of other functional groups to protect them from undesired chemical reactions. These compounds can selectively bind to particular functional groups and advance chemoselective reactions in polyfunctional systems (Figure 1). After the functional group has served its purpose, it is removed by reacting it with specific compounds.

In aldehydes, the hydrogen atom connected to the carbonyl carbon helps distinguish aldehydes from other carbonyl compounds using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The closeness of aldehydic hydrogen to the electrophilic carbonyl carbon highly deshields the hydrogen atom causing its signal to appear around 10 ppm in the ¹H NMR spectra. α hydrogens split the aldehydic proton signal, which helps identify the number of α hydrogens in the molecule. For instance, one α hydrogen creates a...