Structural organization of pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase from the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans.
Cossu, M., Catlin, D., Elliott, S.J., Metcalf, W.W., Nair, S.K.(2024) Structure 
- PubMed: 39265575 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2024.08.011
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
9BT4 - PubMed Abstract: 
Enzymes of the 2-oxoacid:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (OFOR) superfamily catalyze the reversible oxidation of 2-oxoacids to acyl-coenzyme A esters and carbon dioxide (CO 2 )using ferredoxin or flavodoxin as the redox partner. Although members of the family share primary sequence identity, a variety of domain and subunit arrangements are known. Here, we characterize the structure of a four-subunit family member: the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) from the methane producing archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans (MaPFOR). The 1.92 Å resolution crystal structure of MaPFOR shows a protein fold like those of single- or two-subunit PFORs that function in 2-oxoacid oxidation, including the location of the requisite thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), and three [4Fe-4S] clusters. Of note, MaPFOR typically functions in the CO 2 reductive direction, and structural comparisons to the pyruvate oxidizing PFORs show subtle differences in several regions of catalytical relevance. These studies provide a framework that may shed light on the biochemical mechanisms used to facilitate reductive pyruvate synthesis.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.