Figure 7: Proposed mechanism of the BVR reaction. | Nature Communications

Figure 7: Proposed mechanism of the BVR reaction.

From: A substrate-bound structure of cyanobacterial biliverdin reductase identifies stacked substrates as critical for activity

Figure 7

A hydride from NAD(P)H is directly transferred to the proximal BV, initiating the reduction of the proximal BV. The propionate side chain of the proximal BV accepts a proton from Arg185, subsequently, the proton is transferred to the propionate side chain in the distal BV, and the protonated propionic acid group in the distal BV moves toward the reducing site in the proximal BV to transfer the proton. Finally, the proximal BV accepts the proton to produce BR. Arrows in the nicotinamide and pyrrole rings indicate the electron flow, and in the other positions indicate the proton or hydride transfer.

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