The biosynthesis of the naturally occurring compound phosphinothricin tripeptide (PTT) involves the conversion of 2-hydroxyethylphosphonate (HEP) to hydroxymethylphosphonate (HMP). This requires the cleavage of a C(sp3)–C(sp3) bond. Here, the X-ray crystal structure of the enzyme that catalyzes this reaction (hydroxyethylphosphonate dioxygenase, HEPD) is solved, and the mechanism of this remarkable transformation is explored.
- Robert M. Cicchillo
- Houjin Zhang
- William W. Metcalf