The X-ray crystal structure of BluB is solved. Blub is an enzyme that uses molecular oxygen to cleave a flavin mononucleotide cofactor to form 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, which is incorporated into vitamin B12. The enzymatic destruction of one cofactor to synthesis another is quite unusual and this biochemical reaction represents the last unknown step in the biosynthesis of this vitamin.
- Michiko E. Taga
- Nicholas A. Larsen
- Graham C. Walker