Development of mechanistic probes for the detection of radical and radical ionic intermediates in enzymatic reactions

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael Schmittel
• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 1999 to 2005
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5177286

In several coenzyme B12 catalyzed eliminase reactions, such as the Ribonucleotide Reductase, the Propanediol and Glycerol dehydratase and the Ethanolamine Ammonia Lyase, neutral and ionic radicals have been invoked as mechanistically important intermediates. While neutral radicals can in principle be tested using radical clock reactions, there is no reliable tool yet to probe for the intermediacy of short-lived ion radicals. Hence, it is proposed to develop a new class of electron transfer probes that allow to recognize radical ionic intermediates directly in enzymatic processes by using product analysis studies and EPR detection.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1071: Radikale in der enzymatischen Katalyse