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Research Highlights |
Biosynthesis: Yeast yields plastic ingredient
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Article |
Umpolung reactivity in amide and peptide synthesis
The backbones of all natural peptides and proteins are composed of amide bonds. In the laboratory, the construction of such bonds generally relies on dehydrative approaches, although there are alternatives. It is now shown that the activation of amines and nitroalkanes with an electrophilic iodine source can lead directly to amide products.
- Bo Shen
- , Dawn M. Makley
- & Jeffrey N. Johnston
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Article |
Diphthamide biosynthesis requires an organic radical generated by an iron–sulphur enzyme
Translation elongation factor 2 (EF2) from archaea and eukaryotes contains a unique, post-translationally modified histidine residue called diphthamide, which is the target of diphtheria toxin. The biosynthesis of diphthamide involves three steps; here it is shown that the first step in the archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii requires an unusual iron–sulphur-cluster enzyme, Dph2. It catalyses unprecedented chemistry.
- Yang Zhang
- , Xuling Zhu
- & Hening Lin
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Hydrogen production comes naturally to ocean microbe
Mice may make morphine