Arsenite oxidase in complex with antimonite and arsenite oxyanions: Insights into the catalytic mechanism.
Engrola, F., Correia, M.A.S., Watson, C., Romao, C.C., Veiros, L.F., Romao, M.J., Santos-Silva, T., Santini, J.M.(2023) J Biol Chem 299: 105036-105036
- PubMed: 37442232 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105036
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8CCQ, 8CFF, 8CGS - PubMed Abstract: 
Arsenic contamination of groundwater is among one of the biggest health threats affecting millions of people in the world. There is an urgent need for efficient arsenic biosensors where the use of arsenic metabolizing enzymes can be explored. In this work, we have solved four crystal structures of arsenite oxidase (Aio) in complex with arsenic and antimony oxyanions and the structures determined correspond to intermediate states of the enzymatic mechanism. These structural data were complemented with density-functional theory calculations providing a unique view of the molybdenum active site at different time points that, together with mutagenesis data, enabled to clarify the enzymatic mechanism and the molecular determinants for the oxidation of As(III) to the less toxic As(V) species.
Organizational Affiliation: 
UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal.