Enzyme X-ray crystal structures

In the area of mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes, x-ray crystal structures are now also available for the catalytic domain of human phenylalanine hydroxylase [18] and naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase [19]. The mononuclear iron site of phenylalanine hydroxylase resembles the 2-His-l-Asp site of tyrosine hydroxylase, a result anticipated by sequence homology. More interestingly, naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase, which catalyzes the c/ s-dihydroxylation of arene double bonds in the biodegradation of aromatics, also has a Fe(His)2(Asp) iron site. These two enzymes augment the increasing number of mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes with a common Fe(His)2(carboxylate) facial triad motif [20],... 

---