Sulochrin oxidase ((−)-bisdechlorogeodin-forming)
Sulochrin oxidase ((-)-bisdechlorogeodin-forming) is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative dimerization of sulochrin to form (-)-bisdechlorogeodin. This reaction is a key step in the biosynthesis of several fungal secondary metabolites, particularly those belonging to the geodin family of compounds.
The enzyme is classified under Enzyme Commission number EC 1.21.3.5. It belongs to the oxidoreductase family, specifically those acting on diphenols and related substances as donors, with oxygen as acceptor. In simpler terms, it uses oxygen to oxidize sulochrin molecules, joining two of them together to create (-)-bisdechlorogeodin.
The systematic name of the enzyme is sulochrin:oxygen oxidoreductase ((-)-bisdechlorogeodin-forming).
The overall reaction catalyzed by sulochrin oxidase can be represented as follows:
2 sulochrin + O2 → (-)-bisdechlorogeodin + 2 H2O
The enzyme is crucial for the production of geodin and related compounds, which can exhibit a range of biological activities, including antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. The study of sulochrin oxidase is important for understanding the biosynthesis of these compounds and could potentially lead to novel methods for their production or modification.