Keana teixeira biography

Published in final edited form as: Chem Rev. Feb;(2)– doi: /cre

1. Introduction to Non-Heme Iron Enzymes

Non-heme iron enzymes promote a number of important biological reactions, including serotonin,¹ leukotreine,² and DNA³ synthesis. Most mononuclear non-heme iron enzymes contain iron ligated by oxygen and/or nitrogen ligands (Figure 1A).^4–6 Many of these enzymes promote dioxygen activation, resulting in the formation of highly reactive iron–peroxo (Fe^III–OOH, Fe^III–O₂⁻)^7,8 or iron–oxo (Fe^IV=O or Fe^V=O)⁹ oxidation catalysts.⁸ The flexible coordination environment of enzymes containing 2-Hiscarboxylate (N₂O)-ligated iron leaves room for substrate as well as dioxygen activation to occur at the metal site. In many cases, dioxygen binding does not occur until substrate has entered the active site cavity.^4–6,10 In the enzyme lipoxygenase, the active catalyst is an Fe^III–OH that is capable of cleaving weak C–H bonds.^11–13 The property most important in promoting this H-atom abstraction chemistry is the redox otential, which favors the Fe^II oxidation state.^14–16 Relatively recently, a new class of cysteinate sulfur-ligated non-heme iron enzymes emerged. This new class includes nitrile hydrat

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