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The final step in carnitine biosynthesis is catalyzed by γ-butyrobetaine (γBB) hydroxylase (BBOX), an iron/2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent oxygenase. BBOX is inhibited by trimethylhydrazine-propionate (THP), a clinically used compound. We report structural and mechanistic studies on BBOX and its reaction with THP. Crystallographic and sequence analyses reveal that BBOX and trimethyllysine hydroxylase form a subfamily of 2OG oxygenases that dimerize using an N-terminal domain. The crystal structure reveals the active site is enclosed and how THP competes with γBB. THP is a substrate giving formaldehyde (supporting structural links with histone demethylases), dimethylamine, malonic acid semi-aldehyde, and an unexpected product with an additional carbon-carbon bond resulting from N-demethylation coupled to oxidative rearrangement, likely via an unusual radical mechanism. The results provide a basis for development of improved BBOX inhibitors and may inspire the discovery of additional rearrangement reactions.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.09.016

Type

Journal article

Journal

Chem Biol

Publication Date

22/12/2010

Volume

17

Pages

1316 - 1324

Keywords

Carnitine, Catalytic Domain, Crystallography, X-Ray, Dimerization, Protein Structure, Quaternary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Substrate Specificity, gamma-Butyrobetaine Dioxygenase