Over the last ten years, a new family of radical enzymes known as SAM radical enzymes has emerged as being involved in a multitude of often essential metabolic pathways such as the biosynthesis of vitamins or cofactors. Initially identified in certain bacterial species, developments in genomics and metagenomics have demonstrated the very wide distribution of these enzymes from bacteria and viruses to higher organisms, including man.
While the basis of the reactivity of these enzymes has been well established, involving an unusual iron-sulfur center and an essential co-factor, S-adenosyl-L methionine (SAM), the number of reactions in which these enzymes are involved continues to grow.
We are particularly interested in the " SAM radical " enzymes that catalyze new post-translational modifications or the modification of ribosomal RNA. We have characterized these enzymes both mechanistically and functionally.
In this seminar, we will discuss our recent work, from the study of the mechanism of these new enzymes to their role in the interactions between commensal and pathogenic bacteria and man.
