Abstract
The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase furnishes precursors for the DNA synthesis of all living cells. One of its constituents, the free radical protein, has an unusual α-helical structure. There are two iron centres that are about 25 Å apart in the dimeric molecule. Tyrosine 122, which harbours the stable free radical necessary for the activity of ribonucleotide reductase, is buried inside the protein and is located 5 Å from the closest iron atom.
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Nordlund, P., Sjöberg, BM. & Eklund, H. Three-dimensional structure of the free radical protein of ribonucleotide reductase. Nature 345, 593–598 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/345593a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/345593a0
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