Is Hydrogen Tunneling Involved in AcylCoA Desaturase Reactions? The Case of a Δ9 Desaturase That Transforms (E)-11-Tetradecenoic Acid into (Z,E)-9,11-Tetradecadienoic Acid

Abstract

Desaturation of the title acid, by an iron-containing desaturase enzyme, occurs in two steps as shown in the scheme. Deuterium labeling experiments show that tunneling of the hydrogen atom contributes to the transfer of hydrogen in the C9−H cleavage step.