Interaction of PqqE and PqqD in the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) biosynthetic pathway links PqqD to the radical SAM superfamily

Abstract

pqqD is one of six genes required for PQQ production in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Herein, we demonstrate that PqqD interacts specifically with the radical SAM enzyme PqqE, causing a perturbation in the electronic environment around the [4Fe-4S](+) clusters. This interaction redirects the role for PqqD in PQQ biosynthesis.