Radical Intermediates in the Coenzyme B₁₂ Dependent Methylmalonyl‐CoA Mutase Reaction Shown by ESR Spectroscopy

Abstract

Only after the addition of the substrate, methylmalonyl‐CoA , to the binary complex of highly purified methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase and coenzyme B 12 is a clear ESR signal observed. This proves that radical intermediates that have only been postulated in the past are indeed involved in the enzymatic rearrangement of the carbon skeleton.