Disease relevance of Benzylsuccinic acid

• A stable organic free radical in anaerobic benzylsuccinate synthase of Azoarcus sp. strain T [1].
• Anaerobic toluene catabolism of Thauera aromatica: the bbs operon codes for enzymes of beta oxidation of the intermediate benzylsuccinate [2].
• On the basis of results of a parallel calibration study for N-acetylglycyl, it is suggested that the glycyl radical observed for E. coli anaerobic RNR may have a fully extended conformation, which differs from those of the corresponding radicals in pyruvate formate-lyase or benzylsuccinate synthase [3].

High impact information on Benzylsuccinic acid

• The four genes for benzylsuccinate synthase and the activating enzyme are organized as a single operon; their transcription is induced by toluene [4].
• Extreme state of ionization of benzylsuccinate bound by carboxypeptidase A [5].
• Human carboxypeptidase A has been isolated from activated pancreatic juice by means of affinity chromatography employing the competitive inhibitor benzylsuccinic acid as an affinity ligand [6].
• A chromosomal null bssA mutant was constructed (the bssA gene encodes the alpha-subunit of benzylsuccinate synthase) [7].
• In this study, we identified and sequenced the genes encoding benzylsuccinate synthase from Azoarcus sp. strain T and examined the role of this enzyme in both anaerobic toluene and m-xylene mineralization [7].

Chemical compound and disease context of Benzylsuccinic acid

• E-Phenylitaconic acid has been isolated as a metabolite generated by Azoarcus tolulyticus Tol-4 along with benzylsuccinic acid during anaerobic degradation of toluene [8].

Biological context of Benzylsuccinic acid

• The inactivations were prevented by 2-benzylsuccinic acid, a competitive inhibitor that is known to bind the active site of the enzyme [9].
• Substrate specificities of benzylsuccinate synthases were analyzed in Azoarcus sp. strain T and Thauera aromatica strain K172 [10].
• We conclude that benzylsuccinate is required for the full induction of the tutE tutFDGH gene cluster of T. aromatica strain T1 [11].

Associations of Benzylsuccinic acid with other chemical compounds

• In vitro studies of the anaerobic benzylsuccinate synthase reaction indicate that the H atom abstracted from the toluene methyl group during addition to fumarate is retained in the succinyl moiety of benzylsuccinate [12].
• Substrate specificities and electron paramagnetic resonance properties of benzylsuccinate synthases in anaerobic toluene and m-xylene metabolism [10].

Gene context of Benzylsuccinic acid

• The bssCAB genes are part of a larger putative operon ( bssDCABEFGH), which contains the gene bssD, encoding the activase for benzylsuccinate synthase, and four genes ( bssEFGH) encoding proteins of unknown function [13].
• Benzylsuccinate synthase, encoded by the tutF, tutD, and tutG genes of Thauera aromatica strain T1, is responsible for the first step of anaerobic toluene metabolism [14].

References