Iron-sulfur clusters in nucleic acid metabolism: Varying roles of ancient cofactors.

Yara Khodour, Laurie S Kaguni, Johnny Stiban

Journal: The Enzymes 2019;45():225-256

PMID: 31627878

Abstract

Despite their relative simplicity, iron-sulfur clusters have been omnipresent as cofactors in myriad cellular processes such as oxidative phosphorylation and other respiratory pathways. Recent research advances confirm the presence of different clusters in enzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism. Iron-sulfur clusters can therefore be considered hallmarks of cellular metabolism. Helicases, nucleases, glycosylases, DNA polymerases and transcription factors, among others, incorporate various types of clusters that serve differing roles. In this chapter, we review our current understanding of the identity and functions of iron-sulfur clusters in DNA and RNA metabolizing enzymes, highlighting their importance as regulators of cellular function.

Address: Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2019.08.003

MeSH Terms: Coenzymes, DNA Glycosylases, DNA Helicases, DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase, Deoxyribonucleases, Iron-Sulfur Proteins, Nucleic Acids