Conversion of Aquifex aeolicus 3-Deoxy-d-manno-octulosonate 8-Phosphate Synthase, a Metalloenzyme, into a Nonmetalloenzyme

The Aquifex aeolicus 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase (KDO8PS), a class II metalloenzyme, is converted into an active nonmetalloenzyme by a single amino acid mutation, namely, C11N. The result may provide insight into the evolutionary link between the two KDO8PS classes as well as the potential role of the metal and/or asparagine in the catalytic mechanism.