The enzyme 4-hydroxy-2-oxovalerate aldolase (EC 4.1.3.39) catalyzes the chemical reaction 4-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate acetaldehyde + pyruvate Baker et al. showed that BphI, a member of this family from Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 was able to utilize 4-hydroxy- 2-oxohexanoate (HOHA) with equal catalytic efficiency as 4-hydroxy-2-oxopentanoate, producing propionaldehyde + pyruvate. Furthermore, the enzyme was also able to catalyze the cleavage of 4-hydroxy-2-oxoheptanoate (HOHEP), forming butyraldehyde + pyruvate. Baker et al. we also able to show that acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde are not released into the bulk solvent, but are channeled to an associated acetaldehyde dehydrogenase known as BphJ. This is the first demonstration of substrate channeling in this family of enzymes.
