Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate-Dependent Enzymes: Catalysis, Conformation and Genomics

Pyridoxal 59-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes represent about 4% of the enzymes classified by the Enzyme Commission. The versatility of PLP in carrying out a large variety of reactions exploiting the electron sink effect of the pyridine ring, the conformational changes accompanying the chemical steps and stabilizing distinct catalytic intermediates, and the spectral properties of the different coenzyme–substrate derivatives signaling the reaction progress are some of the key features of PLP and PLP-dependent catalytic action. Progress in PLP-dependent enzymes functional genomics and development of inhibitors with therapeutic activity highlight the continuous novelty of an ‘old’ class of enzymes.