γ-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBOX) is a 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II) dependent oxygenase that catalyses an essential step during carnitine biosynthesis in animals. BBOX is inhibited by ejection of structural zinc by a set of selenium containing analogues. Previous structural analyses indicated that an undisrupted N-terminal zinc binding domain of BBOX is required for catalysis. Ebselen is a relatively potent BBOX inhibitor, an observation which may in part reflect its cardioprotective properties.
Keywords: 2-Oxoglutarate dependent oxygenase; Carnitine; Ebselen; Zinc ejection; γ-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase.
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