An Alternative Isovaleryl CoA Biosynthetic Pathway Involving a Previously Unknown 3‐Methylglutaconyl CoA Decarboxylase

Take a detour: An alternative pathway to synthesize isovaleryl coenzyme A (CoA) has recently been suggested in myxobacteria, which is highly active when leucine is limited. Each enzymatic step of this unprecedented route has now been characterized and a novel 3-methylglutaconyl CoA decarboxylase identified that has apparently evolved from CoA transferases.