A common structural motif in thiamin pyrophosphate‐binding enzymes

The amino acid sequences of a wide range of enzymes that utilize thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) as cofactor have been compared. A common sequence motif approximately 30 residues in length was detected, beginning with the highly conserved sequence -GDG- and concluding with the highly conserved sequence -NN-. Secondary structure predictions suggest that the motif may adopt a beta alpha beta fold. The same motif was recognised in the primary structure of a protein deduced from the DNA sequence of a hitherto unassigned open reading frame of Rhodobacter capsulata. This putative protein exhibits additional homology with some but not all of the TPP-binding enzymes.