E. coli Glyoxalase I
Glyoxalase I (GlxI) and Glyoxalase II (GlxII) are important detoxification metalloenzymes in cells. Our laboratory has discovered that there are two classes of GlxI in Nature. One class that was previously studied by several groups is the Zn2+-activated class. However we have uncovered a second class of this metalloenzyme which is non-Zn2+-activated but the enzymes in this class are activated by Ni2+ and also Co2+ (to a lesser extent). They are predominant in bacteria. We are exploring the chemical mechanism of these enzymes, their structure and function as well as the underlying chemical controls that determine metal specificity.
Reactions catalyzed by the glyoxalase enzymes