37 by: Ana Valeska Tillero

Student: Ana Valeska Tillero

Enzyme: Glycerol dehydrogenase

E.C number: 1.1.1.6

Where is this enzyme found? Glycerol dehydrogenase was isolated in a number of bacteria, specifically in Bacillus stearothermophilus, from which most studies derive. The enzyme is found in the mitochondria like most dehydrogenases and NAD+ dependent enzymes.

What does this enzyme do? The metal-dependent enzyme glycerol dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidation of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone (glycerone) via the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. This enzyme is categorized as an oxidoreductase, and is very important in anaerobic metabolic pathways under ATP-independent conditions, meaning it is very useful for glycerol breakdown in bacteria.

Interesting fact about this enzyme – An interesting fact about glycerol dehydrogenase is that in Klebsiella pneumoniae it is a promiscuous enzyme, meaning that not only does it play a role in glycerol oxidation, but also in 2,3-butanediol formation (which has been proposed as rocket fuel that could be farmed from bacteria).

References:

Ruzheinikov, S. N., Burke, J., Sveta Sedelnikova, Baker, P. J., Taylor, R., Bullough, P. A., Muir, N. M., Gore, M. G., & Rice, D. W. (2001). Glycerol Dehydrogenase. Structure, 9(9), 789–802. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(01)00645-1

‌Marshall, J. H., May, J. W., & Sloan, J. (1985). Purification and Properties of Glycerol: NAD+ 2-Oxidoreductase (Glycerol Dehydrogenase) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Microbiology, 131(7), 1581–1588. https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-131-7-1581

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