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Friday 12 August 2011

Aureococcus anophagefferens- another eukaryote with a nitrile hydratase alpha chain

Whilst combing the data for new versions of nitrile hydratases which might be worthy of investigation, I came across a protein in the eukaryote alga Aureococcus anophagefferens which looks hugely like the alpha chain of a cobalt centred nitrile hydratase. I havent spotted the beta chain in the genome yet, but it is interesting to see that it doesnt seem to share the single subunit pattern of NHase like Monosiga brevicollis or Salpingoeca.
This phytoplankton is behind algal blooms which give "brown tides" off the eastern seaboard of the USA. (Image of organism below from here)

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