The Significance of the Investigation of Model Compounds for the Elucidation of the Mechanism of Hydrogen-Transfer with Pyridine Nucleotides

Abstract

During the last years the general trend in the research on enzyme reaction mechanisms has moved from coenzyme chemistry to apoenzyme chemistry. The investigation of model compounds for pyridinenucleotides obviously has to do with coenzyme chemistry. Therefore it is clear that this report is primarily a historical one. Nevertheless a real understanding of the role played by proteins calayzing specific biological hydrogen transfer reactions will not be possible unless the real chemical role of the coenzymes is understood. So one may predict that with a better understanding of the chemistry of “active sites” a new dimension in coenzyme chemistry will follow. In this connection model compounds for pyridine nucleotides again may be helpful.