InterPro domain: IPR005888

The conversion of dTDP-glucose into dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxyglucose by Escherichia coli dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase takes place in the active site in three steps: dehydrogenation to dTDP-4-ketoglucose, dehydration to dTDP-4-ketoglucose-5,6-ene, and rereduction of C6 to the methyl group. The 4,6-dehydratase makes use of tightly bound NAD ⁺ as the coenzyme for transiently oxidizing the substrate, activating it for the dehydration step [ 1 ]. This and other 4,6-dehydratases catalyze the first committed step in all 6-deoxysugar biosynthetic pathways described to date. Numerous 6-deoxysugars are used in bacterial lipopolysaccharide production as well as in the biosynthesis of a diverse array of secondary metabolites.

1. Concerted and stepwise dehydration mechanisms observed in wild-type and mutated Escherichia coli dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase. Biochemistry 41, 2797-804