Reaction mechanism and 3-dimensional structure of bacterial non-haem haloperoxidases

Bacteria synthesize a large number of halogenated organic compounds. Some of these halogenated secondary metabolites show antibiotic activity against bacteria and fungi. 7-chlorotetracycline, chloramphenicol and pyrrolnitrin are amongst these antibiotics. Although the biosynthetic pathways of these antibiotics are well investigated, no information on the enzymes catalyzing the chlorination steps was available until recently.