Photosynthetic organisms, fungi, and animals contain distinct pathways for vitamin C biosynthesis, but the final biosynthetic step consistently involves an oxidation reaction catalysed by the aldonolactone oxidoreductases. Here, the authors investigate the origin and evolution of the diversified activities and substrate preferences featured by these enzymes using different methods and find evidence that they share a common ancestor.
- Alessandro Boverio
- Neelam Jamil
- Andrea Mattevi