The enzyme is a complex of a flavin-containing dehydrogenase component (Bcd) and an electron-transfer flavoprotein dimer (EtfAB). The enzyme complex, isolated from the bacteria Acidaminococcus fermentans and butanoate-producing Clostridia species, couples the exergonic reduction of (E)-but-2-enoyl-CoA to butanoyl-CoA by NADH to the endergonic reduction of ferredoxin by NADH, using electron bifurcation to overcome the steep energy barrier in ferredoxin reduction.
Aboulnaga el-H, Pinkenburg O, Schiffels J, El-Refai A, Buckel W, Selmer T
Title
Effect of an oxygen-tolerant bifurcating butyryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase/electron-transferring flavoprotein complex from Clostridium difficile on butyrate production in Escherichia coli.
Chowdhury NP, Mowafy AM, Demmer JK, Upadhyay V, Koelzer S, Jayamani E, Kahnt J, Hornung M, Demmer U, Ermler U, Buckel W
Title
Studies on the mechanism of electron bifurcation catalyzed by electron transferring flavoprotein (Etf) and butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (Bcd) of Acidaminococcus fermentans.