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Biology

How Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenases Activate Oxygen for Oxidative Biotransformations

Quick fact

Flavin-dependent monooxygenases can insert one atom of oxygen into a substrate while reducing the other to water, all using a flavin cofactor that is regenerated by NADPH. This allows them to hydroxylate even unactivated C–H bonds under mild conditions.

Why this is interesting

Your body uses a molecular 'lighter' to insert oxygen into drugs and pollutants. But how does it do it without setting the whole cell on fire?