Tetrahydroxynaphthalene Reductase: Catalytic Properties of an Enzyme Involved in Reductive Asymmetric Naphthol Dearomatization

In reduced circumstances: Tetrahydroxynaphthalene reductase shows a broad substrate range including alternate phenolic compounds and cyclic ketones. Structural modeling reveals major enzyme–substrate interactions; C‐terminal truncation of the enzyme causes an altered substrate preference, in accordance with stabilization of the substrate by the C‐terminal carboxylate (see picture). This effect allows the identification of a homologous enzyme.