---
id: Q07341
gene_symbol: acsD
taxon:
  id: NCBITaxon:1525
  label: Neomoorella thermoacetica
description: The small subunit of the corrinoid iron-sulfur protein (CFeSP), which
  acts as a methyl group carrier in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for CO2 fixation. AcsD
  binds a corrinoid (B12 derivative) cofactor and receives methyl groups from methyltetrahydrofolate
  methyltransferase (AcsE), subsequently transferring them to acetyl-CoA synthase
  (AcsB) for acetyl-CoA biosynthesis. Forms a heterohexamer complex with AcsC (large
  subunit) and AcsE.
alternative_records:
- id: A0A1D7XAJ1
  relationship: REFERENCE_PROTEOME_EQUIVALENT
  reference_proteome: UP000322283
  reviewed_on: '2026-10-19'
  reason: Retain Q07341 as the primary Swiss-Prot accession. The reference corrinoid/iron-sulfur small-subunit
    sequence is exactly identical across all 323 residues. The changed organism code in the target entry
    name is not used as taxonomy evidence; live record/proteome taxon identifiers are checked. Retain
    the Swiss-Prot accession.
  evidence:
  - type: PROTEOME_SEARCH
    description: MMseqs2 searched 2,959 sequences across UP000322283 at E <= 1e-5 and sensitivity 7.5,
      returning 1 hits. Every returned sequence was globally aligned using BLOSUM62 with gap-open -10
      and extension -0.5. Scores and sequences for all 1 returned candidates are retained, with 1 detailed
      alignment files. The heuristic search does not establish genomic absence or unique locus identity.
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: 'target_sequence_count: 2959'
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: 'candidate_count: 1'
  - type: SEQUENCE_COMPARISON
    description: 'A0A1D7XAJ1: 323 identities across 323 global-alignment columns (100.0% identity including
      gaps), 0 substitutions and 0 gap columns. Query coverage is 100.0%; target coverage is 100.0%. Sequence
      similarity is interpreted in the manual rationale. Identity over paired residues is 100.0000% (323/323);
      gap columns are excluded from this denominator.'
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: |-
        query_length: 323
          target_length: 323
          alignment_columns: 323
          identities: 323
          mismatches: 0
          gap_columns: 0
          identity_percent: 100.0
          query_coverage_percent: 100.0
          target_coverage_percent: 100.0
  - type: PROTEOME_MEMBERSHIP
    description: The primary accession is outside every searched exact-taxon reference proteome. Current
      UniProt records place A0A1D7XAJ1 in UP000322283 and give it the same taxon as the primary.
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: 'primary_in_any_reference_proteome: false'
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: 'alternative_in_reference_proteome: true'
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: 'same_taxon: true'
  - type: RECORD_HISTORY
    description: 'Sampled UniSave observations: 11-NOV-2015, entry version 76.: no Proteomes cross-reference;
      12-AUG-2020, entry version 92.: no Proteomes cross-reference; 27-NOV-2024, entry version 105.: no
      Proteomes cross-reference. These dated observations do not establish uninterrupted membership/absence,
      the exact change date, or UniProt''s motivation.'
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: |-
        entry_date: 11-NOV-2015, entry version 76.
          proteomes: []
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: |-
        entry_date: 12-AUG-2020, entry version 92.
          proteomes: []
    - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
      supporting_text: |-
        entry_date: 27-NOV-2024, entry version 105.
          proteomes: []
existing_annotations:
  - term:
      id: GO:0006730
      label: one-carbon metabolic process
    evidence_type: IEA
    original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000002
    qualifier: involved_in
    review:
      summary: AcsD is directly involved in one-carbon metabolism through the Wood-Ljungdahl
        pathway, serving as a methyl group carrier that transfers C1 units from methyltetrahydrofolate
        to acetyl-CoA synthase. The crystal structure [PMID:22419154] and biochemical
        studies demonstrate its essential role in methyl transfer reactions using
        a corrinoid cofactor.
      action: ACCEPT
      reason: This annotation accurately captures a core function of AcsD. The protein
        specifically handles one-carbon units (methyl groups) as part of the Wood-Ljungdahl
        pathway, transferring them from 5-methyl-H4folate to acetyl-CoA synthase via
        its corrinoid cofactor. This is well-supported by structural and biochemical
        evidence from PMID:22419154.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: CFeSP then delivers the methyl group to the Ni2Fe4S4 active
            site metallocluster (A-cluster) of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS), where it
            becomes the methyl of acetyl CoA
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: For both MetH and CFeSP/MeTr, methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate)
            is the methyl donor, and a protein-bound B12 derivative (cobalamin for
            MetH and 5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl cobamide for CFeSP) is the methyl carrier
        - reference_id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-deep-research.md
          supporting_text: See deep research file for comprehensive analysis
  - term:
      id: GO:0015977
      label: carbon fixation
    evidence_type: IEA
    original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000043
    qualifier: involved_in
    review:
      summary: AcsD is essential for carbon fixation via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway,
        which fixes CO2 into acetyl-CoA. However, the more specific term GO:0030634
        (carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway) would better represent its precise
        function.
      action: MODIFY
      reason: While AcsD is indeed involved in carbon fixation, the generic term GO:0015977
        is too broad. The protein specifically functions in the Wood-Ljungdahl (reductive
        acetyl-CoA) pathway, a specific type of carbon fixation. The more precise
        term GO:0030634 (carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway) better captures this
        specificity.
      proposed_replacement_terms:
        - id: GO:0030634
          label: carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Acetogenic bacteria, including M. thermoacetica, use CFeSP
            and MeTr together to catalyze methyltransfer in the Wood-Ljungdahl carbon
            fixation pathway for growth on CO2 as the sole carbon source
  - term:
      id: GO:0031419
      label: cobalamin binding
    evidence_type: IEA
    original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000043
    qualifier: enables
    review:
      summary: AcsD binds a corrinoid (B12 derivative) cofactor containing cobalt,
        which is essential for its methyl transfer function. Crystal structures [PMID:22419154]
        directly visualize the bound 5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl cobamide cofactor in
        the protein.
      action: ACCEPT
      reason: This annotation is accurate and represents a core molecular function
        of AcsD. The protein contains a corrinoid-binding domain that specifically
        binds a B12 derivative (5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl cobamide in M. thermoacetica).
        This binding is essential for the methyl transfer activity and is directly
        observed in crystal structures.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: a protein-bound B12 derivative (cobalamin for MetH and
            5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl cobamide for CFeSP) is the methyl carrier
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: electron density for the B12 cofactors is unambiguous (Supplementary
            Fig. 20), and density is also clear in several helical regions, including
            those near B12
  - term:
      id: GO:0005515
      label: protein binding
    evidence_type: IPI
    original_reference_id: PMID:22419154
    qualifier: enables
    review:
      summary: While AcsD does interact with AcsC (forming heterohexamer) and AcsE
        (methyltransferase), the generic "protein binding" term is uninformative.
        More specific terms describing the functional complex formation would be more
        appropriate.
      action: MODIFY
      reason: 'The term "protein binding" is too vague and uninformative. AcsD forms
        specific functional complexes: it heterodimerizes with AcsC to form the corrinoid
        iron-sulfur protein, and this complex then associates with AcsE (methyltransferase)
        to form a ~220 kDa complex. A more specific term like "protein heterodimerization
        activity" (GO:0046982) or noting its participation in the "acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase
        complex" (GO:0044672) would be more informative.'
      proposed_replacement_terms:
        - id: GO:0046982
          label: protein heterodimerization activity
      additional_reference_ids: ["PMID:22419154"]
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Two CFeSPs are present in the complex, each containing
            two subunits
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: In the ~220 kDa CFeSP/MeTr assembly (Fig. 1), the MeTr
            homodimer lies in the centre, with one CFeSP bound on either side
  - term:
      id: GO:0015977
      label: carbon fixation
    evidence_type: IDA
    original_reference_id: PMID:22419154
    qualifier: involved_in
    review:
      summary: Direct experimental evidence from PMID:22419154 demonstrates AcsD’s
        essential role in CO2 fixation via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. However, the
        more specific term GO:0030634 (carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway) would
        better represent the specific pathway.
      action: MODIFY
      reason: While the IDA evidence strongly supports carbon fixation activity, the
        generic GO:0015977 term is too broad. The experimental evidence specifically
        demonstrates function in the Wood-Ljungdahl (reductive acetyl-CoA) pathway.
        GO:0030634 (carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway) more accurately describes
        the specific type of carbon fixation demonstrated in the structural and biochemical
        studies.
      proposed_replacement_terms:
        - id: GO:0030634
          label: carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Acetogenic bacteria, including M. thermoacetica, use CFeSP
            and MeTr together to catalyze methyltransfer in the Wood-Ljungdahl carbon
            fixation pathway for growth on CO2 as the sole carbon source
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Importantly, absorption features disappear when light is
            passed through the solution surrounding the crystals, indicating that
            spectra represent protein in crystals and not protein that may have been
            liberated into the solution. Collectively, these data demonstrate enzymatic
            transfer of the CH3-H4folate methyl group to CFeSP-bound B12
  - term:
      id: GO:0005737
      label: cytoplasm
    evidence_type: IEA
    review:
      summary: AcsD functions in the cytoplasm as part of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway
        for CO2 fixation in acetogenic bacteria.
      action: NEW
      reason: This cellular component term reflects AcsD's location where it operates
        as part of the cytoplasmic carbon fixation machinery.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Acetogenic bacteria, including M. thermoacetica, use CFeSP
            and MeTr together to catalyze methyltransfer in the Wood-Ljungdahl carbon
            fixation pathway for growth on CO2 as the sole carbon source
  - term:
      id: GO:0008168
      label: methyltransferase activity
    evidence_type: IEA
    review:
      summary: AcsD receives methyl groups from 5-methyltetrahydrofolate via its corrinoid
        cofactor and transfers them to acetyl-CoA synthase. Term updated from obsolete
        GO:0042084 to GO:0008168.
      action: NEW
      reason: AcsD's specific methyltransferase activity uses 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
        as the methyl donor via its bound corrinoid cofactor. Original term GO:0042084
        was obsoleted as an unnecessary grouping term.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: For both MetH and CFeSP/MeTr, methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate)
            is the methyl donor, and a protein-bound B12 derivative (cobalamin for
            MetH and 5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl cobamide for CFeSP) is the methyl carrier
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: CFeSP then delivers the methyl group to the Ni2Fe4S4 active
            site metallocluster (A-cluster) of acetyl-CoA synthase
  - term:
      id: GO:0044672
      label: acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex
    evidence_type: IEA
    review:
      summary: AcsD functions as part of the larger Wood-Ljungdahl pathway complex
        that includes acetyl-CoA synthase and other components.
      action: NEW
      reason: This cellular component term reflects AcsD's participation in the multi-enzyme
        complex responsible for CO2 fixation via the acetyl-CoA pathway.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: In the ~220 kDa CFeSP/MeTr assembly (Fig. 1), the MeTr
            homodimer lies in the centre, with one CFeSP bound on either side.
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: CFeSP then delivers the methyl group to the Ni2Fe4S4 active
            site metallocluster (A-cluster) of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS), where it
            becomes the methyl of acetyl CoA
  - term:
      id: TEMP:CFeSP_complex
      label: corrinoid iron-sulfur protein heterodimer (with AcsC)
      description: A heterodimeric complex formed by AcsC (large subunit) and AcsD
        (small subunit) that contains a corrinoid cofactor and iron-sulfur clusters,
        functioning as part of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for carbon fixation
    evidence_type: IEA
    review:
      summary: AcsD forms a heterodimeric corrinoid iron-sulfur protein (CFeSP) complex
        with AcsC, where AcsD serves as the small subunit.
      action: NEW
      reason: This cellular component term describes the specific heterodimeric complex
        that AcsD forms with AcsC, which is essential for its function in methyl transfer.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Two CFeSPs are present in the complex, each containing
            two subunits
  - term:
      id: GO:0030634
      label: carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway
    evidence_type: IEA
    review:
      summary: AcsD is essential for carbon fixation via the Wood-Ljungdahl (reductive
        acetyl-CoA) pathway, which fixes CO2 into acetyl-CoA.
      action: NEW
      reason: This biological process term captures AcsD's specific role in the Wood-Ljungdahl
        pathway, a particular type of carbon fixation that was missing from existing
        annotations.
      supported_by:
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: Acetogenic bacteria, including M. thermoacetica, use CFeSP
            and MeTr together to catalyze methyltransfer in the Wood-Ljungdahl carbon
            fixation pathway for growth on CO2 as the sole carbon source
        - reference_id: PMID:22419154
          supporting_text: CFeSP then delivers the methyl group to the Ni2Fe4S4 active
            site metallocluster (A-cluster) of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS), where it
            becomes the methyl of acetyl CoA
core_functions:
  - description: Receives and carries methyl groups from 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
      via bound corrinoid cofactor
    supported_by:
      - reference_id: PMID:22419154
        supporting_text: For both MetH and CFeSP/MeTr, methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate)
          is the methyl donor, and a protein-bound B12 derivative (cobalamin for MetH
          and 5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl cobamide for CFeSP) is the methyl carrier
      - reference_id: PMID:22419154
        supporting_text: CFeSP then delivers the methyl group to the Ni2Fe4S4 active
          site metallocluster (A-cluster) of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS), where it becomes
          the methyl of acetyl CoA
    molecular_function:
      id: GO:0008168
      label: methyltransferase activity
    directly_involved_in:
      - id: GO:0030634
        label: carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway
      - id: GO:0006730
        label: one-carbon metabolic process
    locations:
      - id: GO:0005737
        label: cytoplasm
    in_complex:
      id: GO:0044672
      label: acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex
    substrates:
      - id: CHEBI:20612
        label: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
  - description: Binds and maintains corrinoid cofactor in appropriate oxidation state
      for methyl transfer
    supported_by:
      - reference_id: PMID:22419154
        supporting_text: a protein-bound B12 derivative (cobalamin for MetH and 5′-methoxybenzimidazolyl
          cobamide for CFeSP) is the methyl carrier
      - reference_id: PMID:22419154
        supporting_text: Two CFeSPs are present in the complex, each containing two
          subunits
    molecular_function:
      id: GO:0031419
      label: cobalamin binding
    directly_involved_in:
      - id: GO:0030634
        label: carbon fixation by acetyl-CoA pathway
    locations:
      - id: GO:0005737
        label: cytoplasm
references:
  - id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-record-evidence.yaml
    title: Compact archived record and sequence evidence for Q07341
  - id: GO_REF:0000002
    title: Gene Ontology annotation through association of InterPro records with GO
      terms.
    findings: []
  - id: GO_REF:0000043
    title: Gene Ontology annotation based on UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot keyword mapping
    findings: []
  - id: PMID:22419154
    title: Visualizing molecular juggling within a B12-dependent methyltransferase
      complex.
    findings: []
  - id: file:MOOTH/acsD/acsD-deep-research.md
    title: Deep research on acsD function
    findings: []
suggested_questions:
  - question: How does AcsD coordinate methyl transfer between the corrinoid cofactor
      and the nickel center of acetyl-CoA synthase?
  - question: What structural features of AcsD enable protection of the highly reactive
      methylcob(III)alamin intermediate from side reactions?
  - question: How does the AcsD/AcsC complex regulate methyl transfer rates in response
      to cellular energy and carbon status?
suggested_experiments:
  - description: EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy to characterize transient radical intermediates
      during methyl transfer reactions
  - description: Stopped-flow kinetics with fluorescent corrinoid analogs to measure
      methyl transfer rates between AcsD and partner proteins
  - description: Hydrogen-deuterium exchange MS to map conformational changes in AcsD
      during the catalytic cycle
status: DRAFT
