The Nonphysiological Reductant Sodium Dithionite and [FeFe] Hydrogenase: Influence on the Enzyme Mechanism.

[FeFe] hydrogenases are highly active enzymes for interconverting protons and electrons with hydrogen (H2). Their active site H-cluster is formed of a canonical [4Fe-4S] cluster ([4Fe-4S]H) covalently attached to a unique [2Fe] subcluster ([2Fe]H), where both sites are redox active. Heterolytic splitting and formation of H2 takes place at [2Fe]H, while [4Fe-4S]H stores electrons. The detailed catalytic mechanism of these enzymes is under intense investigation, with two dominant models existing in the literature. In one model, an alternative form of the active oxidized state Hox, named HoxH, which forms at low pH in the presence of the nonphysiological reductant sodium dithionite (NaDT), is believed to play a crucial role. HoxH was previously suggested to have a protonated [4Fe-4S]H. Here, we show that HoxH forms by simple addition of sodium sulfite (Na2SO3, the dominant oxidation product of NaDT) at low pH. The low pH requirement indicates that sulfur dioxide (SO2) is the species involved. Spectroscopy supports binding at or near [4Fe-4S]H, causing its redox potential to increase by ∼60 mV. This potential shift detunes the redox potentials of the subclusters of the H-cluster, lowering activity, as shown in protein film electrochemistry (PFE). Together, these results indicate that HoxH and its one-electron reduced counterpart Hred'H are artifacts of using a nonphysiological reductant, and not crucial catalytic intermediates. We propose renaming these states as the "dithionite (DT) inhibited" states Hox-DTi and Hred-DTi. The broader potential implications of using a nonphysiological reductant in spectroscopic and mechanistic studies of enzymes are highlighted.

Peptidomimetic-based approach toward inhibitors of microbial trimethylamine lyases.

The development of gut microbiota-targeted small molecules represents a promising platform for the identification of new therapeutics based on the implication of human gut bacteria with different diseases. Bacterial trimethylamine (TMA)-lyase (CutC) is expressed in gut bacteria and catalyzes the conversion of choline to TMA. The association of elevated TMA production with various disorders has directed research efforts toward identification of CutC inhibitors. Herein, we introduce peptidomimetics as a promising toolbox for the discovery of CutC inhibitors. Our approach starts with screening a library of peptidomimetics for intestinal metabolic stability followed by in vitro CutC inhibition. Compound 5 was identified from this screening platform with IC50 value of 5.9 ± 0.6 µM for CutC inhibition. Unlike previously reported CutC inhibitors, compound 5 possessed universal CutC inhibitory activity in different bacterial strains. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested a plausible binding site and inhibition mechanism for compound 5. Therefore, compound 5 is a promising lead for further structural optimization in the search for CutC-targeted small molecules.

Reactivation of sulfide-protected [FeFe] hydrogenase in a redox-active hydrogel.

[FeFe] hydrogenases are highly active hydrogen conversion catalysts but are notoriously sensitive to oxidative damage. Redox hydrogels have been used for protecting hydrogenases from both high potential inactivation and oxygen inactivation under turnover conditions. However, [FeFe] hydrogenase containing redox hydrogels must be fabricated under strict anoxic conditions. Sulfide coordination at the active center of the [FeFe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans protects this enzyme from oxygen in an inactive state, which can be reactivated upon reduction. Here, we show that this oxygen-stable inactive form of the hydrogenase can be reactivated in a redox hydrogel enabling practical use of this highly O2 sensitive enzyme without the need for anoxic conditions.

Redox-Polymer-Based High-Current-Density Gas-Diffusion H2 -Oxidation Bioanode Using [FeFe] Hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans in a Membrane-free Biofuel Cell.

The incorporation of highly active but also highly sensitive catalysts (e.g. the [FeFe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans) in biofuel cells is still one of the major challenges in sustainable energy conversion. We report the fabrication of a dual-gas diffusion electrode H2 /O2 biofuel cell equipped with a [FeFe] hydrogenase/redox polymer-based high-current-density H2 -oxidation bioanode. The bioanodes show benchmark current densities of around 14 mA cm-2 and the corresponding fuel cell tests exhibit a benchmark for a hydrogenase/redox polymer-based biofuel cell with outstanding power densities of 5.4 mW cm-2 at 0.7 V cell voltage. Furthermore, the highly sensitive [FeFe] hydrogenase is protected against oxygen damage by the redox polymer and can function under 5 % O2 .

Insights into the mode of flavin mononucleotide binding and catalytic mechanism of bacterial chromate reductases: A molecular dynamics simulation study.

Enzymes from natural sources protect the environment via complex biological mechanisms, which aid in reductive immobilization of toxic metals including chromium. Nevertheless, progress was being made in elucidating high-resolution crystal structures of reductases and their binding with flavin mononucleotide (FMN) to understand the underlying mechanism of chromate reduction. Therefore, herein, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, principal component analysis (PCA), and binding free energy calculations to understand the dynamics behavior of these enzymes with FMN. Six representative chromate reductases in monomeric and dimeric forms were selected to study the mode, dynamics, and energetic component that drive the FMN binding process. As evidenced by MD simulation, FMN prefers to bind the cervix formed between the catalytic domain surrounded by strong conserved hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and hydrophobic contacts. The slight movement and reorientation of FMN resulted in breakage of some crucial H-bonds and other nonbonded contacts, which were well compensated with newly formed H-bonds, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions. The critical residues aiding in tight anchoring of FMN within dimer were found to be strongly conserved in the bacterial system. The molecular mechanics combined with the Poisson-Boltzmann surface area binding free energy of the monomer portrayed that the van der Waals and electrostatic energy contribute significantly to the total free energy, where, the polar solvation energy opposes the binding of FMN. The proposed proximity relationships between enzyme and FMN binding site presented in this study will open up better avenues to engineer enzymes with optimized chromate reductase activity for sustainable bioremediation of heavy metals.

Direct electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide by a molybdenum-containing formate dehydrogenase.

Formate dehydrogenase enzymes catalyse the reversible two-electron oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide. The class of metal-dependent formate dehydrogenases comprises prokaryotic enzymes holding redox-active centres and a catalytic site, containing either molybdenum or tungsten ion, that mediates the formate/carbon dioxide interconversion. The carbon dioxide reduction is of a particular interest, since it may be a route for its atmospheric mitigation with the simultaneous production of added-value products, as formate-derived compounds. Recently, the periplasmic formate dehydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, a molybdenum-containing enzyme, was proven to be an efficient enzyme for the CO2 reduction to formate. In this work, the immobilized formate dehydrogenase isolated from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans direct electrochemical behaviour was attained in the presence and absence of substrates and the formal potentials associated with the catalytic centre transitions were determined in non-turnover conditions. The enzyme catalytic activity towards carbon dioxide reduction was observed using direct electrochemical methods.

Kinetics of Enzymatic Mercury Methylation at Nanomolar Concentrations Catalyzed by HgcAB.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent bioaccumulative neurotoxin that is produced by certain anaerobic bacteria and archaea. Mercury (Hg) methylation has been linked to the gene pair hgcAB, which encodes a membrane-associated corrinoid protein and a ferredoxin. Although microbial Hg methylation has been characterized in vivo, the cellular biochemistry and the specific roles of the gene products HgcA and HgcB in Hg methylation are not well understood. Here, we report the kinetics of Hg methylation in cell lysates of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132 at nanomolar Hg concentrations. The enzymatic Hg methylation mediated by HgcAB is highly oxygen sensitive, irreversible, and follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with an apparent Km of 3.2 nM and Vmax of 19.7 fmol · min-1 · mg-1 total protein for the substrate Hg(II). Although the abundance of HgcAB in the cell lysates is extremely low, Hg(II) was quantitatively converted to MeHg at subnanomolar substrate concentrations. Interestingly, increasing thiol/Hg(II) ratios did not impact Hg methylation rates, which suggests that HgcAB-mediated Hg methylation effectively competes with cellular thiols for Hg(II), consistent with the low apparent Km Supplementation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or pyruvate did not enhance MeHg production, while both ATP and a nonhydrolyzable ATP analog decreased Hg methylation rates in cell lysates under the experimental conditions. These studies provide insights into the biomolecular processes associated with Hg methylation in anaerobic bacteria.IMPORTANCE The concentration of Hg in the biosphere has increased dramatically over the last century as a result of industrial activities. The microbial conversion of inorganic Hg to MeHg is a global public health concern due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MeHg in food webs. Exposure to neurotoxic MeHg through the consumption of fish represents a significant risk to human health and can result in neuropathies and developmental disorders. Anaerobic microbial communities in sediments and periphyton biofilms have been identified as sources of MeHg in aquatic systems, but the associated biomolecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In the present study, we investigate the biochemical mechanisms and kinetics of MeHg formation by HgcAB in sulfate-reducing bacteria. These findings advance our understanding of microbial MeHg production and may help inform strategies to limit the formation of MeHg in the environment.

Terminal Hydride Species in [FeFe]-Hydrogenases Are Vibrationally Coupled to the Active Site Environment.

A combination of nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS), FTIR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations was used to observe and characterize Fe-H/D bending modes in CrHydA1 [FeFe]-hydrogenase Cys-to-Ser variant C169S. Mutagenesis of cysteine to serine at position 169 changes the functional group adjacent to the H-cluster from a -SH to -OH, thus altering the proton transfer pathway. The catalytic activity of C169S is significantly reduced compared to that of native CrHydA1, presumably owing to less efficient proton transfer to the H-cluster. This mutation enabled effective capture of a hydride/deuteride intermediate and facilitated direct detection of the Fe-H/D normal modes. We observed a significant shift to higher frequency in an Fe-H bending mode of the C169S variant, as compared to previous findings with reconstituted native and oxadithiolate (ODT)-substituted CrHydA1. On the basis of DFT calculations, we propose that this shift is caused by the stronger interaction of the -OH group of C169S with the bridgehead -NH- moiety of the active site, as compared to that of the -SH group of C169 in the native enzyme.

Reaction Coordinate Leading to H2 Production in [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Identified by Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory.

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are metalloenzymes that reversibly reduce protons to molecular hydrogen at exceptionally high rates. We have characterized the catalytically competent hydride state (Hhyd) in the [FeFe]-hydrogenases from both Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans using 57Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) and density functional theory (DFT). H/D exchange identified two Fe-H bending modes originating from the binuclear iron cofactor. DFT calculations show that these spectral features result from an iron-bound terminal hydride, and the Fe-H vibrational frequencies being highly dependent on interactions between the amine base of the catalytic cofactor with both hydride and the conserved cysteine terminating the proton transfer chain to the active site. The results indicate that Hhyd is the catalytic state one step prior to H2 formation. The observed vibrational spectrum, therefore, provides mechanistic insight into the reaction coordinate for H2 bond formation by [FeFe]-hydrogenases.

Highly selective tungstate transporter protein TupA from Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20.

Molybdenum and tungsten are taken up by bacteria and archaea as their soluble oxyanions through high affinity transport systems belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. The component A (ModA/TupA) of these transporters is the first selection gate from which the cell differentiates between MoO42-, WO42- and other similar oxyanions. We report the biochemical characterization and the crystal structure of the apo-TupA from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20, at 1.4 Å resolution. Small Angle X-ray Scattering data suggests that the protein adopts a closed and more stable conformation upon ion binding. The role of the arginine 118 in the selectivity of the oxyanion was also investigated and three mutants were constructed: R118K, R118E and R118Q. Isothermal titration calorimetry clearly shows the relevance of this residue for metal discrimination and oxyanion binding. In this sense, the three variants lost the ability to coordinate molybdate and the R118K mutant keeps an extremely high affinity for tungstate. These results contribute to an understanding of the metal-protein interaction, making it a suitable candidate for a recognition element of a biosensor for tungsten detection.

Stepwise isotope editing of [FeFe]-hydrogenases exposes cofactor dynamics.

The six-iron cofactor of [FeFe]-hydrogenases (H-cluster) is the most efficient H2-forming catalyst in nature. It comprises a diiron active site with three carbon monoxide (CO) and two cyanide (CN(-)) ligands in the active oxidized state (Hox) and one additional CO ligand in the inhibited state (Hox-CO). The diatomic ligands are sensitive reporter groups for structural changes of the cofactor. Their vibrational dynamics were monitored by real-time attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Combination of (13)CO gas exposure, blue or red light irradiation, and controlled hydration of three different [FeFe]-hydrogenase proteins produced 8 Hox and 16 Hox-CO species with all possible isotopic exchange patterns. Extensive density functional theory calculations revealed the vibrational mode couplings of the carbonyl ligands and uniquely assigned each infrared spectrum to a specific labeling pattern. For Hox-CO, agreement between experimental and calculated infrared frequencies improved by up to one order of magnitude for an apical CN(-) at the distal iron ion of the cofactor as opposed to an apical CO. For Hox, two equally probable isomers with partially rotated ligands were suggested. Interconversion between these structures implies dynamic ligand reorientation at the H-cluster. Our experimental protocol for site-selective (13)CO isotope editing combined with computational species assignment opens new perspectives for characterization of functional intermediates in the catalytic cycle.

CO and CN- syntheses by [FeFe]-hydrogenase maturase HydG are catalytically differentiated events.

The synthesis and assembly of the active site [FeFe] unit of [FeFe]-hydrogenases require at least three maturases. The radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine HydG, the best characterized of these proteins, is responsible for the synthesis of the hydrogenase CO and CN(-) ligands from tyrosine-derived dehydroglycine (DHG). We speculated that CN(-) and the CO precursor (-):CO2H may be generated through an elimination reaction. We tested this hypothesis with both wild type and HydG variants defective in second iron-sulfur cluster coordination by measuring the in vitro production of CO, CN(-), and (-):CO2H-derived formate. We indeed observed formate production under these conditions. We conclude that HydG is a multifunctional enzyme that produces DHG, CN(-), and CO at three well-differentiated catalytic sites. We also speculate that homocysteine, cysteine, or a related ligand could be involved in Fe(CO)x(CN)y transfer to the HydF carrier/scaffold.

Site-directed mutagenesis of HgcA and HgcB reveals amino acid residues important for mercury methylation.

Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin that is produced by anaerobic microorganisms from inorganic mercury by a recently discovered pathway. A two-gene cluster, consisting of hgcA and hgcB, encodes two of the proteins essential for this activity. hgcA encodes a corrinoid protein with a strictly conserved cysteine proposed to be the ligand for cobalt in the corrinoid cofactor, whereas hgcB encodes a ferredoxin-like protein thought to be an electron donor to HgcA. Deletion of either gene eliminates mercury methylation by the methylator Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132. Here, site-directed mutants of HgcA and HgcB were constructed to determine amino acid residues essential for mercury methylation. Mutations of the strictly conserved residue Cys93 in HgcA, the proposed ligand for the corrinoid cobalt, to Ala or Thr completely abolished the methylation capacity, but a His substitution produced measurable methylmercury. Mutations of conserved amino acids near Cys93 had various impacts on the methylation capacity but showed that the structure of the putative "cap helix" region harboring Cys93 is crucial for methylation function. In the ferredoxin-like protein HgcB, only one of two conserved cysteines found at the C terminus was necessary for methylation, but either cysteine sufficed. An additional, strictly conserved cysteine, Cys73, was also determined to be essential for methylation. This study supports the previously predicted importance of Cys93 in HgcA for methylation of mercury and reveals additional residues in HgcA and HgcB that facilitate the production of this neurotoxin.

MetREx: a protein design approach for the exploration of sequence-reactivity relationships in metalloenzymes.

Metalloenzymes represent a particular challenge for any rational (re)design approach because the modeling of reaction events at their metallic cofactors requires time-consuming quantum mechanical calculations, which cannot easily be reconciled with the fast, knowledge-based approaches commonly applied in protein design studies. Here, an approach for the exploration of sequence-reactivity relationships in metalloenzymes is presented (MetREx) that consists of force field-based screening of mutants that lie energetically between a wild-type sequence and the global minimum energy conformation and which should, therefore, be compatible with a given protein fold. Mutant candidates are subsequently evaluated with a fast and approximate quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical-like procedure that models the influence of the protein environment on the active site by taking partial charges and van der Waals repulsions into account. The feasibility of the procedure is demonstrated for the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The method described allows for the identification of mutants with altered properties, such as inhibitor-coordination energies, and the understanding of the robustness of enzymatic reaction steps with respect to variations in sequence space.

Nickel-Substituted Rubredoxin as a Minimal Enzyme Model for Hydrogenase.

A simple, functional mimic of [NiFe] hydrogenases based on a nickel-substituted rubredoxin (NiRd) protein is reported. NiRd is capable of light-initiated and solution-phase hydrogen production and demonstrates high electrocatalytic activity using protein film voltammetry. The catalytic voltammograms are modeled using analytical expressions developed for hydrogenase enzymes, revealing maximum turnover frequencies of approximately 20-100 s(-1) at 4 °C with an overpotential of 540 mV. These rates are directly comparable to those observed for [NiFe] hydrogenases under similar conditions. Like the native enzymes, the proton reduction activity of NiRd is strongly inhibited by carbon monoxide. This engineered rubredoxin-based enzyme is chemically and thermally robust, easily accessible, and highly tunable. These results have implications for understanding the enzymatic mechanisms of native hydrogenases, and, using NiRd as a scaffold, it will be possible to optimize this catalyst for application in sustainable fuel generation.

The cyanide ligands of [FeFe] hydrogenase: pulse EPR studies of (13)C and (15)N-labeled H-cluster.

The two cyanide ligands in the assembled cluster of [FeFe] hydrogenase originate from exogenous l-tyrosine. Using selectively labeled tyrosine substrates, the cyanides were isotopically labeled via a recently developed in vitro maturation procedure allowing advanced electron paramagnetic resonance techniques to probe the electronic structure of the catalytic core of the enzyme. The ratio of the isotropic (13)C hyperfine interactions for the two CN(-) ligands-a reporter of spin density on their respective coordinating iron ions-collapses from ≈5.8 for the Hox form of hydrogenase to <2 for the CO-inhibited form. Additionally, when the maturation was carried out using [(15)N]-tyrosine, no features previously ascribed to the nitrogen of the bridging dithiolate ligand were observed suggesting that this bridge is not sourced from tyrosine.

The structure, function and properties of sirohaem decarboxylase--an enzyme with structural homology to a transcription factor family that is part of the alternative haem biosynthesis pathway.

Some bacteria and archaea synthesize haem by an alternative pathway, which involves the sequestration of sirohaem as a metabolic intermediate rather than as a prosthetic group. Along this pathway the two acetic acid side-chains attached to C12 and C18 are decarboxylated by sirohaem decarboxylase, a heterodimeric enzyme composed of AhbA and AhbB, to give didecarboxysirohaem. Further modifications catalysed by two related radical SAM enzymes, AhbC and AhbD, transform didecarboxysirohaem into Fe-coproporphyrin III and haem respectively. The characterization of sirohaem decarboxylase is reported in molecular detail. Recombinant versions of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Methanosarcina barkeri AhbA/B have been produced and their physical properties compared. The D. vulgaris and M. barkeri enzyme complexes both copurify with haem, whose redox state influences the activity of the latter. The kinetic parameters of the D. desulfuricans enzyme have been determined, the enzyme crystallized and its structure has been elucidated. The topology of the enzyme reveals that it shares a structural similarity to the AsnC/Lrp family of transcription factors. The active site is formed in the cavity between the two subunits and a AhbA/B-product complex with didecarboxysirohaem has been obtained. A mechanism for the decarboxylation of the kinetically stable carboxyl groups is proposed.

Hydrogenase activity of mineral-associated and suspended populations of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Essex 6.

The interactions between sulfate-reducing microorganisms and iron oxides influence a number of important redox-sensitive biogeochemical processes including the formation of iron sulfides. Enzymes, such as hydrogenase which catalyze the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen, are known to mediate electron transfer to metals and may contribute to the formation and speciation of ferrous sulfides formed at the cell-mineral interface. In the present study, we compared the whole cell hydrogenase activity of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain Essex 6 growing as biofilms on hematite (hematite-associated) or as suspended populations using different metabolic pathways. Hematite-associated cells exhibited significantly greater hydrogenase activity than suspended populations during sulfate respiration but not during pyruvate fermentation. The enhanced activity of the hematite-associated, sulfate-grown cells appears to be dependent on iron availability rather than a general response to surface attachment since the activity of glass-associated cells did not differ from that of suspended populations. Hydrogenase activity of pyruvate-fermenting cells was stimulated by addition of iron as soluble Fe(II)Cl2 and, in the absence of added iron, both sulfate-reducing and pyruvate-fermenting cells displayed similar rates of hydrogenase activity. These data suggest that iron exerts a stronger influence on whole cell hydrogenase activity than either metabolic pathway or mode of growth. The location of hydrogenase to the cell envelope and the enhanced activity at the hematite surface in sulfate-reducing cells may influence the redox conditions that control the species of iron sulfides on the mineral surface.

Suitability of fluorescence measurements to quantify sulfate-reducing bacteria.

Fluorescence activity has been used to identify Desulfovibrio and has been termed the 'desulfoviridin test'. This fluorescence is attributed to the prosthetic group of bisulfite reductase, a key enzyme in dissimilatory sulfate reduction. We have pursued the use of fluorescence measurements to quantify sulfate-reducing bacteria. Cells of D. desulfuricans and D. gigas were treated with NaOH and produced two fluorescence spectra: one with maximum fluorescence with an excitation at 395 nm and an emission at 605 nm and another with an excitation at 320 nm and emission at 360 nm. Using the fluorescence with excitation at 395 nm and emission at 605 nm, we explored a series of parameters to measure Desulfovibrio in pure cultures and environmental samples. Fluorescence measurements are reliable provided the cells are treated with 1.75 N NaOH and the chromophore released from the cells is not exposed to strong light intensity, and is not exposed to temperatures greater than 20 °C, and measurements are done within a few minutes of extraction. Bleaching of fluorescence was attributed to metal ions in solution which was not observed until metal concentrations reached 1.5mM. We propose that D. desulfuricans is appropriate as the reference organism for measurement of sulfate-reducing bacteria by fluorescence and by using fluorescence intensity, 10(5) cells/ml can be readily detected in environmental samples.

Microbial conversion of choline to trimethylamine requires a glycyl radical enzyme.

Choline and trimethylamine (TMA) are small molecules that play central roles in biological processes throughout all kingdoms of life. These ubiquitous metabolites are linked through a single biochemical transformation, the conversion of choline to TMA by anaerobic microorganisms. This metabolic activity, which contributes to methanogenesis and human disease, has been known for over a century but has eluded genetic and biochemical characterization. We have identified a gene cluster responsible for anaerobic choline degradation within the genome of a sulfate-reducing bacterium and verified its function using both a genetic knockout strategy and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Bioinformatics and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy revealed the involvement of a C-N bond cleaving glycyl radical enzyme in TMA production, which is unprecedented chemistry for this enzyme family. Our discovery provides the predictive capabilities needed to identify choline utilization clusters in numerous bacterial genomes, underscoring the importance and prevalence of this metabolic activity within the human microbiota and the environment.