The multitude of iron-sulfur clusters in respiratory complex I.

Respiratory complex I couples the electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone with the translocation of protons across the membrane. Complex I contains one non-covalently bound flavin mononucleotide and, depending on the species, up to ten iron-sulfur (Fe/S) clusters as cofactors. The reason for the presence of the multitude of Fe/S clusters in complex I remained enigmatic for a long time. The question was partly answered by investigations on the evolution of the complex revealing the stepwise construction of the electron transfer domain from several modules. Extension of the ancestral to the modern electron input domain was associated with the acquisition of several Fe/S-proteins. The X-ray structure of the complex showed that the NADH oxidation-site is connected with the quinone-reduction site by a chain of seven Fe/S-clusters. Fast enzyme kinetics revealed that this chain of Fe/S-clusters is used to regulate electron-tunneling rates within the complex. A possible function of the off-pathway cluster N1a is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'EBEC 2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2-6, 2016', edited by Prof. Paolo Bernardi.

The millisecond intermediate in the reaction of nitric oxide with oxymyoglobin is an iron(III)--nitrato complex, not a peroxynitrite.

The dioxygenation of nitric oxide by oxyheme in globin proteins is a major route for NO detoxification in aerobic biological systems. In myoglobin, this reaction is thought to proceed through an iron(III)-bound peroxynitrite before homolytic cleavage of the O-O bond to form an iron(IV)-oxo and NO(2) radical followed by recombination and nitrate production. Single turnover experiments at alkaline pH have revealed the presence of a millisecond high-spin heme intermediate. It is widely presumed that this species is an iron(III)-peroxynitrite species, but detailed characterization of the intermediate is lacking. Using resonance Raman spectroscopy and rapid-freeze quench techniques, we identify the millisecond intermediate as an iron(III)-nitrato complex with a symmetric NO(2) stretch at 1282 cm(-1). Greater time resolution techniques will be required to detect the putative iron(III) peroxynitrite complex.

A view on phosphate ester photochemistry by time-resolved solid state NMR. Intramolecular redox reaction of caged ATP.

The light-driven intramolecular redox reaction of adenosine-5'-triphosphate-[P3-(1-(2-nitrophenyl)-ethyl)]ester (caged ATP) has been studied in frozen aqueous solution using time-resolved solid state NMR spectroscopy under continuous illumination conditions. Cleavage of the phosphate ester bond leads to 0.3, 1.36, and 6.06 ppm downfield shifts of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-phosphorus resonances of caged ATP, respectively. The observed rate of ATP formation is 2.4 +/- 0.2 h(-1) at 245 K. The proton released in the reaction binds to the triphosphate moiety of the nascent ATP, causing the upfield shifts of the 31P resonances. Analyses of the reaction kinetics indicate that bond cleavage and proton release are two sequential processes in the solid state, suggesting that the 1-hydroxy,1-(2-nitrosophenyl)-ethyl carbocation intermediate is involved in the reaction. The beta-phosphate oxygen atom of ATP is protonated first, indicating its proximity to the reaction center, possibly within hydrogen bonding distance. The residual linewidth kinetics are interpreted in terms of chemical exchange processes, hydrogen bonding of the beta-phosphate oxygen atom and evolution of the hydrolytic equilibrium at the triphosphate moiety of the nascent ATP. Photoreaction of caged ATP in situ gives an opportunity to study structural kinetics and catalysis of ATP-dependent enzymes by NMR spectroscopy in rotating solids.

The associative nature of adenylyl transfer catalyzed by T4 DNA ligase.

DNA ligase seals nicks in dsDNA using chemical energy of the phosphoanhydride bond in ATP or NAD(+) and assistance of a divalent metal cofactor Mg(2+). Molecular details of ligase catalysis are essential for understanding the mechanism of metal-promoted phosphoryl transfer reactions in the living cell responsible for a wide range of processes, e.g., DNA replication and transcription, signaling and differentiation, energy coupling and metabolism. Here we report a single-turnover (31)P solid-state NMR study of adenylyl transfer catalyzed by DNA ligase from bacteriophage T4. Formation of a high-energy covalent ligase-nucleotide complex is triggered in situ by the photo release of caged Mg(2+), and sequentially formed intermediates are monitored by NMR. Analyses of reaction kinetics and chemical-shift changes indicate that the pentacoordinated phosphorane intermediate builds up to 35% of the total reacting species after 4-5 h of reaction. This is direct experimental evidence of the associative nature of adenylyl transfer catalyzed by DNA ligase. NMR spectroscopy in rotating solids is introduced as an analytical tool for recording molecular movies of reaction processes. Presented work pioneers a promising direction in structural studies of biochemical transformations.

Formation of a dinitrosyl iron complex by NorA, a nitric oxide-binding di-iron protein from Ralstonia eutropha H16.

In Ralstonia eutropha H16, two genes, norA and norB, form a dicistronic operon that is controlled by the NO-responsive transcriptional regulator NorR. NorB has been identified as a membrane-bound NO reductase, but the physiological function of NorA is unknown. We found that, in a NorA deletion mutant, the promoter activity of the norAB operon was increased 3-fold, indicating that NorA attenuates activation of NorR. NorA shows limited sequence similarity to the oxygen carrier hemerythrin, which contains a di-iron center. Indeed, optical and EPR spectroscopy of purified NorA revealed the presence of a di-iron center, which binds oxygen in a similar way as hemerythrin. Diferrous NorA binds two molecules of NO maximally. Unexpectedly, binding of NO to the diferrous NorA required an external reductant. Two different NorA-NO species could be resolved. A minor species (up to 20%) showed an S = (1/2) EPR signal with g( perpendicular) = 2.041, and g( parallel) = 2.018, typical of a paramagnetic dinitrosyl iron complex. The major species was EPR-silent, showing characteristic signals at 420 nm and 750 nm in the optical spectrum. This species is proposed to represent a novel dinitrosyl iron complex of the form Fe(2+)-[NO](2)(2-), i.e. NO is bound as NO(-). The NO binding capacity of NorA in conjunction with its high cytoplasmic concentration (20 mum) suggests that NorA regulates transcription by lowering the free cytoplasmic concentration of NO.

Specific vectorial immobilization of oligonucleotide-modified yeast cytochrome C on carbon nanotubes.

Iso-1-cytochrome c from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YCC) contains a surface cysteine residue, Cys102, that is located opposite to the lysine-rich side containing the exposed heme edge, which is the docking site for enzymes. Site-specific vectorial immobilization of YCC via Cys102 on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) thus provides a selective interface between nanoscopic electronic devices and complex enzymes. We have achieved this by modification of Cys102 with an oligonucleotide (dT(18)). Atomic force microscopy, fluorescence imaging, and cyclic voltammetry show the specific adsorption of YCC, modified with dT(18), on the SWNT sidewall with retention of its native properties. Pretreatment of the SWNT with Triton-X405 blocks the nonspecific binding of untreated YCC but does not interfere with binding of the oligonucleotide-modified YCC.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of nick sealing by T4 DNA ligase.

T4 DNA ligase is an Mg2+-dependent and ATP-dependent enzyme that seals DNA nicks in three steps: it covalently binds AMP, transadenylates the nick phosphate, and catalyses formation of the phosphodiester bond releasing AMP. In this kinetic study, we further detail the reaction mechanism, showing that the overall ligation reaction is a superimposition of two parallel processes: a 'processive' ligation, in which the enzyme transadenylates and seals the nick without dissociating from dsDNA, and a 'nonprocessive' ligation, in which the enzyme takes part in the abortive adenylation cycle (covalent binding of AMP, transadenylation of the nick, and dissociation). At low concentrations of ATP (<10 microM) and when the DNA nick is sealed with mismatching base pairs (e.g. five adjacent), this superimposition resolves into two kinetic phases, a burst ligation (approximately 0.2 min(-1)) and a subsequent slow ligation (approximately 2x10(-3) min(-1)). The relative rate and extent of each phase depend on the concentrations of ATP and Mg2+. The activation energies of self-adenylation (16.2 kcal.mol(-1)), transadenylation of the nick (0.9 kcal.mol(-1)), and nick-sealing (16.3-18.8 kcal.mol(-1)) were determined for several DNA substrates. The low activation energy of transadenylation implies that the transfer of AMP to the terminal DNA phosphate is a spontaneous reaction, and that the T4 DNA ligase-AMP complex is a high-energy intermediate. To summarize current findings in the DNA ligation field, we delineate a kinetic mechanism of T4 DNA ligase catalysis.

Biophysical and structural analysis of a novel heme B iron ligation in the flavocytochrome cellobiose dehydrogenase.

The fungal extracellular flavocytochrome cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) participates in lignocellulose degradation. The enzyme has a cytochrome domain connected to a flavin-binding domain by a peptide linker. The cytochrome domain contains a 6-coordinate low spin b-type heme with unusual iron ligands and coordination geometry. Wild type CDH is only the second example of a b-type heme with Met-His ligation, and it is the first example of a Met-His ligation of heme b where the ligands are arranged in a nearly perpendicular orientation. To investigate the ligation further, Met65 was replaced with a histidine to create a bis-histidyl ligated iron typical of b-type cytochromes. The variant is expressed as a stable 90-kDa protein that retains the flavin domain catalytic reactivity. However, the ability of the mutant to reduce external one-electron acceptors such as cytochrome c is impaired. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate a decrease in the redox midpoint potential of the heme by 210 mV. In contrast to the wild type enzyme, the ferric state of the protoheme displays a mixed low spin/high spin state at room temperature and low spin character at 90 K, as determined by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The wild type cytochrome does not bind CO, but the ferrous state of the variant forms a CO complex, although the association rate is very low. The crystal structure of the M65H cytochrome domain has been determined at 1.9 A resolution. The variant structure confirms a bis-histidyl ligation but reveals unusual features. As for the wild type enzyme, the ligands have a nearly perpendicular arrangement. Furthermore, the iron is bound by imidazole N delta 1 and N epsilon 2 nitrogen atoms, rather than the typical N epsilon 2/N epsilon 2 coordination encountered in bis-histidyl ligated heme proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a bis-histidyl N delta 1/N epsilon 2-coordinated protoporphyrin IX iron.

Microbial ferric iron reductases.

Almost all organisms require iron for enzymes involved in essential cellular reactions. Aerobic microbes living at neutral or alkaline pH encounter poor iron availability due to the insolubility of ferric iron. Assimilatory ferric reductases are essential components of the iron assimilatory pathway that generate the more soluble ferrous iron, which is then incorporated into cellular proteins. Dissimilatory ferric reductases are essential terminal reductases of the iron respiratory pathway in iron-reducing bacteria. While our understanding of dissimilatory ferric reductases is still limited, it is clear that these enzymes are distinct from the assimilatory-type ferric reductases. Research over the last 10 years has revealed that most bacterial assimilatory ferric reductases are flavin reductases, which can serve several physiological roles. This article reviews the physiological function and structure of assimilatory and dissimilatory ferric reductases present in the Bacteria, Archaea and Yeast. Ferric reductases do not form a single family, but appear to be distinct enzymes suggesting that several independent strategies for iron reduction may have evolved.

Kinetic mechanism of the Mg2+-dependent nucleotidyl transfer catalyzed by T4 DNA and RNA ligases.

The Mg(2+)-dependent adenylylation of the T4 DNA and RNA ligases was studied in the absence of a DNA substrate using transient optical absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. The concentrations of Mg(2+), ATP, and pyrophosphate were systematically varied, and the results led to the conclusion that the nucleotidyl transfer proceeds according to a two-metal ion mechanism. According to this mechanism, only the di-magnesium-coordinated form Mg(2)ATP(0) reacts with the enzyme forming the covalent complex E.AMP. The reverse reaction (ATP synthesis) occurs between the mono-magnesium-coordinated pyrophosphate form MgP(2)O(7)(2-) and the enzyme.MgAMP complex. The nucleotide binding rate decreases in the sequence ATP(4-) > MgATP(2-) > Mg(2)ATP(0), indicating that the formation of the non-covalent enzyme.nucleotide complex is driven by electrostatic interactions. T4 DNA ligase shows notably higher rates of ATP binding and of subsequent adenylylation compared with RNA ligase, in part because it decreases the K(d) of Mg(2+) for the enzyme-bound Mg(2)ATP(0) more than 10-fold. To elucidate the role of Mg(2+) in the nucleotidyl transfer catalyzed by T4 DNA and RNA ligases, we propose a transition state configuration, in which the catalytic Mg(2+) ion coordinates to both reacting nucleophiles: the lysyl moiety of the enzyme that forms the phosphoramidate bond and the alpha-beta-bridging oxygen of ATP.