Insights into the posttranslational assembly of the Mo-, S- and Cu-containing cluster in the active site of CO dehydrogenase of Oligotropha carboxidovorans.

Oligotropha carboxidovorans is characterized by the aerobic chemolithoautotrophic utilization of CO. CO oxidation by CO dehydrogenase proceeds at a unique bimetallic [CuSMoO2] cluster which matures posttranslationally while integrated into the completely folded apoenzyme. Kanamycin insertional mutants in coxE, coxF and coxG were characterized with respect to growth, expression of CO dehydrogenase, and the type of metal center present. These data along with sequence information were taken to delineate a model of metal cluster assembly. Biosynthesis starts with the MgATP-dependent, reductive sulfuration of [Mo(VI)O3] to [Mo(V)O2SH] which entails the AAA+-ATPase chaperone CoxD. Then Mo(V) is reoxidized and Cu(1+)-ion is integrated. Copper is supplied by the soluble CoxF protein which forms a complex with the membrane-bound von Willebrand protein CoxE through RGD-integrin interactions and enables the reduction of CoxF-bound Cu(2+), employing electrons from respiration. Copper appears as Cu(2+)-phytate, is mobilized through the phytase activity of CoxF and then transferred to the CoxF putative copper-binding site. The coxG gene does not participate in the maturation of the bimetallic cluster. Mutants in coxG retained the ability to utilize CO, although at a lower growth rate. They contained a regular CO dehydrogenase with a functional catalytic site. The presence of a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain on CoxG and the observed growth rates suggest a role of the PH domain in recruiting CO dehydrogenase to the cytoplasmic membrane enabling electron transfer from the enzyme to the respiratory chain. CoxD, CoxE and CoxF combine motifs of a DEAD-box RNA helicase which would explain their mutual translation.

Reversible inactivation of CO dehydrogenase with thiol compounds.

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CO dehydrogenase) from Oligotropha carboxidovorans is a structurally characterized member of the molybdenum hydroxylase enzyme family. It catalyzes the oxidation of CO (CO+H2O→CO2+2e(-)+2H(+)) which proceeds at a unique [CuSMo(O)OH] metal cluster. Because of changing activities of CO dehydrogenase, particularly in subcellular fractions, we speculated whether the enzyme would be subject to regulation by thiols (RSH). Here we establish inhibition of CO dehydrogenase by thiols and report the corresponding Ki-values (mM): l-cysteine (5.2), d-cysteine (9.7), N-acetyl-l-cysteine (8.2), d,l-homocysteine (25.8), l-cysteine-glycine (2.0), dithiothreitol (4.1), coenzyme A (8.3), and 2-mercaptoethanol (9.3). Inhibition of the enzyme was reversed by CO or upon lowering the thiol concentration. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of thiol-inhibited CO dehydrogenase revealed a bimetallic site in which the RSH coordinates to the Cu-ion as a third ligand {[Mo(VI)(O)OH(2)SCu(I)(SR)S-Cys]} leaving the redox state of the Cu(I) and the Mo(VI) unchanged. Collectively, our findings establish a regulation of CO dehydrogenase activity by thiols in vitro. They also corroborate the hypothesis that CO interacts with the Cu-ion first. The result that thiol compounds much larger than CO can freely travel through the substrate channel leading to the bimetallic cluster challenges previous concepts involving chaperone function and is of importance for an understanding how the sulfuration step in the assembly of the bimetallic cluster might proceed.

The CoxD protein, a novel AAA+ ATPase involved in metal cluster assembly: hydrolysis of nucleotide-triphosphates and oligomerization.

CoxD of the α-proteobacterium Oligotropha carboxidovorans is a membrane protein which is involved in the posttranslational biosynthesis of the [CuSMoO2] cluster in the active site of the enzyme CO dehydrogenase. The bacteria synthesize CoxD only in the presence of CO. Recombinant CoxD produced in E. coli K38 pGP1-2/pETMW2 appeared in inclusion bodies from where it was solubilized by urea and refolded by stepwise dilution. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed the presence of secondary structural elements in refolded CoxD. CoxD is a P-loop ATPase of the AAA-protein family. Refolded CoxD catalyzed the hydrolysis of MgATP yielding MgADP and inorganic phosphate at a 1∶1∶1 molar ratio. The reaction was inhibited by the slow hydrolysable MgATP-γ-S. GTPase activity of CoxD did not exceed 2% of the ATPase activity. Employing different methods (non linear regression, Hanes and Woolf, Lineweaver-Burk), preparations of CoxD revealed a mean K(M) value of 0.69±0.14 mM ATP and an apparent V(max) value of 19.3±2.3 nmol ATP hydrolyzed min⁻¹ mg⁻¹. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation and gel filtration showed that refolded CoxD can exist in various multimeric states (2-mer, 4-mer or 6-mer), preferentially as hexamer or dimer. Within weeks the hexamer dissociates into the dimer, a process which can be reversed by MgATP or MgATP-γ-S within hours. Only the hexamers and the dimers exhibited MgATPase activity. Transmission electron microscopy of negatively stained CoxD preparations revealed distinct particles within a size range of 10-16 nm, which further corroborates the oligomeric organization. The 3D structure of CoxD was modeled with the 3D structure of BchI from Rhodobacter capsulatus as template. It has the key elements of an AAA+ domain in the same arrangement and at same positions as in BchI and displays the characteristic inserts of the PS-II-insert clade. Possible functions of CoxD in [CuSMoO2] cluster assembly are discussed.

Complete genome sequences of the chemolithoautotrophic Oligotropha carboxidovorans strains OM4 and OM5.

We report on genome sequencing of Oligotropha carboxidovorans strain OM4 and resequencing of strain OM5. The genomes of both are composed of one chromosome and two plasmids. The presence of two plasmids in the OM5 genome is inconsistent with the previously published sequence, for which only one plasmid was described (D. Paul, S. Bridges, S. Burgess, Y. Dandass, and M. Lawrence, BMC Genomics 11:511, 2010).

Interaction of CO dehydrogenase with the cytoplasmic membrane monitored by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

We have investigated the interaction of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), an enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of CO in the aerobic eubacterium Oligotropha carboxidovorans, with the cytoplasmic membrane by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Our results reveal that in vitro this interaction of CODH is specific for cytoplasmic membranes from CO-grown bacteria.

Listeria seeligeri isolates from food processing environments form two phylogenetic lineages.

Seven different actA subtypes forming two phylogenetic lineages could be distinguished by sequencing the actA gene of Listeria seeligeri isolates from different habitats. Isolates of the two lineages differ in hemolytic as well as phospholipase activities and in the arrangement of the virulence gene cluster. The presence of a serine protease gene resembling orf2110 of L. monocytogenes in some isolates further supports the hypothesis that L. seeligeri is subject to ongoing adaptation to changing environments.

Electron paramagnetic studies of the copper and iron containing soluble ammonia monooxygenase from Nitrosomonas europaea.

Soluble ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) from Nitrosomonas europaea was purified to homogeneity and metals in the active sites of the enzyme (Cu, Fe) were analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR spectra were obtained for a type 2 Cu(II) site with g(parallel) = 2.24, A(parallel) = 18.4 mT and g(perpendicular) = 2.057 as well as for heme and non heme iron present in purified soluble AMO from N. europaea. A second type 2 Cu(II) EPR signal with g(parallel) = 2.29, A(parallel) = 16.1 mT and g(perpendicular) = 2.03 appeared in the spectrum of the ferricyanide oxidized enzyme and was attributed to oxidation of cuprous sites. Comparison of EPR-detectable Cu(2+) with total copper determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) suggests that there are six paramagnetic Cu(2+) and three diamagnetic Cu(1+) per heterotrimeric soluble AMO (two paramagnetic and one diamagnetic Cu per alphabetagamma-protomer). A trigonal EPR signal at g = 6.01, caused by a high-spin iron, indicative for cytochrome bound iron, and a rhombic signal at g = 4.31, characteristic of specifically bound Fe(3+) was detectable. The binding of nitric oxide in the presence of reductant resulted in a ferrous S = 3/2 signal, characteristic of a ferrous nitrosyl complex. Inactivation of soluble AMO with acetylene did neither diminish the ferrous signal nor the intensity of the Cu(2+)-EPR signal.

A soluble form of ammonia monooxygenase in Nitrosomonas europaea.

Ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) of Nitrosomonas europaea is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of ammonia to hydroxylamine. This study shows that AMO resides in the cytoplasm of the bacteria in addition to its location in the membrane and is distributed approximately equally in both subcellular fractions. AMO in both fractions catalyzes the oxidation of ammonia and binds [(14)C]acetylene, a mechanism-based inhibitor which specifically interacts with catalytically active AMO. Soluble AMO was purified 12-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity with a yield of 8%. AMO has a molecular mass of approximately 283 kDa with subunits of ca. 27 kDa (alpha-subunit, AmoA), ca. 42 kDa (beta-subunit, AmoB), and ca. 24 kDa (gamma-subunit, cytochrome c(1)) in an alpha(3)beta(3)gamma(3) sub-unit structure. Different from the beta-subunit of membrane-bound AMO, AmoB of soluble AMO possesses an N-terminal signal sequence. AMO contains Cu (9.4+/-0.6 mol per mol AMO), Fe (3.9+/-0.3 mol per mol AMO), and Zn (0.5 to 2.6 mol per mol AMO). Upon reduction the visible absorption spectrum of AMO reveals absorption bands characteristic of cytochrome c. Electron para-magnetic resonance spectroscopy of air-oxidized AMO at 50 K shows a paramagnetic signal originating from Cu(2+) and at 10 K a paramagnetic signal characteristic of heme-Fe.

The CoxD protein of Oligotropha carboxidovorans is a predicted AAA+ ATPase chaperone involved in the biogenesis of the CO dehydrogenase [CuSMoO2] cluster.

CO dehydrogenase from the Gram-negative chemolithoautotrophic eubacterium Oligotropha carboxidovorans OM5 is a structurally characterized molybdenum-containing iron-sulfur flavoenzyme, which catalyzes the oxidation of CO (CO + H(2)O --> CO(2) + 2e(-) + 2H(+)). It accommodates in its active site a unique bimetallic [CuSMoO(2)] cluster, which is subject to post-translational maturation. Insertional mutagenesis of coxD has established its requirement for the assembly of the [CuSMoO(2)] cluster. Disruption of coxD led to a phenotype of the corresponding mutant OM5 D::km with the following characteristics: (i) It was impaired in the utilization of CO, whereas the utilization of H(2) plus CO(2) was not affected; (ii) Under appropriate induction conditions bacteria synthesized a fully assembled apo-CO dehydrogenase, which could not oxidize CO; (iii) Apo-CO dehydrogenase contained a [MoO(3)] site in place of the [CuSMoO(2)] cluster; and (iv) Employing sodium sulfide first and then the Cu(I)-(thiourea)(3) complex, the non-catalytic [MoO(3)] site could be reconstituted in vitro to a [CuSMoO(2)] cluster capable of oxidizing CO. Sequence information suggests that CoxD is a MoxR-like AAA+ ATPase chaperone related to the hexameric, ring-shaped BchI component of Mg(2+)-chelatases. Recombinant CoxD, which appeared in Escherichia coli in inclusion bodies, occurs exclusively in cytoplasmic membranes of O. carboxidovorans grown in the presence of CO, and its occurrence coincided with GTPase activity upon sucrose density gradient centrifugation of cell extracts. The presumed function of CoxD is the partial unfolding of apo-CO dehydrogenase to assist in the stepwise introduction of sulfur and copper in the [MoO(3)] center of the enzyme.

Interaction of the mechanism-based inactivator acetylene with ammonia monooxygenase of Nitrosomonas europaea.

The ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) of Nitrosomonas europaea is a metalloenzyme that catalyses the oxidation of ammonia to hydroxylamine. We have identified histidine 191 of AmoA as the binding site for the oxidized mechanism-based inactivator acetylene. Binding of acetylene changed the molecular mass of His-191 from 155.15 to 197.2 Da (+42.05), providing evidence that acetylene was oxidized to ketene (CH2CO; 42.04 Da) which binds specifically to His-191. It must be assumed that His-191 is part of the acetylene-activating site in AMO or at least directly neighbours this site.

Transcription of genes coding for metabolic key functions in Nitrosomonas europaea during aerobic and anaerobic growth.

Nitrosomonas europaea can grow under conditions of chemolithoautotrophic aerobic (oxygen as oxidant) as well as anaerobic [nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) as oxidant] nitrification or chemoorganotrophic anaerobic pyruvate-dependent denitrification. In this study, the adaptation of the transcription (mRNA synthesis/concentration) of N. europaea to aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions was evaluated and the transcription of genes coding for metabolic key functions was analyzed: nitrogen and energy metabolism (amoA, hao, rh1, nirK, norB, nsc, aceE, ldhA, ppc, gltA, odhA, coxA), carbon dioxide fixation (cbbL), gluconeogenesis (ppsA), cell growth (ftsZ), and oxidative stress (sodB). During aerobic ammonia oxidation the specific activities of ammonia oxidation, nitrite reduction, and the growth rates correlated with the transcription level of the corresponding genes amoA/hao, nirK/norB/nsc, and cbbL/ftsZ. In anaerobically ammonia-oxidizing cells of N. europaea, the cellular mRNA concentrations of amoA, hao, rh1,coxA, cbbL, ftsZ, and sodB were reduced compared with aerobically nitrifying cells, but the mRNA levels of nirK, norB, and nsc were significantly increased. During anaerobic pyruvate-dependent denitrification, the mRNA abundance of nirK, norB, nsc, aceE, gltA, and odhA was increased, while the concentrations of amoA,hao, rh1, coxAcbbL, ftsZ, and sodB were significantly reduced. Temperature, pH value, and NH(4)(+), O(2), NO, and NO(2) concentrations had comparatively small effects on the transcription of the studied genes.

Functional and physiological evidence for a rhesus-type ammonia transporter in Nitrosomonas europaea.

Ammonium transporters form a conserved family of transport proteins and are widely distributed among all domains of life. The genome of Nitrosomonas europaea codes for a single gene (rh1) that belongs to the family of the AMT/Rh ammonium transporters. For the first time, this study provides functional and physiological evidence for a rhesus-type ammonia transporter in bacteria (N. europaea). The methylammonium (MA) transport activity of N. europaea correlated with the Rh1 expression. The K(m) value for the MA uptake of N. europaea was 1.8+/-0.2 mM (pH 7.25), and the uptake was competitively inhibited by ammonium [K(i)(NH(4) (+)) 0.3+/-0.1 mM at pH 7.25]. The MA uptake rate was pH dependent, indicating that the uncharged form of MA is transported by Rh1. An effect of the glutamine synthetase on the MA uptake was not observed. When expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the function of Rh1 from N. europaea as an ammonia/MA transporter was confirmed. The results suggest that Rh1 equilibrates the uncharged substrate species. A low pH value in the periplasmic space during ammonia oxidation seems to be responsible for the ammonium accumulation functioning as an acid NH(4) (+) trap.

Interaction of potassium cyanide with the [Ni-4Fe-5S] active site cluster of CO dehydrogenase from Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans.

The Ni-Fe carbon monoxide (CO) dehydrogenase II (CODHII(Ch)) from the anaerobic CO-utilizing hydrogenogenic bacterium Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans catalyzes the oxidation of CO, presumably at the Ni-(micro(2)S)-Fe1 subsite of the [Ni-4S-5S] cluster in the active site. The CO oxidation mechanism proposed on the basis of several CODHII(Ch) crystal structures involved the apical binding of CO at the nickel ion and the activation of water at the Fe1 ion of the cluster. To understand how CO interacts with the active site, we have studied the reactivity of the cluster with potassium cyanide and analyzed the resulting type of nickel coordination by x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Cyanide acts as a competitive inhibitor of reduced CODHII(Ch) with respect to the substrate CO and is therefore expected to mimic the substrate. It inhibits the enzyme reversibly, forming a nickel cyanide. In this reaction, one of the four square-planar sulfur ligands of nickel is replaced by the carbon atom of cyanide, suggesting removal of the micro(2)S from the Ni-(micro(2)S)-Fe1 subsite. Upon reactivation of the inhibited enzyme, cyanide is released, and the square-planar coordination of nickel by 4S ligands is recovered, which includes the reformation of the Ni-(micro(2)S)-Fe1 bridge. The results are summarized in a model of the CO oxidation mechanism at the [Ni-4Fe-5S] active site cluster of CODHII(Ch) from C. hydrogenoformans.

Structural insights into methyltransfer reactions of a corrinoid iron-sulfur protein involved in acetyl-CoA synthesis.

The cobalt- and iron-containing corrinoid iron-sulfur protein (CoFeSP) is functional in the acetyl-CoA (Ljungdahl-Wood) pathway of autotrophic carbon fixation in various bacteria and archaea, where it is essential for the biosynthesis of acetyl-CoA. CoFeSP acts in two methylation reactions: the transfer of a methyl group from methyltransferase (MeTr)-bound methyltetrahydrofolate to the cob(I)amide of CoFeSP and the transfer of the methyl group of methyl-cob(III)amide to the reduced Ni-Ni-[4Fe-4S] active site cluster A of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS). We have solved the crystal structure of as-isolated CoFeSP(Ch) from the CO-oxidizing hydrogenogenic bacterium Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans at 1.9-A resolution. The heterodimeric protein consists of two tightly interacting subunits with pseudo-twofold symmetry. The large CfsA subunit comprises three domains, of which the N-terminal domain binds the [4Fe-4S] cluster, the middle domain is a (betaalpha)(8)-barrel, and the C-terminal domain shows an open fold and binds Cobeta-aqua-(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide) in a "base-off" state without a protein ligand at the cobalt ion. The small CfsB subunit also displays a (betaalpha)(8)-barrel fold and interacts with the upper side of the corrin macrocycle. Structure-based alignments show that both (betaalpha)(8)-barrel domains are related to the MeTr in the acetyl-CoA pathway and to the folate domain of methionine synthase. We suggest that the C-terminal domain of the large subunit is the mobile element that allows the necessary interaction of CoFeSP(Ch) with the active site of ACS(Ch) and the methyltetrahydrofolate carrying MeTr. The conformation in the crystal structure shields the two open coordinations of cobalt and likely represents a resting state.

Microbial activity in an acid resin deposit: biodegradation potential and ecotoxicology in an extremely acidic hydrocarbon contamination.

Acid resins are residues produced in a recycling process for used oils that was in use in the forties and fifties of the last century. The resin-like material is highly contaminated with mineral oil hydrocarbons, extremely acidic and co-contaminated with substituted and aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. To determine the potential for microbial biodegradation the acid resin deposit and its surroundings were screened for microbial activity by soil respiration measurements. No microbial activity was found in the core deposit. However, biodegradation of hydrocarbons was possible in zones with a lower degree of contamination surrounding the deposit. An extreme acidophilic microbial community was detected close to the core deposit. With a simple ecotoxicological approach it could be shown that the pure acid resin that formed the major part of the core deposit, was toxic to the indigenous microflora due to its extremely low pH of 0-1.

Structural and functional reconstruction in situ of the [CuSMoO2] active site of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from the carbon monoxide oxidizing eubacterium Oligotropha carboxidovorans.

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from the bacterium Oligotropha carboxidovorans catalyzes the oxidation of CO to CO(2) at a unique [CuSMoO(2)] cluster. In the bacteria the cluster is assembled post-translational. The integration of S, and particularly of Cu, is rate limiting in vivo, which leads to CO dehydrogenase preparations containing the mature and fully functional enzyme along with forms of the enzyme deficient in one or both of these elements. The active sites of mature and immature forms of CO dehydrogenase were converted into a [MoO(3)] centre by treatment with potassium cyanide. We have established a method, which rescues 50% of the CO dehydrogenase activity by in vitro reconstitution of the active site through the supply of sulphide first and subsequently of Cu(I) under reducing conditions. Immature forms of CO dehydrogenase isolated from the bacterium, which were deficient in S and/or Cu at the active site, were similarly activated. X-ray crystallography and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that the [CuSMoO(2)] cluster was properly reconstructed. However, reconstituted CO dehydrogenase contains mature along with immature forms. The chemical reactions of the reconstitution of CO dehydrogenase are summarized in a model, which assumes resulphuration of the Mo-ion at both equatorial positions at a 1:1 molar ratio. One equatorial Mo-S group reacts with Cu(I) in a productive fashion yielding a mature, functional [CuSMoO(2)] cluster. The other Mo-S group reacts with Cu(I), then Cu(2)S is released and an oxo group is introduced from water, yielding an inactive [MoO(3)] centre.

Carbon monoxide induced decomposition of the active site [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster of CO dehydrogenase.

During the past two years, crystal structures of Cu- and Mo-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODHs) and Ni- and Fe-containing CODHs have been reported. The active site of CODHs from anaerobic bacteria (cluster C) is composed of Ni, Fe, and S for which crystallographic studies of the enzymes from Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Moorella thermoaceticarevealed structural similarities in the overall protein fold but showed substantial differences in the essential Ni coordination environment. The [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster C in the fully catalytically competent dithionite-reduced CODH II from C. hydrogenoformans (CODHII(Ch)) at 1.6 A resolution contains a characteristic mu(2)-sulfido ligand between Ni and Fe1, resulting in a square-planar ligand arrangement with four S-ligands at the Ni ion. In contrast, the [Ni-4Fe-4S] clusters C in CO-treated CODH from R. rubrum resolved at 2.8 A and in CO-treated acetyl-CoA synthase/CODH complex from M. thermoacetica at 2.2 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively, do not contain the mu(2)-sulfido ligand between Ni and Fe1 and display dissimilar geometries at the Ni ion. The [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster is composed of a cubane [Ni-3Fe-4S] cluster linked to a mononuclear Fe site. The described coordination geometries of the Ni ion in the [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster of R. rubrum and M. thermoacetica deviate from the square-planar ligand geometry in the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster C of CODHII(Ch). In addition, the latter was converted into a [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster under specific conditions. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the structure of cluster C in CODHII(Ch) and the functionality of the protein. We have determined the CO oxidation activity of CODHII(Ch) under different conditions of crystallization, prepared crystals of the enzyme in the presence of dithiothreitol or dithionite as reducing agents under an atmosphere of N(2) or CO, and solved the corresponding structures at 1.1 to 1.6 A resolutions. Fully active CODHII(Ch) obtained after incubation of the enzyme with dithionite under N(2) revealed the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster. Short treatment of the enzyme with CO in the presence of dithiothreitol resulted in a catalytically competent CODHII(Ch) with a CO-reduced [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster, but a prolonged treatment with CO caused the loss of CO-oxidizing activity and revealed a [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster, which did not contain a mu(2)-S. These data suggest that the [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster of CODHII(Ch) is an inactivated decomposition product originating from the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster.

A functional Ni-Ni-[4Fe-4S] cluster in the monomeric acetyl-CoA synthase from Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans.

In anaerobic microorganisms employing the acetyl-CoA pathway, acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS) and CO dehydrogenase (CODH) form a complex (ACS/CODH) that catalyzes the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from CO, a methyl group, and CoA. Previously, a [4Fe-4S] cubane bridged to a copper-nickel binuclear site (active site cluster A of the ACS component) was identified in the ACS(Mt)/CODH(Mt) from Moorella thermoacetica whereas another study revealed a nickel-nickel site in the open form of ACS(Mt), and a zink-nickel site in the closed form. The ACS(Ch) of the hydrogenogenic bacterium Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans was found to exist as an 82.2-kDa monomer as well as in a 1:1 molar complex with the 73.3-kDa CODHIII(Ch). Homogeneous ACS(Ch) and ACS(Ch)/CODHIII(Ch) catalyzed the exchange between [1-(14)C]acetyl-CoA and (12)CO with specific activities of 2.4 or 5.9 micromol of CO per min per mg, respectively, at 70 degrees C and pH 6.0. They also catalyzed the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from CO, methylcobalamin, corrinoid iron-sulfur protein, and CoA with specific activities of 0.14 or 0.91 micromol of acetyl-CoA formed per min per mg, respectively, at 70 degrees C and pH 7.3. The functional cluster A of ACS(Ch) contains a Ni-Ni-[4Fe-4S] site, in which the positions proximal and distal to the cubane are occupied by Ni ions. This result is apparent from a positive correlation of the Ni contents and negative correlations of the Cu or Zn contents with the acetyl-CoA/CO exchange activities of different preparations of monomeric ACS(Ch), a 2.2-A crystal structure of the dithionite-reduced monomer in an open conformation, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the circular megaplasmid pHCG3 of Oligotropha carboxidovorans: function in the chemolithoautotrophic utilization of CO, H(2) and CO(2).

Oligotropha carboxidovorans harbors the low-copy-number, circular, 133,058-bp DNA megaplasmid pHCG3, which is essential in the chemolithoautotrophic utilization of CO (carboxidotrophy), H(2) (hydrogenotrophy) and CO(2) under aerobic conditions. The complete nucleotide sequence of pHCG3 revealed 125 open reading frames. Of these, 95 were identified as putative structural genes. The plasmid carries the four gene clusters cox (14.54 kb, 12 genes), cbb (13.33 kb, 13 genes), hox (23.35 kb, 19 genes plus one ORF) and tra/trb (25.01 kb, 22 genes plus 2 ORFs), which assemble the functions required for the utilization of CO, CO(2) or H(2), and the conjugal transfer of the plasmid, respectively. The gene clusters cox, cbb and hox form a 51.2-kb chemolithoautotrophy module. The tra/trb cluster on the plasmid pHCG3 of O. carboxidovorans has a similar architecture as the Ti-plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The tra/trb cluster is separated from the chemolithoautotrophy module by two regions (25.2 and 29.6 kb) with miscellaneous or mostly unknown functions. These regions carry a number of single genes coding for replication and stabilization of pHCG3 as well as the components of a putative system of global regulation of plasmid replication in O. carboxidovorans. An oriV encodes the replication proteins RepABC. Sequence comparisons of pHCG3-encoded genes suggest that major genetic exchange between O. carboxidovorans and the proteobacteria has occurred.

A novel binuclear [CuSMo] cluster at the active site of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase: characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

The structurally characterized molybdoenzyme carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) catalyzes the oxidation of CO to CO2 in the aerobic bacterium Oligotropha carboxidovorans. The active site of the enzyme was studied by Mo- and Cu-K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. This revealed a bimetallic [Cu(I)SMo(VI)(double bond O)2] cluster in oxidized CODH which was converted into a [Cu(I)SMo(IV)(double bond O)OH2] cluster upon reduction. The Cu...Mo distance is 3.70 A in the oxidized form and is increased to 4.23 A upon reduction. The bacteria contain CODH species with the complete and functional bimetallic cluster along with enzyme species deficient in Cu and/or bridging S. The latter are precursors in the posttranslational biosynthesis of the metal cluster. Cu-deficient CODH is the most prominent precursor and contains a [HSMo(double bond O)OH2] cluster. Se-K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrates that Se is coordinated by two C atoms at 1.94-1.95 A distance. This is interpreted as a replacement of the S in methionine residues. In contrast to a previous report [Dobbek, H., Gremer, L., Meyer, O., and Huber, R. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 8884-8889] Se was not identified in the active site of CODH.