Investigation of the role of surface residues in the ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum.

Eleven mutant forms of the ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum (CpFd; 2 Fe4S4; 6200 Da) have been isolated in which six surface carboxylates are changed systematically to their uncharged but stereochemically equivalent carboxamide analogues. Such changes provide molecules which vary in overall charge and its surface distribution but vary minimally in structure and reduction potential. Glu-17 and Asp-6, -27, -33, -35, and -39 were converted providing six single mutants, four double mutants and one triple mutant. The proteins were characterised by UV-visible spectroscopy, square-wave voltammetry and 1H NMR. Their ability to mediate electron transfer between spinach NADH:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and horse heart cytochrome c was assessed. Each mutant is 30-100% as active as the recombinant protein with the triple mutant D33,35,39N being least active. Second-order rate constants k2 for the oxidation of reduced mutant ferredoxins by [Co(NH3)6]3+ were measured at 25 degrees C and I = 0.1 M by stopped-flow techniques. Each mutant displayed saturation kinetics with k2 being 30-100% of that for the recombinant protein. The rates were moderately sensitive to ionic strength. Variation in association constant K could not be detected within the confidence limits of the data. Overall the effects of the mutations were minor. In contrast to human and Anabaena 7120 [Fe2S2]-ferredoxins, electron transfer does not appear to rely on the presence of one or two specific surface carboxylate residues. It may occur from multiple sites on the surface of CpFd with recognition processes for its many physiological redox partners being controlled by relative reduction potentials, in addition to unidentified criteria. The conclusions are consistent with previous results for another series of mutant CpFd proteins interacting with physiological redox partners pyruvate: Fd oxidoreductase and hydrogenase (J.M. Moulis, V. Davasse (1995) Biochemistry 34, 16781-16788).

The behaviour of thiomolybdates in in vitro systems.

The stability of potassium tetrathiomolybdate was studied in vitro using solutions with molybdenum, hydrogen ion and phosphate concentrations similar to those normally found in the rumen. Under these conditions K2[MoS4] hydrolysed rapidly and as a result the solution contained [moS4]2-, [MoOS3]2-, [MoO2S2]2-, [HS]- and H2S in equilibrium. In view of this hydrolysis, in vivo studies of thiomolybdate on copper metabolism of sheep should not exclude the possibility that either sulphide or molybdate is responsible for any observed effect.

6-phosphogluconate dehydratase from Zymomonas mobilis: an iron-sulfur-manganese enzyme.

The enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase has been isolated in a stable form by a simple one-step procedure using dye ligand chromatography. The role of metal ions in the activity and stability of the enzyme was investigated. As with aconitase and several other dehydratase enzymes, the active site includes an Fe4S4 cluster. In addition, the purified enzyme has been shown to contain one manganese ion per subunit, which is also essential for activity. Rapid inactivation by superoxide radical was observed, which could only partly be protected by manganous ions The purified enzyme could be stabilised by alpha-glycerophosphate in place of manganese; glycerophosphate mimics the carbon atoms 4 to 6 of the natural substrate. This suggests that the manganous ion may involved in binding this part of the substrate.

Rubredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum. Structures of G10A, G43A and G10VG43A mutant proteins. Mutation of conserved glycine 10 to valine causes the 9-10 peptide link to invert.

The four cysteine ligands which coordinate the Fe atom in the electron-transfer protein rubredoxin lie on loops of the polypeptide which form approximate local twofold symmetry. The cysteine ligands in the protein from Clostridium pasteurianum lie at positions 6, 9, 39 and 42. Two glycine residues adjacent to the cysteine ligands at positions 10 and 43 are conserved in all rubredoxins, consistent with the proposal that a beta-carbon substituent at these positions would eclipse adjacent peptide carbonyl groups [Adman et al. (1975). Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 72, 4854-4858]. X-ray crystal structures of the three mutant proteins G10A, G43A and G10VG43A are reported. The crystal structures of the single-site mutations are isomorphous with the native protein, space group R3; unit-cell parameters are a = 64.3, c = 32.9 A for G10A and a = 64.4, c = 32.8 A for G43A. The crystals of the double mutant, G10VG43A, were in space group P43212, unit-cell parameters a = 61.9, c = 80.5 A, with two molecules per asymmetric unit. The observed structural perturbations support the hypothesis that mutation of the conserved glycine residues would introduce strain into the polypeptide. In particular, in the G10VG43A protein substitution of valine at Gly10 causes the 9-10 peptide link to invert, relieving steric interaction between Cys9 O and Val10 Cbeta. This dramatic change in conformation is accompanied by the loss of the 10N-HcO6 hydrogen bond, part of the chelate loop Thr5-Tyr11. The new conformation allows retention of the 11N-HcS9 hydrogen bond, but converts it from a type II to a type I hydrogen bond. This occurs at the cost of a less tightly packed structure. The structural insights allow rationalization of 1H NMR data reported previously for the 113CdII-substituted proteins and of the negative shifts observed in the FeIII/FeII mid-point potentials upon mutation.

Coupled Electron- and Proton-Transfer Processes in the Reduction of α-[P(2)W(18)O(62)](6)(-) and α-[H(2)W(12)O(40)](6)(-) As Revealed by Simulation of Cyclic Voltammograms.

Quantitative analysis of the complex problem of coupled electron- and proton-transfer steps during reduction of the polyoxo anions α-[P(2)W(18)O(62)](6)(-) and α-[H(2)W(12)O(40)](6)(-) in aqueous NaCl (0.5 M) has been achieved by simulation of cyclic voltammograms (Rudolph, M.; Reddy, D. P.; Feldberg, S. W. Anal. Chem. 1994, 66, 589A) over wide ranges of anion concentration, pH, and scan rate. Since there are too many unknown parameters to attempt a one-step global form of simulation, a systematic, stepwise approach has been adopted by progressively accessing regimes of increasing voltammetric complexity. This protocol allows experimental behavior in each system over 5 orders of magnitude in proton concentration to be simulated by estimation of three protonation constants combined with experimentally determined reversible half-wave potentials for the two one-electron processes involved. Fast electron transfer and protonation kinetics are assumed. The importance of the values chosen for the diffusion coefficients of the proton and polyoxo anion species is considered. The simulations account for the fact that pairs of one-electron processes coalesce to give an apparent two-electron process in the pH range 1-6 for reduction of both anions.

Synthesis and redox characterization of the polyoxo anion, gamma*-[S2W18O62]4-: a unique fast oxidation pathway determines the characteristic reversible electrochemical behavior of polyoxometalate anions in acidic media.

The synthesis and characterization of (Bu4N)4[S2W18O62].1.23MeCN.0.27H2O are reported. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 22.389(6) A, b = 22.104(3) A, c = 25.505(5) A, beta = 95.690(15) degrees, V = 12560(5) A3, and Z = 4. The anion exists as the gamma* isomer, the second example of this isomer type to be characterized structurally. The equivalent molybdenum salt occurs as the alpha isomer. gamma*-[S2W18O62]4- in MeCN solution displayed four electrochemically reversible one-electron redox processes at E1/2 values of -0.24, -0.62, -1.18, and -1.57 V versus the Fc+/Fc couple. Upon addition of acid in MeCN/H2O (95/5 v/v), the two most cathodic processes converted to an overall two-electron process at -0.71 V. The total data suggested that this process actually comprises two one-electron transfer processes, occurring at different potentials, with associated proton-transfer reactions. The interpretation is supported by simulation of the effect of acid titration upon the cyclic voltammetry. While multiple pathways for correlated reduction and protonation are present in both the molybdenum and tungsten systems, only a single fast oxidation pathway is available. As the reduced forms of [S2W18O62]4- are much weaker bases than those of [S2Mo18O62]4-, the individual oxidation pathways are not the same. However, their existence determines the highly reversible electrochemical behavior that is characteristic of these anions, and that of polyoxometalate systems in general.

Role of albumin's copper binding site in copper uptake by mouse hepatocytes.

It is possible, in vitro, to label albumin with copper either exclusively on the specific binding site or partly on the specific site and also on other sites by altering the pH at which the two ligands are mixed. Copper attached exclusively to the specific site is taken up more rapidly than copper attached to that site and others on albumin. The effect is proportional to the amount of copper on the specific site. Additional histidine stimulates uptake irrespective of the copper binding site on albumin. The effect is related to the histidine on position 3 of the albumin, since it is not seen when dog albumin is labeled under the same conditions. The data suggest that the cell recognizes and presumably binds the copper-albumin (CuAlb) complex but may preferentially recognize the ternary complex formed by CuAlb and histidine. We suggest that, in vivo, copper is bound mainly as the ternary complex and that the structure formed, presumably similar to that formed by a copper-histidine complex, is what is actually recognized by the cell. After binding, the albumin and histidine are released, possibly by a reduction step, and the copper is transported across the membrane. If the copper cannot be transported (as occurs when the cells are incubated at 4 degrees C), it blocks further binding of the ternary complex.

Mutation of the surface valine residues 8 and 44 in the rubredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum: solvent access versus structural changes as determinants of reversible potential.

The Pr(i) sidechains of two adjacent valine residues, V8 and V44, define the surface of the rubredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum and control access to its Fe(S-Cys)4 active site. To assess the effect of systematic change of the steric bulk of the alkyl sidechains, eight single and three double mutant proteins have been isolated which vary G (H), A (Me), V (Pr(i)), L (Bu(i)) and I (Bu(s)) at those positions. X-ray crystal structures of the Fe(III) forms of the V44A and V44I proteins are reported. Positive shifts in reversible potential of up to 116 mV are observed and attributed to increased polarity around the Fe(S-Cys)4 site induced by (1) changes in protein backbone conformation driven by variation of the steric demands of the sidechain substituents and (2) changes in solvent access to the side-chains of ligands C9 and C42. Data for the V44A mutant show that a minor change in the steric requirements of a surface residue can introduce a NH...Sgamma hydrogen bond at the active site and lead to a shift in potential of + 50 mV.

Electrochemical synthesis and structural and physical characterization of one- and two-electron-reduced forms of [SMo12O40]2-.

Isolation of a soluble [NHex4]+ salt has allowed a detailed electrochemical study of the anion alpha-[SMo12O40]2- to be undertaken. Four reversible one-electron-reduction processes are observed in CH2Cl2 solution. Controlled potential electrolysis led to isolation of tetraalkylammonium salts of the one-electron-reduced anion alpha-[SMo12O40]3- and the two-electron-reduced anion alpha-[SMo12O40].4- [SMo12O40]3- is stable to disproportionation in dry solvents (Kdis = 10(-7.4). EPR and magnetic susceptibility data indicate that [SMo12O40]3- is a simple paramagnet (S = 1/2) while [SMo12O40]4- is paramagnetic with the mu eff values decreasing at low temperatures. Solutions of the two-electron-reduced species are EPR silent, but microcrystalline powders show very weak signals. The crystal structure of alpha-[NBu4]3[SMo12O40] has been determined (triclinic P1; a = 13.840(3) A; b = 15.587(4) A; c = 19.370(3) A; alpha = 94.82(2) degrees; beta = 93.10(1) degrees; gamma = 91.05(2) degrees; Z = 2). There is disorder around the C2 axis of the central SO4(2-) tetrahedron. In the presence of aqueous HClO4 (0.045 M) in thf/H2O or MeCN/H2O (98/2 v/v), [SMo12O40]2- exhibits five two-electron-reduction processes. Under these conditions, [SMo12O40]3- protonates and disproportionates into [SMo12O40]2- and the (2e-, 2H+)-reduced anion [H2SMo12O40]2-.

Redox thermodynamics of mutant forms of the rubredoxin from Clostridiumpasteurianum: identification of a stable Fe(III)(S-Cys)3(OH) centre in the C6S mutant.

Redox thermodynamic data provide a detailed insight into control of the reduction potential E degrees' of the [Fe(S-Cys)4] site in rubredoxin. Mutant forms were studied in which specific structural changes were made in both the primary and secondary coordination spheres. Those changes have been probed by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The decrease of approximately 200 mV in E degrees' observed for the [Fe(S-Cys)3(O-Ser)]-/2- couples in the surface ligand mutants C9S and C42S is essentially enthalpic in origin and associated with the substitution of ligand thiolate by ligand olate. However, the pH dependence of the potentials below characteristic pKa(red) approximately equals 7 is an entropic contribution, plausibly associated with increased conformational flexibility induced by a longer Fe(II)-O(H)-Ser bond in the reduced form. The presence of a second surface Ser ligand in the new double mutant protein C9S/C42S affects the enthalpic term primarily for pH>pKa(red) > or = 9.3, but for pHpKa approximately 9: [Fe(III)(S-Cys)3(OH)]- + e- --> [Fe(II)(S-Cys)3(OH)]2-. pH [Fe(II)(S-Cys)3(OH2)]-.

Comparison of native and mutant proteins provides a sequence-specific assignment of the cysteinyl ligand proton NMR resonances in the 2[Fe4S4] ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum.

A sequence-specific assignment is presented for the eight low-field paramagnetically shifted cysteinyl ligand proton NMR resonances in the 2[Fe4S4] ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum. The assignment is based upon comparison of chemical shifts in 1D and 2D NMR spectra of native oxidized protein and those of three mutants. The mutant proteins G12A and G41A were designed to produce minor local structural changes (hence small chemical shift perturbations) in either cluster I (glycine 12 to alanine) or in cluster II (glycine 41 to alanine). Observed chemical shift changes in spectra of the double mutant G12,41A support the interpretation. The comparison is aided by structural models derived from the crystal structure of the related ferredoxin from Peptococcus aerogenes. Each of the eight low-field resonances is assigned to a beta-proton from a different cysteinyl ligand, and so connectivities established from previous TOCSY and HMQC data allow assignment of all 24 cysteinyl ligand protons.