Structure of the molybdenum site in YedY, a sulfite oxidase homologue from Escherichia coli

YedY from Escherichia coli is a new member of the sulfite oxidase family of molybdenum cofactor (Moco)-containing oxidoreductases. We investigated the atomic structure of the molybdenum site in YedY by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, in comparison to human sulfite oxidase (hSO) and to a Mo(IV) model complex. The K-edge energy was indicative of Mo(V) in YedY, in agreement with X- and Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance results, whereas the hSO protein contained Mo(VI). In YedY and hSO, molybdenum is coordinated by two sulfur ligands from the molybdopterin ligand of the Moco, one thiolate sulfur of a cysteine (average Mo-S bond length of ～2.4 ?), and one (axial) oxo ligand (Mo═O, ～1.7 ?). hSO contained a second oxo group at Mo as expected, but in YedY, two species in about a 1:1 ratio were found at the active site, corresponding to an equatorial Mo-OH bond (～2.1 ?) or possibly to a shorter Mo-O(-) bond. Yet another oxygen (or nitrogen) at a ～2.6 ? distance to Mo in YedY was identified, which could originate from a water molecule in the substrate binding cavity or from an amino acid residue close to the molybdenum site, i.e., Glu104, that is replaced by a glycine in hSO, or Asn45. The addition of the poor substrate dimethyl sulfoxide to YedY left the molybdenum coordination unchanged at high pH. In contrast, we found indications that the better substrate trimethylamine N-oxide and the substrate analogue acetone were bound at a ～2.6 ? distance to the molybdenum, presumably replacing the equatorial oxygen ligand. These findings were used to interpret the recent crystal structure of YedY and bear implications for its catalytic mechanism.     

High-resolution EXAFS of the active site of human sulfite oxidase: comparison with density functional theory and X-ray crystallographic results

Much of our knowledge about molybdenum enzymes has originated from EXAFS spectroscopy. This technique provides excellent bond-length accuracy but has only limited bond-length resolution. We have used EXAFS spectroscopy with an extended data range in an attempt to improve bond-length resolution for the molybdenum enzyme sulfite oxidase. The Mo site of sulfite oxidase has two oxygen and three Mo-S ligands (two from cofactor dithiolene plus a cysteine). For the oxidized (Mo(VI)) enzyme, we find that the three Mo-S bond lengths are very similar (within 0.05 A) at 2.41 A, as are the Mo=O ligands at 1.72 A. Density functional theory shows that this is consistent with the proposed active-site structure. The reduced (Mo(IV)) enzyme shows two Mo-S bond lengths at 2.35 A and one at 2.41 A (assigned to cofactor dithiolene and cysteine, respectively, from DFT), together with one Mo=O at 1.72 A and one Mo-OH(2) at 2.30 A.     

Structure of the active site of sulfite dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella

In this paper, we report the results of molybdenum K-edge X-ray absorption studies performed on the oxidized and reduced active sites of the sulfite dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella. Our results provide the first direct structural information on the active site of the oxidized form of this enzyme and confirm the conclusions derived from protein crystallography that the molybdenum coordination is analogous to that of the sulfite oxidases. The molybdenum atom of the oxidized enzyme is bound by two Mo=O ligands at 1.73 A and three thiolate Mo-S ligands at 2.42 A, whereas the reduced enzyme has one oxo at 1.74 A, one long oxygen at 2.19 A (characteristic of Mo-OH2), and three Mo-S ligands at 2.40 A.     

Nature of the catalytically labile oxygen at the active site of xanthine oxidase

In this paper we report the results of molybdenum K-edge X-ray absorption studies performed on the oxidized active site of xanthine oxidase at pH 6 and 10. These results indicate that the active site possesses one terminal oxygen ligand (Mo=O), two thiolate ligands (Mo-S), one terminal sulfido ligand (Mo=S), and one Mo-OH moiety. EXAFS analysis demonstrates that the Mo-OH bond shortens from 1.97 A at pH 6 to 1.75 A at pH 10, which is consistent with the generation of a Mo-O- moiety. This study provides convincing structural evidence that the catalytic oxygen donor at the oxidized active site of xanthine oxidase is Mo-OH rather than the Mo-OH2 ligation previously suggested by X-ray crystallography. These results support a mechanism initiated by base-assisted nucleophilic attack of the substrate by Mo-OH.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of selenate reductase

The metal sites of selenate reductase from Thauera selenatis have been characterized by Mo, Se, and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The Mo site of the oxidized enzyme has 3 to 4 sulfur ligands at 2.33 A from two molybdopterin cofactors, one Mo=O group at 1.68 A and one Mo-O with an intermediate bond length of 1.81 A. The reduced enzyme has a des-oxo active site, again with about four Mo-S ligands (at 2.32 A) and possibly one oxygen ligand at 2.22 A. The enzyme was found to contain Se in a reduced form (probably organic) although the sequence does not indicate the presence of selenocysteine. The Se is coordinated to both a metal (probably Fe) and a lighter scatterer such as carbon.     

Electronic structure studies of oxomolybdenum tetrathiolate complexes: origin of reduction potential differences and relationship to cysteine-molybdenum bonding in sulfite oxidase

Electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectroscopies have been used to determine the nature of oxomolybdenum-thiolate bonding in (PPh4)[MoO(SPh)4] (SPh = phenylthiolate) and (HNEt3)[MoO(SPh-PhS)2] (SPh-PhS = biphenyl-2,2'-dithiolate). These compounds, like all oxomolybdenum tetraarylthiolate complexes previously reported, display an intense low-energy charge-transfer feature that we have now shown to be comprised of multiple S-->Mo dxy transitions. The integrated intensity of this low-energy band in [MoO(SPh)4]- is approximately twice that of [MoO(SPh-PhS)2]-, implying a greater covalent reduction of the effective nuclear charge localized on the molybdenum ion of the former and a concomitant negative shift in the Mo(V)/Mo(IV) reduction potential brought about by the differential S-->Mo dxy charge donation. However, this is not observed experimentally; the Mo(V)/Mo(IV) reduction potential of [MoO(SPh)4]- is approximately 120 mV more positive than that of [MoO(SPh-PhS)2]- (-783 vs -900 mV). Additional electronic factors as well as structural reorganizational factors appear to play a role in these reduction potential differences. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the electronic contribution results from a greater sigma-mediated charge donation to unfilled higher energy molybdenum acceptor orbitals, and this is reflected in the increased energies of the [MoO(SPh-PhS)2]- ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transitions relative to those of [MoO(SPh)4]-. The degree of S-Mo dxy covalency is a function of the O identical to Mo-S-C dihedral angle, with increasing charge donation to Mo dxy and increasing charge-transfer intensity occurring as the dihedral angle decreases from 90 to 0 degree. These results have implications regarding the role of the coordinated cysteine residue in sulfite oxidase. Although the O identical to Mo-S-C dihedral angles are either approximately 59 or approximately 121 degrees in these oxomolybdenum tetraarylthiolate complexes, the crystal structure of the enzyme reveals an O identical to Mo-SCys-C angle of approximately 90 degrees. Thus, a significant reduction in SCys-Mo dxy covalency is anticipated in sulfite oxidase. This is postulated to preclude the direct involvement of coordinated cysteine in coupling the active site into efficient superexchange pathways for electron transfer, provided the O identical to Mo-SCys-C angle is not dynamic during the course of catalysis. Therefore, we propose that a primary role for coordinated cysteine in sulfite oxidase is to statically poise the reduced molybdenum center at more negative reduction potentials in order to thermodynamically facilitate electron transfer from Mo(IV) to the endogenous b-type heme.     

EPR Studies of Oxo-Molybdenum(V) Complexes with Sulfur Donor Ligands: Implications for the Molybdenum Center of Sulfite Oxidase

A series of six-coordinate compounds containing a chelating dithiolate coordinated to the [LMo(V)O](2+) unit (L = hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate) have been characterized by EPR spectroscopy as models for the molybdenum centers of pterin-containing molybdenum enzymes. The structure of LMoO(bdt) (1) (bdt = 1,2-benzenedithiolate) has been determined by X-ray crystallography; the space group is P2(1)/n with a = 10.727(1) ?, b = 14.673(2) ?, c = 15.887(2) ?, beta = 100.317(4) degrees and Z = 4. Compound 1 exhibits distorted octahedral stereochemistry; the terminal oxo group and the sulfur atoms are mutually cis to one another. The Mo=O distance is 1.678(4) ?, and the average Mo-S distance is 2.373(2) ?. The EPR parameters for 1, determined from simulation of the frozen-solution spectrum, are g(1) = 2.004, g(2) = 1.972, g(3) = 1.934 and A(1)((95,97)Mo) = 50.0 x 10(-)(4), A(2) = 11.4 x 10(-)(4), A(3) = 49.7 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1). The EPR parameters for several LMo(V)O{S(CH(2))(x)()S} compounds (x = 2-4) with saturated chelate skeletons are similar to those of 1, indicating that it is the coordinated S atoms and not unsaturation of the chelate skeleton that gives rise to the large g values for 1. The presence of g components larger than the free-electron value is ascribed to low-energy charge transfer transitions from the filled sulfur pi orbitals to half-filled Mo d orbitals. The EPR spectrum of [LMo(V)O{S(2)P(OEt)(2)}](+) shows an unusually large isotropic (31)P hyperfine splitting of 66.1 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1) from the noncoordinated phosphorus atom. The frozen-solution EPR spectra of the low-pH and high-pH forms of sulfite oxidase have been reinvestigated in D(2)O and the anisotropic g and A((95,97)Mo) parameters determined by simulation of the spectrum arising from the naturally abundant Mo isotopes (75% I = 0, 25% I = (5)/(2)). The EPR parameters for the low-pH form are g(1) = 2.007, g(2) = 1.974, g(3) = 1.968 and A(1) = 56.7 x 10(-)(4), A(2) = 25.0 x 10(-)(4), A(3) = 16.7 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1). The EPR parameters for the high-pH form are g(1) = 1.990, g(2) = 1.966, g(3) = 1.954 and A(1) = 54.4 x 10(-)(4), A(2) = 21.0 x 10(-)(4), A(3) = 11.3 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1). These are the first determinations of the complete A((95,97)Mo) hyperfine components for an enzyme that possesses an [Mo(VI)O(2)](2+) core in its fully oxidized state.     

Nature of halide binding to the molybdenum site of sulfite oxidase

Valuable information on the active sites of molybdenum enzymes has been provided from both Mo(V) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). One of three major categories of Mo(V) EPR signals from the molybdenum enzyme sulfite oxidase is the low-pH signal, which forms in the presence of chloride. Two alternative structures for this species have been proposed, one in which the chloride is coordinated directly to Mo and a second in which chloride is held in the arginine-rich basic pocket some 5 ? from Mo. Here we present an independent assessment of the structure of this species by using XAS of the analogous bromide and iodide complexes. We show that there is no evidence of direct Mo-I coordination, and that the data are consistent with a structure in which the halide is bound at ～5 ? from Mo.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopic characterization of the molybdenum site of Escherichia coli dimethyl sulfoxide reductase

Structural studies of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductases were hampered by modification of the active site during purification. We report an X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis of the molybdenum active site of Escherichia coli DMSO reductase contained within its native membranes. The enzyme in these preparations is expected to be very close to the form found in vivo. The oxidized active site was found to have four Mo-S ligands at 2.43 A, one Mo=O at 1.71 A, and a longer Mo-O at 1.90 A. We conclude that the oxidized enzyme is a monooxomolybdenum(VI) species coordinated by two molybdopterin dithiolenes and a serine. The bond lengths determined for E. coli DMSO reductase are very similar to those determined for the well-characterized Rhodobacter sphaeroides DMSO reductase, suggesting similar active site structures for the two enzymes. Furthermore, our results suggest that the form found in vivo is the monooxobis(molybdopterin) species.     

Monodithiolene molybdenum(V, VI) complexes: a structural analogue of the oxidized active site of the sulfite oxidase enzyme family

The active sites of the xanthine oxidase and sulfite oxidase enzyme families contain one pterin-dithiolene cofactor ligand bound to a molybdenum atom. Consequently, monodithiolene molybdenum complexes have been sought by exploratory synthesis for structural and reactivity studies. Reaction of [MoO(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1-) or [MoO(bdt)(2)](1-) with PhSeCl results in removal of one dithiolate ligand and formation of [MoOCl(2)(S(2)C(2)Me(2))](1-) (1) or [MoOCl(2)(bdt)](1-) (2), which undergoes ligand substitution reactions to form other monodithiolene complexes [MoO(2-AdS)(2)(S(2)C(2)Me(2))](1-) (3), [MoO(SR)(2)(bdt)](1-) (R = 2-Ad (4), 2,4,6-Pr(i)(3)C(6)H(2) (5)), and [MoOCl(SC(6)H(2)-2,4,6-Pr(i)(3))(bdt)](1-) (6) (Ad = 2-adamantyl, bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate). These complexes have square pyramidal structures with apical oxo ligands, exhibit rhombic EPR spectra, and 3-5 are electrochemically reducible to Mo(IV)O species. Complexes 1-6 constitute the first examples of five-coordinate monodithiolene Mo(V)O complexes; 6 approaches the proposed structure of the high-pH form of sulfite oxidase. Treatment of [MoO(2)(OSiPh(3))(2)] with Li(2)(bdt) in THF affords [MoO(2)(OSiPh(3))(bdt)](1-) (8). Reaction of 8 with 2,4,6-Pr(i)(3)C(6)H(2)SH in acetonitrile gives [MoO(2)(SC(6)H(2)-2,4,6-Pr(i)(3))(bdt)](1-) (9, 55%). Complexes 8 and 9 are square pyramidal with apical and basal oxo ligands. With one dithiolene and one thiolate ligand of a square pyramidal Mo(VI)O(2)S(3) coordination unit, 9 closely resembles the oxidized sites in sulfite oxidase and assimilatory nitrate reductase as deduced from crystallography (sulfite oxidase) and Mo EXAFS. The complex is the first structural analogue of the active sites in fully oxidized members of the sulfite oxidase family. This work provides a starting point for the development of both structural and reactivity analogues of members of this family.     

Sulfur K-edge spectroscopic investigation of second coordination sphere effects in oxomolybdenum-thiolates: relationship to molybdenum-cysteine covalency and electron transfer in sulfite oxidase

Second-coordination sphere effects such as hydrogen bonding and steric constraints that provide for specific geometric configurations play a critical role in tuning the electronic structure of metalloenzyme active sites and thus have a significant effect on their catalytic efficiency. Crystallographic characterization of vertebrate and plant sulfite oxidase (SO) suggests that an average O(oxo)-Mo-S(Cys)-C dihedral angle of approximately 77 degrees exists at the active site of these enzymes. This angle is slightly more acute (approximately 72 degrees) in the bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase (SDH) from Starkeya novella. Here we report the synthesis, crystallographic, and electronic structural characterization of Tp*MoO(mba) (where Tp* = (3,5-dimethyltrispyrazol-1-yl)borate; mba = 2-mercaptobenzyl alcohol), the first oxomolybdenum monothiolate to possess an O(ax)-Mo-S(thiolate)-C dihedral angle of approximately 90 degrees . Sulfur X-ray absorption spectroscopy clearly shows that O(ax)-Mo-S(thiolate)-C dihedral angles near 90 degrees effectively eliminate covalency contributions to the Mo(xy) redox orbital from the thiolate sulfur. Sulfur K-pre-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy intensity ratios for the spin-allowed S(1s) --> Sv(p) + Mo(xy) and S(1s) --> Sv(p) + Mo(xz,yz) transitions have been calibrated by a direct comparison of theory with experiment to yield thiolate Sv(p) orbital contributions, c(j)(2), to the Mo(xy) redox orbital and the Mo(xz,yz) orbital set. Furthermore, these intensity ratios are related to a second coordination sphere structural parameter, the O(oxo)-Mo-S(thiolate)-C dihedral angle. The relationship between Mo-S(thiolate) and Mo-S(dithiolene) covalency in oxomolydenum systems is discussed, particularly with respect to electron-transfer regeneration in SO.     

The active site of arsenite oxidase from Alcaligenes faecalis

Arsenite oxidase, a member of the DMSO reductase family of molybdenum enzymes, has two molecules of guanosine dinucleotide molybdenum cofactor coordinating the molybdenum at the active site. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that the Mo-S bonds shorten from 2.47 to 2.37 A upon reduction with the physiological substrate. It also indicates the presence of an oxo ligand at 1.70 A in both oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme, together with a short, 1.83 A, Mo-O bond in the oxidized form that is lost upon reduction. Resonance Raman spectroscopy indicates that the two pterin dithiolene moieties have different aromaticities, with one, the Q-pterin, having a more discrete dithiolate structure while the other, the P-pterin, has considerable pi-delocalization. Our results indicate that the structure of arsenite oxidase is intermediate between that seen in other molybdenum enzymes, in which one ligand to the metal is provided by the polypeptide (serine, cysteine, or selenocysteine), and tungsten enzymes that lack a peptide ligand.     

MoV electron paramagnetic resonance of sulfite oxidase revisited: the low-pH chloride signal

Valuable information on the active sites of molybdenum enzymes has been provided by Mo(V) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. In recent years, multiple resonance techniques have been extensively used to examine details of the active-site structure, but basic continuous-wave (CW) EPR has not been re-evaluated in several decades. Here, we present a re-examination of the CW EPR spectroscopy of the sulfite oxidase low-pH chloride species and provide evidence for direct coordination of molybdenum by chloride.     

Coordination chemistry at the molybdenum site of sulfite oxidase: redox-induced structural changes in the cysteine 207 to serine mutant

The redox chemistry of the molybdenum site of the C207S mutant of recombinant human sulfite oxidase has been studied via potentiometric titrations employing both electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) as probes of the active site structure. In earlier EXAFS studies, oxidized Cys207Ser enzyme has been shown to possess a novel tri-oxo active site, in which Ser207 does not appear to be a ligand to Mo [George, G. N.; Garrett, R. M.; Prince, R. C.; Rajagopalan, K. V. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 8588-8592]. Redox titrations show that the active site is modified under reducing conditions to a mono-oxo Mo(IV) species, probably with Ser207 ligated to the metal. The Mo(IV) species can be reoxidized to a mono-oxo Mo(V) species still coordinated to Ser207, which in turn can be further reoxidized to yield the initial tri-oxo Mo(VI) structure with loss of Ser207 ligation.     

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Structural Studies of Bis(&mgr;-sulfido)bis[{O,O-dialkyl (alkylene) dithiophosphato}oxomolybdenum(V)] Complexes. Crystal Structures of Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2), Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2).2NC(5)H(5), and Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OPh)(2)](4)

A series of new complexes, Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](2) (where R = Et, n-Pr, i-Pr) and Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)POGO](2) (where G = -CH(2)CMe(2)CH(2)-, -CMe(2)CMe(2)-) have been prepared by the dropwise addition of an ethanolic solution of the ammonium or sodium salt of the appropriate O,O-dialkyl or -alkylene dithiophosphoric acid, or the acid itself, to a hot aqueous solution of molybdenum(V) pentachloride. The complexes were also formed by heating solutions of Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](4) or Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)POGO](4) species in glacial acetic acid. The Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OR)(2)](2) and Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)POGO](2) compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as were the 1:2 adducts formed on reaction with pyridine. The crystal structures of Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt(2))](2), Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2).2NC(5)H(5), and Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OPh)(2)](4) were determined. Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2) (1) crystallizes in space group C2/c, No. 15, with cell parameters a = 15.644(3) ?, b = 8.339(2) ?, c = 18.269(4) ?, beta = 103.70(2) degrees, V = 2315.4(8) ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0439, and R(w) = 0.0353. Mo(2)O(2)S(2)[S(2)P(OEt)(2)](2).2NC(5)H(5) (6) crystallizes in space group P&onemacr;, No. 2, with the cell parameters a = 12.663(4) ?,b = 14.291(5) ?, c = 9.349(3) ?, alpha = 100.04(3) degrees, beta = 100.67(3) degrees, gamma = 73.03(3) degrees V = 1557(1) ?(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0593, and R(w) = 0.0535. Mo(2)O(3)[S(2)P(OPh)(2)](4) (8) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n, No. 14, with cell parameters a = 15.206(2)?, b = 10.655(3)?, c = 19.406(3)?, beta = 111.67(1) degrees, V = 2921(1)?(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0518, R(w) = 0.0425. The immediate environment about the molybdenum atoms in 1 is essentially square pyramidal if the Mo-Mo interaction is ignored. The vacant positions in the square pyramids are occupied by two pyridine molecules in 6, resulting in an octahedral environment with very long Mo-N bonds. The terminal oxygen atoms in both 1 and 6 are in the syn conformation. In 8, which also has a distorted octahedral environment about molybdenum, two of the dithiophosphate groups are bidentate as in 1 and 6, but the two others have one normal Mo-S bond and one unusually long Mo-S bond.     

Generation of bis(dithiolene)dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes from bis(dithiolene)monooxomolybdenum(IV) complexes by proton-coupled electron transfer in aqueous media

Electron transfer oxidation reaction of bis(dithiolene)monooxomolybdenum(iv) (Mo(IV)OL(x)) complexes is studied as a model of oxidative-half reaction of arsenite oxidase molybdenum enzymes. The reactions are revealed to involve proton-coupled electron transfer. Electrochemical oxidation of Mo(IV)OL(x) yields the corresponding bis(dithiolene)dioxomolybdenum(vi) complexes in basic solution, where the conversion of Mo(IV)OL(dmed) supported by a smaller electron donating dithiolene ligand (1,2-dicarbomethoxyethylene-1,2-dithiolate, L(dmed)) to Mo(VI)O(2)L(dmed) is faster than that of Mo(IV)OL(bdt) with a larger electron donating dithiolene ligand (1,2-benzenedithiolate, L(bdt)) under the same conditions. Titration experiments for the electrochemical oxidation reveal that the reaction involves two-electron oxidation and two equivalents of OH(-) consumption per Mo(IV)OL(x). In the conversion process of Mo(IV)OL(x) to Mo(VI)O(2)L(x), the five-coordinate bis(dithiolene)monooxomolybdenum(v) complex (Mo(V)OL(x)) being a one-electron oxidized species of Mo(IV)OL(x) is suggested to react with OH(-). Mo(V)OL(x) reacts with OH(-) in CH(3)CN or C(2)H(5)CN in a 2?:?2 ratio to give one equivalent Mo(IV)OL(x) and one equivalent Mo(VI)O(2)L(x), which is confirmed by the UV-vis and IR spectroscopies. The low temperature stopped-flow analysis allows investigations of the mechanism for the reaction of Mo(V)OL(x) with OH(-). The kinetic study for the reaction of Mo(V)OL(dmed) with OH(-) suggests that Mo(V)OL(dmed) reacts with OH(-) to give a six-coordinate oxo-hydroxo-molybdenum(v) species, Mo(V)O(OH), and, then, the resulting species undergoes successive deprotonation by another OH(-) and oxidation by a remaining Mo(V)OL(dmed) to yield the final products Mo(IV)OL(dmed) and Mo(VI)O(2)L(dmed) complexes in a 1?:?1 ratio. In this case, the Mo(V)O(2) species are involved as an intermediate in the reaction. On the other hand, in the reaction of Mo(V)OL(bdt) with OH(-), coordination of OH(-) to the Mo(V) centre to give a six-coordinate Mo(V)O(OH)L(bdt) species becomes the rate limiting step and other intermediates are not suggested. On the basis of these results, the ligand effects of the dithiolene ligands on the reactivity of the bis(dithiolene)molybdenum complexes are discussed.     

Analogues for the molybdenum center of sulfite oxidase: oxomolybdenum(V) complexes with three thiolate sulfur donor atoms

cis,trans-(L-N2S2)Mo(V)O(SR) [L-N2S2H2 = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(mercaptophenyl)ethylenediamine; R = CH2Ph, CH2CH3, and p-C6H4-Y (Y = CF3, Cl, Br, F, H, CH3, CH2CH3, and OCH3)] are the first structurally characterized mononuclear Mo compounds with three thiolate donors, as occurs at the Mo active site in sulfite oxidase. X-ray crystal structures of the cis,trans-(L-N2S2)Mo(V)O(SR) compounds, where R = CH2Ph, CH2CH3, p-C6H4-OCH3, and p-C6H4-CF3, show a similar coordination geometry about the Mo atom with all three sulfur thiolate donors in the equatorial plane. This coordination geometry places two adjacent S ppi orbitals parallel to the Mo=O bond, analogous to the orientation in the ene-dithiolate ligand in sulfite oxidase; the third S ppi orbital lies in the equatorial plane. Charge-transfer transitions from the S p to the Mo d orbitals occur at approximately 28,000 cm(-1) (epsilon: 4,400-6,900 L mol(-1)] cm(-1)) and 15,500 cm(-1) (epsilon: 3,200-4,900 L mol(-1) cm(-1)). The EPR parameters are nearly identical for all the cis,trans-(L-N2S2)Mo(V)O(SR) compounds (g1 approximately 2.022, g2 approximately 1.963, g3 approximately 1.956, Al approximately 58.4 x 10(-4) cm(-1), A2 approximately 23.7 x 10(-4) cm(-1), A3 approximately 22.3 x 10(-4) cm(-1)) and are typical of an oxo-Mo(V) center coordinated by multiple thiolate donors. The g and A tensors are related by a 24 degrees rotation about the coincident g2 and A2 tensor elements, reflecting the approximate Cs coordination symmetry. These EPR parameters more closely mimic those of the low pH form of sulfite oxidase and the "very rapid" species of xanthine oxidase than previous model compounds with two or four thiolate donors. The cis,trans-(L-N2S2)Mo(V)O(SR) compounds undergo a quasi-reversible, one-electron reduction and an irreversible oxidation that show a linear dependence upon the Hammett parameter, sigmap, of the Y group. The cis,trans-(L-N2S2)Mo(V)O(SR) compounds provide a well-defined platform for the systematic investigation of the electronic structures of the Mo(V)OS3 centers and their implications for molybdoenzymes.     

Identity of the exchangeable sulfur-containing ligand at the Mo(V) center of R160Q human sulfite oxidase

In our previous study of the fatal R160Q mutant of human sulfite oxidase (hSO) at low pH (Astashkin et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2008, 130, 8471-8480), a new Mo(V) species, denoted "species 1", was observed at low pH values. Species 1 was ascribed to a six-coordinate Mo(V) center with an exchangeable terminal oxo ligand and an equatorial sulfate group on the basis of pulsed EPR spectroscopy and (33)S and (17)O labeling. Here we report new results for species 1 of R160Q, based on substitution of the sulfur-containing ligand by a phosphate group, pulsed EPR spectroscopy in K(a)- and W-bands, and extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations applied to large, more realistic molecular models of the enzyme active site. The combined results unambiguously show that species 1 has an equatorial sulfite as the only exchangeable ligand. The two types of (17)O signals that are observed arise from the coordinated and remote oxygen atoms of the sulfite ligand. A typical five-coordinate Mo(V) site is compatible with the observed and calculated EPR parameters.