Mechanism of glutaredoxin-ISU [2Fe-2S] cluster exchange

Exchange of [2Fe-2S] centers between Grx2 and the cluster scaffold protein ISU, and characterization of two mutually exclusive Grx2 binding sites on ISU by isothermal titration calorimetry supports a direct link for Grx and glutathione involvement in ISU promoted Fe-S cluster biosynthesis.     

Studies of inhibitor binding to the [4Fe-4S] cluster of quinolinate synthase

Stop for NadA! A [4Fe-4S] enzyme, NadA, catalyzes the formation of quinolinic acid in de?novo nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthesis. A structural analogue of an intermediate, 4,5-dithiohydroxyphthalic acid (DTHPA), has an in?vivo NAD biosynthesis inhibiting activity in E. coli. The inhibitory effect can be explained by the coordination of DTHPA thiolate groups to a unique Fe site of the NadA [4Fe-4S] cluster.     

Reactions of synthetic [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] clusters with nitric oxide and nitrosothiols

The interaction of nitric oxide (NO) with iron-sulfur cluster proteins results in degradation and breakdown of the cluster to generate dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs). In some cases the formation of DNICs from such cluster systems can lead to activation of a regulatory pathway or the loss of enzyme activity. In order to understand the basic chemistry underlying these processes, we have investigated the reactions of NO with synthetic [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] clusters. Reaction of excess NO(g) with solutions of [Fe2S2(SR)4](2-) (R = Ph, p-tolyl (4-MeC6H4), or 1/2 (CH2)2-o-C6H4) cleanly affords the respective DNIC, [Fe(NO)2(SR)2](-), with concomitant reductive elimination of the bridging sulfide ligands as elemental sulfur. The structure of (Et4N)[Fe(NO)2(S-p-tolyl)2] was verified by X-ray crystallography. Reactions of the [4Fe-4S] clusters, [Fe4S4(SR)4](2-) (R = Ph, CH2Ph, (t)Bu, or 1/2 (CH2)-m-C6H4) proceed in the absence of added thiolate to yield Roussin's black salt, [Fe4S3(NO)7](-). In contrast, (Et4N)2[Fe4S4(SPh)4] reacts with NO(g) in the presence of 4 equiv of (Et4N)(SPh) to yield the expected DNIC. For all reactions, we could reproduce the chemistry effected by NO(g) with the use of trityl-S-nitrosothiol (Ph3CSNO) as the nitric oxide source. These results demonstrate possible pathways for the reaction of iron-sulfur clusters with nitric oxide in biological systems and highlight the importance of thiolate-to-iron ratios in stabilizing DNICs.     

Mechanistic insight into the nitrosylation of the [4Fe-4S] cluster of WhiB-like proteins

The reactivity of protein bound iron-sulfur clusters with nitric oxide (NO) is well documented, but little is known about the actual mechanism of cluster nitrosylation. Here, we report studies of members of the Wbl family of [4Fe-4S] containing proteins, which play key roles in regulating developmental processes in actinomycetes, including Streptomyces and Mycobacteria, and have been shown to be NO responsive. Streptomyces coelicolor WhiD and Mycobacterium tuberculosis WhiB1 react extremely rapidly with NO in a multiphasic reaction involving, remarkably, 8 NO molecules per [4Fe-4S] cluster. The reaction is 10(4)-fold faster than that observed with O(2) and is by far the most rapid iron-sulfur cluster nitrosylation reaction reported to date. An overall stoichiometry of [Fe(4)S(4)(Cys)(4)](2-) + 8NO → 2[Fe(I)(2)(NO)(4)(Cys)(2)](0) + S(2-) + 3S(0) has been established by determination of the sulfur products and their oxidation states. Kinetic analysis leads to a four-step mechanism that accounts for the observed NO dependence. DFT calculations suggest the possibility that the nitrosylation product is a novel cluster [Fe(I)(4)(NO)(8)(Cys)(4)](0) derived by dimerization of a pair of Roussin's red ester (RRE) complexes.     

Escherichia coli quinolinate synthetase does indeed harbor a [4Fe-4S] cluster

Quinolinic acid is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide-containing redox cofactors. The ultimate step in the formation of quinolinic acid in prokaryotes is the condensation of iminosuccinate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, which is catalyzed by the product of the nadA gene in Escherichia coli. A combination of UV-vis, M?ssbauer, and EPR spectroscopies, along with analytical methods for the determination of iron and sulfide, demonstrates for the first time that anaerobically purified quinolinate synthetase (NadA) from E. coli contains one [4Fe-4S] cluster per polypeptide. The protein is active, catalyzing the formation of quinolinic acid with a Vmax [ET]-1 of 0.01 s-1.     

Iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis: characterization of iron nucleation sites for assembly of the [2Fe-2S]2+ cluster core in IscU proteins

ISU (eukaryotes) and IscU (prokaryotes) are a homologous family of proteins that appear to provide a platform for assembly of [2Fe-2S] centers prior to delivery to a target apoprotein. The intermediate [2Fe-2S] IscU-bound cluster is formed by delivery of iron and sulfur to the apo-IscU, with the latter delivered through an IscS-mediated reaction. The identity of the iron donor is not yet established. In this report we characterize iron-binding sites on IscU that appear to nucleate [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly. This iron-bound form of IscU is shown to be viable for subsequent IscS-mediated assembly of holo-IscU. Following on recent reports, we demonstrate the persulfide form of IscU to be a dead-end complex that is incapable of forming holoprotein after addition of ferrous or ferric ion. The latter observation reflects the low binding affinity of persulfido IscU for iron ion.     

The [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster in reconstituted biotin synthase binds S-adenosyl-L-methionine

The combination of resonance Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance and M?ssbauer spectroscopies has been used to investigate the effect of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) on the spectroscopic properties of the [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster in biotin synthase. The results indicate that SAM interacts directly at a unique iron site of the [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster in BioB and support the hypothesis of a common inner-sphere mechanism for the reductive cleavage of SAM in the radical SAM family of Fe-S enzymes.     

Iron sulfur cluster biosynthesis. Human NFU mediates sulfide delivery to ISU in the final step of [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly

Human NFU forms a complex with NifS-like proteins and is a functionally competent reducing agent for cysteinyl persulfide bond cleavage, releasing inorganic sulfide for incorporation into the ISU-bound [2Fe-2S] cluster.     

Antibacterial activity of [1Fe-2S]- and [2Fe-2S]-nitrosyl complexes as nitric oxide donors

Russian Chemical Bulletin - The biological activity of a series of sulfur-nitrosyl iron complexes (NICs) depends on the structure of the ligands and the position of the functional groups in the...     

Probing the intrinsic electronic structure of the cubane [4Fe-4S] cluster: nature's favorite cluster for electron transfer and storage

The cubane [4Fe-4S] is the most common multinuclear metal center in nature for electron transfer and storage. Using electrospray, we produced a series of gaseous doubly charged cubane-type complexes, [Fe4S4L4]2- (L = -SC2H5, -SH, -Cl, -Br, -I) and the Se-analogues [Fe4Se4L4]2- (L = -SC2H5, -Cl), and probed their electronic structures with photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The photoelectron spectral features are similar among all the seven species investigated, revealing a weak threshold feature due to the minority spins on the Fe centers and confirming the low-spin two-layer model for the [4Fe-4S](2+) core and its "inverted level scheme". The measured adiabatic detachment energies, which are sensitive to the terminal ligand substitution, provide the intrinsic oxidation potentials of the [Fe4S4L4]2- complexes. The calculations revealed a simple correlation between the electron donor property of the terminal thiolate as well as the bridging sulfide with the variation of the intrinsic redox potentials. Our data provide intrinsic electronic structure information of the [4Fe-4S] cluster and the molecular basis for understanding the protein and solvent effects on the redox properties of the [4Fe-4S] active sites.     

DFT study on [4+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions to [60] fullerene

The functionalisation of C₆₀ fullerene with 2,3-dimethylene-1,4-dioxane (I) and 2,5-dioxabicyclo [4.2.0]octa-1(8),6-diene (II) was investigated by the use of density functional theory calculations in terms of its energetic, structural, field emission, and electronic properties. The functionalisation of C₆₀ with I was previously reported experimentally. The I and II molecules are preferentially attached to a C—C bond shared and located between two hexagons of C₆₀ via [4+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions bearing reaction energies of ?15.9 kcal mol^?1 and ?72.4 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap and work function of C₆₀ are significantly reduced following completion of the reactions. The field electron emission current of the C₆₀ surface will increase after functionalisation of either the I or II molecule.     

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.     

Secondary bonding interactions in biomimetic [2Fe-2S] clusters

A series of synthetic [2Fe-2S] complexes with terminal thiophenolate ligands and tethered ether or thioether moieties has been prepared and investigated in order to provide models for the potential interaction of additional donor atoms with the Fe atoms in biological [2Fe-2S] clusters. X-ray crystal structures have been determined for six new complexes that feature appended Et (1(C)), OMe (1(O)), or SMe (1(S)) groups, or with a methylene group (2(C) ), an ether-O (2(O)), or an thioether-S (2(S)) linking two aryl groups. The latter two systems provide a constrained chelate arrangement that induces secondary bonding interactions with the ether-O and thioether-S, which is confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations that also reveal significant spin density on those fifth donor atoms. Structural consequences of the secondary bonding interactions are analyzed in detail, and effects on the spectroscopic and electronic properties are probed by UV-vis, M?ssbauer, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, as well by SQUID measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The potential relevance of the findings for biological [2Fe-2S] sites is considered.     

Proton coupling to [4Fe-4S](2+/+) and [4Fe-4Se](2+/+) oxidation and reduction in a designed protein

The coupling of a single proton to [4Fe-4S]2+/+ oxidation/reduction in a de novo designed iron-sulfur protein maquette is presented. The reduced state pKared is 9.3, and the oxidized state pKaox is <6.5. The reduced state pKared shifts to 8.3 upon incorporation of a [4Fe-4Se]2+/+ cluster, implicating the cluster itself or its primary coordination sphere as the proton-coupling site.     

An approach based on quantum chemistry calculations and structural analysis of a [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin that reveal a redox-linked switch in the electron-transfer process to the Fd-NADP+ reductase

[2Fe-2S] ferredoxins act as electron carriers in photosynthesis by mediating the transfer of electrons from photosystem I to various enzymes such as ferredoxin:NADP(+):reductase (FNR). We have analyzed by density functional theory the possible variations of the electronic properties of the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin, from the cyanobacterium Anabaena, depending on the redox-linked structural changes observed by X-ray diffraction at atomic resolution (Morales, R.; et al. Biochemistry 1999, 38, 15764-15773). The present results point out a specific and concerted role of Ser47, Phe65, and Glu94 located at the molecule surface, close to the iron-sulfur cluster. These residues were already known to be crucial for efficient electron transfer to FNR (e.g., Hurley, J. K.; et al. Biochemistry 1997, 36, 11100-11117). Our calculations suggest that the Glu94 carboxylate negative charge regulates the electron charge delocalization between the Ser47 CO group and the Phe65 aromatic ring, depending on the redox state. The Glu94 carboxylate is stabilized by a strong hydrogen bond implicating a hydroxyl-containing side chain (i.e., Ser or Thr) at location 47. We propose that the Phe65 ring acts as an intermediary carrier receiving the reducing electron prior to its transfer from the reduced Fd to FNR, in view of its central role in the Fd-FNR interaction.