The oxidized (3,3) state of manganese catalase. Comparison of enzymes from Thermus thermophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum

Quantitative analysis of dinuclear manganese(II) EPR spectra

A quantitative method for the analysis of EPR spectra from dinuclear Mn(II) complexes is presented. The complex [(Me(3)TACN)(2)Mn(II)(2)(mu-OAc)(3)]BPh(4) (1) (Me(3)TACN=N, N('),N(")-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane; OAc=acetate(1-); BPh(4)=tetraphenylborate(1-)) was studied with EPR spectroscopy at X- and Q-band frequencies, for both perpendicular and parallel polarizations of the microwave field, and with variable temperature (2-50K). Complex 1 is an antiferromagnetically coupled dimer which shows signals from all excited spin manifolds, S=1 to 5. The spectra were simulated with diagonalization of the full spin Hamiltonian which includes the Zeeman and zero-field splittings of the individual manganese sites within the dimer, the exchange and dipolar coupling between the two manganese sites of the dimer, and the nuclear hyperfine coupling for each manganese ion. All possible transitions for all spin manifolds were simulated, with the intensities determined from the calculated probability of each transition. In addition, the non-uniform broadening of all resonances was quantitatively predicted using a lineshape model based on D- and r-strain. As the temperature is increased from 2K, an 11-line hyperfine pattern characteristic of dinuclear Mn(II) is first observed from the S=3 manifold. D- and r-strain are the dominate broadening effects that determine where the hyperfine pattern will be resolved. A single unique parameter set was found to simulate all spectra arising for all temperatures, microwave frequencies, and microwave modes. The simulations are quantitative, allowing for the first time the determination of species concentrations directly from EPR spectra. Thus, this work describes the first method for the quantitative characterization of EPR spectra of dinuclear manganese centers in model complexes and proteins. The exchange coupling parameter J for complex 1 was determined (J=-1.5+/-0.3 cm(-1); H(ex)=-2JS(1).S(2)) and found to be in agreement with a previous determination from magnetization. The phenomenon of exchange striction was found to be insignificant for 1.

Binuclear manganese compounds of potential biological significance. Part 2. Mechanistic study of hydrogen peroxide disproportionation by dimanganese complexes: the two oxygen atoms of the peroxide end up in a dioxo intermediate

The dimanganese(II,II) complexes 1a [Mn(2)(L)(OAc)(2)(CH(3)OH)](ClO(4)) and 1b [Mn(2)(L)(OBz)(2)(H(2)O)](ClO(4)), where HL is the unsymmetrical phenol ligand 2-(bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl)-6-((2-pyridylmethyl)(benzyl)aminomethyl)-4-methylphenol, react with hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile solution. The disproportionation reaction was monitored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and EPR and UV-visible spectroscopies. Extensive EPR studies have shown that a species (2) exhibiting a 16-line spectrum at g approximately 2 persists during catalysis. ESI-MS experiments conducted similarly during catalysis associate 2a with a peak at 729 (791 for 2b) corresponding to the formula [Mn(III)Mn(IV)(L)(O)(2)(OAc)](+) ([Mn(III)Mn(IV)(L)(O)(2)(OBz)](+) for 2b). At the end of the reaction, it is partly replaced by a species (3) possessing a broad unfeatured signal at g approximately 2. ESI-MS associates 3a with a peak at 713 (775 for 3b) corresponding to the formula [Mn(II)Mn(III)(L)(O)(OAc)](+) ([Mn(II)Mn(III)(L)(O)(OBz)](+) for 3b). In the presence of H(2)(18)O, these two peaks move to 733 and to 715 indicating the presence of two and one oxo ligands, respectively. When H(2)(18)O(2) is used, 2a and 3a are labeled showing that the oxo ligands come from H(2)O(2). Interestingly, when an equimolar mixture of H(2)O(2) and H(2)(18)O(2) is used, only unlabeled and doubly labeled 2a/b are formed, showing that its two oxo ligands come from the same H(2)O(2) molecule. All these experiments lead to attribute the formula [Mn(III)Mn(IV)(L)(O)(2)(OAc)](+) to 2a and to 3a the formula [Mn(II)Mn(III)(L)(O)(OAc)](+). Freeze-quench/EPR experiments revealed that 2a appears at 500 ms and that another species with a 6-line spectrum is formed transiently at ca. 100 ms. 2a was prepared by reaction of 1a with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as shown by EPR and UV-visible spectroscopies and ESI-MS experiments. Its structure was studied by X-ray absorption experiments which revealed the presence of two or three O atoms at 1.87 A and three or two N/O atoms at 2.14 A. In addition one N atom was found at a longer distance (2.3 A) and one Mn at 2.63 A. 2a can be one-electron oxidized at E(1/2) = 0.91 V(NHE) (DeltaE(1/2) = 0.08 V) leading to its Mn(IV)Mn(IV) analogue. The formation of 2a from 1a was monitored by UV-visible and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Both concur to show that an intermediate Mn(II)Mn(III) species, resembling 4a [Mn(2)(L)(OAc)(2)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2), the one-electron-oxidized form of 1a, is formed initially and transforms into 2a. The structures of the active intermediates 2 and 3 are discussed in light of their spectroscopic properties, and potential mechanisms are considered and discussed in the context of the biological reaction.

Outer sphere mutagenesis of Lactobacillus plantarum manganese catalase disrupts the cluster core. Mechanistic implications

X-ray crystallography of the nonheme manganese catalase from Lactobacillus plantarum (LPC) [Barynin, V.V., Whittaker, M.M., Antonyuk, S.V., Lamzin, V.S., Harrison, P.M., Artymiuk, P.J. & Whittaker, J.W. (2001) Structure9, 725-738] has revealed the structure of the dimanganese redox cluster together with its protein environment. The oxidized [Mn(III)Mn(III)] cluster is bridged by two solvent molecules (oxo and hydroxo, respectively) together with a micro 1,3 bridging glutamate carboxylate and is embedded in a web of hydrogen bonds involving an outer sphere tyrosine residue (Tyr42). A novel homologous expression system has been developed for production of active recombinant LPC and Tyr42 has been replaced by phenylalanine using site-directed mutagenesis. Spectroscopic and structural studies indicate that disruption of the hydrogen-bonded web significantly perturbs the active site in Y42F LPC, breaking one of the solvent bridges and generating an 'open' form of the dimanganese cluster. Two of the metal ligands adopt alternate conformations in the crystal structure, both conformers having a broken solvent bridge in the dimanganese core. The oxidized Y42F LPC exhibits strong optical absorption characteristic of high spin Mn(III) in low symmetry and lower coordination number. MCD and EPR measurements provide complementary information defining a ferromagnetically coupled electronic ground state for a cluster containing a single solvent bridge, in contrast to the diamagnetic ground state found for the native cluster containing a pair of solvent bridges. Y42F LPC has less than 5% of the catalase activity and much higher Km for H2O2 ( approximately 1.4 m) at neutral pH than WT LPC, although the activity is slightly restored at high pH where the cluster is converted to a diamagnetic form. These studies provide new insight into the contribution of the outer sphere tyrosine to the stability of the dimanganese cluster and the role of the solvent bridges in catalysis by dimanganese catalases.

Fluoride and organic weak acids as modulators of microbial physiology

Fluoride is widely used as an anticaries agent in drinking water and a variety of other vehicles. This use has resulted in major health benefits. However, there are still open questions regarding the mechanisms of anticaries action and the importance of antimicrobial effects in caries reduction. Fluoride acts in multiple ways to affect the metabolism of cariogenic and other bacteria in the mouth. F(-)/HF can bind directly to many enzymes, for example, heme-containing enzymes or other metalloenzymes, to modulate metabolism. Fluoride is able also to form complexes with metals such as aluminum or beryllium, and the complexes, notably AlF(4)(-) and BeF(3)(-).H(2)O, can mimic phosphate with either positive or negative effects on a variety of enzymes and regulatory phosphatases. The fluoride action that appears to be most important for glycolytic inhibition at low pH in dental plaque bacteria derives from its weak-acid properties (pK(a)=3.15) and the capacity of HF to act as a transmembrane proton conductor. Since many of the actions of fluoride are related to its weak-acid character, it is reasonable to compare fluoride action to those of organic weak acids, including metabolic acids, food preservatives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and fatty acids, all of which act to de-energize the cell membrane by discharging DeltapH. Moreover, with the realization that the biofilm state is the common lifestyle for most microorganisms in nature, there is need to consider interactions of fluoride and organic weak acids with biofilm communities. Hopefully, this review will stimulate interest in the antimicrobial effects of fluoride or other weak acids and lead to more effective use of the agents for disease control and other applications.

Preparation of highly efficient manganese catalase mimics

The series of compounds [Mn(bpia)(mu-OAc)](2)(ClO(4))(2) (1), [Mn(2)(bpia)(2)(muO)(mu-OAc)](ClO(4))(3).CH(3)CN (2), [Mn(bpia)(mu-O)](2)(ClO(4))(2)(PF(6)).2CH(3)CN (3), [Mn(bpia)(Cl)(2)](ClO)(4) (4), and [(Mn(bpia)(Cl))(2)(mu-O)](ClO(4))(2).2CH(3)CN (5) (bpia = bis(picolyl)(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)amine) represents a structural, spectroscopic, and functional model system for manganese catalases. Compounds 3 and 5 have been synthesized from 2 via bulk electrolysis and ligand exchange, respectively. All complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and by UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies. The different bridging ligands including the rare mono-mu-oxo and mono-mu-oxo-mono-mu-carboxylato motifs lead to a variation of the Mn-Mn separation across the four binuclear compounds of 1.50 A (Mn(2)(II,II) = 4.128 A, Mn(2)(III,III) = 3.5326 and 3.2533 A, Mn(2)(III,IV) = 2.624 A). Complexes 1, 2, and 3 are mimics for the Mn(2)(II,II), the Mn(2)(III,III), and the Mn(2)(III,IV) oxidation states of the native enzyme. UV-vis spectra of these compounds show similarities to those of the corresponding oxidation states of manganese catalase from Thermus thermophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum. Compound 2 exhibits a rare example of a Jahn-Teller compression. While complexes 1 and 3 are efficient catalysts for the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide and contain an N(4)O(2) donor set, 4 and 5 show no catalase activity. These complexes have an N(4)Cl(2) and N(4)OCl donor set, respectively, and serve as mimics for halide inhibited manganese catalases. Cyclovoltammetric data show that the substitution of oxygen donor atoms with chloride causes a shift of redox potentials to more positive values. To our knowledge, complex 1 is the most efficient binuclear functional manganese catalase mimic exhibiting saturation kinetics to date.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the manganese catalase gene from Thermoleophilum album NM

The manganese catalase gene (mnct) from Thermoleophilum album NM, a thermophilic bacterium, was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was analyzed. The gene consists of 885 bp (65.4% GC content) encoding 294 amino acids with a molecular mass of 32,500 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence shows similarities to those of Thermus species strain YS 8-13 (a thermophilic bacterium) and Bacillus halodurans (an alkaliphilic bacterium) with 61 and 54% identities, respectively.

Crystal structure of manganese catalase from Lactobacillus plantarum

BACKGROUND

Catalases are important antioxidant metalloenzymes that catalyze disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide, forming dioxygen and water. Two families of catalases are known, one having a heme cofactor, and the other, a structurally distinct family containing nonheme manganese. We have solved the structure of the mesophilic manganese catalase from Lactobacillus plantarum and its azide-inhibited complex.

RESULTS

The crystal structure of the native enzyme has been solved at 1.8 A resolution by molecular replacement, and the azide complex of the native protein has been solved at 1.4 A resolution. The hexameric structure of the holoenzyme is stabilized by extensive intersubunit contacts, including a beta zipper and a structural calcium ion crosslinking neighboring subunits. Each subunit contains a dimanganese active site, accessed by a single substrate channel lined by charged residues. The manganese ions are linked by a mu1,3-bridging glutamate carboxylate and two mu-bridging solvent oxygens that electronically couple the metal centers. The active site region includes two residues (Arg147 and Glu178) that appear to be unique to the Lactobacillus plantarum catalase.

CONCLUSIONS

A comparison of L. plantarum and T. thermophilus catalase structures reveals the existence of two distinct structural classes, differing in monomer design and the organization of their active sites, within the manganese catalase family. These differences have important implications for catalysis and may reflect distinct biological functions for the two enzymes, with the L. plantarum enzyme serving as a catalase, while the T. thermophilus enzyme may function as a catalase/peroxidase.

Oxidation state dependence of the geometry, electronic structure, and magnetic coupling in mixed oxo- and carboxylato-bridged manganese dimers

Approximate density functional theory has been used to investigate changes in the geometry and electronic structure of the mixed oxo- and carboxylato-bridged dimers [Mn(2)(mu-O)(2)(O(2)CH)(NH(3))(6)](n+)and [Mn(2)(mu-O)(O(2)CH)(2)(NH(3))(6)](n+)in the Mn(IV)Mn(IV), Mn(III)Mn(IV), and Mn(III)Mn(III) oxidation states. The magnetic coupling in the dimer is profoundly affected by changes in both the bridging ligands and Mn oxidation state. In particular, change in the bridging structure has a dramatic effect on the nature of the Jahn-Teller distortion observed for the Mn(III) centers in the III/III and III/IV dimers. The principal magnetic interactions in [Mn(2)(mu-O)(2)(O(2)CH)(NH(3))(6)](n+)() involve the J(xz/xz)and J(yz/yz) pathways but due to the tilt of the Mn(2)O(2) core, they are less efficient than in the planar di-mu-oxo structure and, consequently, the calculated exchange coupling constants are generally smaller. In both the III/III and III/IV dimers, the Mn(III) centers are high-spin, and the Jahn-Teller effect gives rise to axially elongated Mn(III) geometries with the distortion axis along the Mn-O(c) bonds. In the III/IV dimer, the tilt of the Mn(2)O(2) core enhances the crossed exchange J(x)()()2(-)(y)()()2(/)(z)()()2 pathway relative to the planar di-mu-oxo counterpart, leading to significant delocalization of the odd electron. Since this delocalization pathway partially converts the Mn(IV) ion into low-spin Mn(III), the magnetic exchange in the ground state can be considered to arise from two interacting spin ladders, one is the result of coupling between Mn(IV) (S = 3/2) and high-spin Mn(III) (S = 2), the other is the result of coupling between Mn(IV) (S = 3/2) and low-spin Mn(III) (S = 1). In [Mn(2)(mu-O)(O(2)CH)(2)(NH(3))(6)](n+)(), both the III/III dimer and the lowest energy structure for the III/IV dimer involve high-spin Mn(III), but the Jahn-Teller axis is now orientated along the Mn-oxo bond, giving rise to axially compressed Mn(III) geometries with long Mn-O(c) equatorial bonds. In the IV/IV dimer, the ferromagnetic crossed exchange J(yz)()(/)(z)()()2 pathway partially cancels J(yz/yz) and, as a consequence, the antiferromagnetic J(xz/xz) pathway dominates the magnetic coupling. In the III/III dimer, the J(yz/yz) pathway is minimized due to the smaller Mn-O-Mn angle, and since the ferromagnetic J(yz)()(/)(z)()()2 pathway largely negates J(xz/xz), relatively weak overall antiferromagnetic coupling results. In the III/IV dimer, the structures involving high-spin and low-spin Mn(III) are almost degenerate. In the high-spin case, the odd electron is localized on the Mn(III) center, and the resulting antiferromagnetic coupling is similar to that found for the IV/IV dimer. In the alternative low-spin structure, the odd electron is significantly delocalized due to the crossed J(yz)()(/)(z)()()2 pathway, and cancellation between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic pathways leads to overall weak magnetic coupling. The delocalization partially converts the Mn(IV) ion into high-spin Mn(III), and consequently, the spin ladders arising from coupling of Mn(IV) (S = 3/2) with high-spin (S = 2) and low-spin (S = 1) Mn(III) are configurationally mixed. Thus, in principle, the ground-state magnetic coupling in the mixed-valence dimer will involve contributions from three spin-ladders, two associated with the delocalized low-spin structure and the third arising from the localized high-spin structure.

Interaction of nitric oxide with the oxygen evolving complex of photosystem II and manganese catalase: a comparative study

We compare the interaction of nitric oxide with the S states of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II and the dinuclear Mn cluster of Thermus thermophilus catalase. Flash fluorescence studies indicate that the S3 state of the OEC in the presence of ca. 0.6 mM NO is reduced to the S1 with an apparent halftime of ca. 0.4 s at about 18 degrees C, compared with a biphasic decay, with approximate halftimes of 28 s for S3 to S2 and 140 s for S2 to S1 in the absence of NO. Under similar conditions the S2 state is reduced by NO to the S1 state with an approximate halftime of 2 s. These results extend a recent study indicating a slow reduction of the S1 state at -30 degrees C, via the S0 and S(-1) states, to a Mn(II)-Mn(III) state resembling the corresponding state in catalase. The reductive mode of action of NO is repeated with the di-Mn cluster of catalase: the Mn(III)-Mn(III) redox state is reduced to the Mn(II)-Mn(II) state via the intermediate Mn(II)-Mn(III) state. The kinetics of this reduction suggest a decreasing reduction potential with decreasing oxidation state, similar to what is observed with the active states of the OEC. What is unique about the OEC is the rapid interaction of NO with the S3 state of the OEC, which is compatible with a metalloradical character of this state.