The influence of X-rays on the structural studies of peroxide-derived myoglobin intermediates

Correlating Structure with Spectroscopy in Ascorbate Peroxidase Compound II

Structural and spectroscopic investigations of compound II in ascorbate peroxidase (APX) have yielded conflicting conclusions regarding the protonation state of the crucial Fe(IV) intermediate. Neutron diffraction and crystallographic data support an iron(IV)-hydroxo formulation, whereas Mössbauer, X-ray absorption (XAS), and nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) studies appear consistent with an iron(IV)-oxo species. Here we examine APX with spectroscopy-oriented QM/MM calculations and extensive exploration of the conformational space for both possible formulations of compound II. We establish that irrespective of variations in the orientation of a vicinal arginine residue and potential reorganization of proximal water molecules and hydrogen bonding, the Fe-O distances for the oxo and hydroxo forms consistently fall within distinct, narrow, and nonoverlapping ranges. The accuracy of geometric parameters is validated by coupled-cluster calculations with the domain-based local pair natural orbital approach, DLPNO-CCSD(T). QM/MM calculations of spectroscopic properties are conducted for all structural variants, encompassing Mössbauer, optical, X-ray absorption, and X-ray emission spectroscopies and NRVS. All spectroscopic observations can be assigned uniquely to an Fe(IV)═O form. A terminal hydroxy group cannot be reconciled with the spectroscopic data. Under no conditions can the Fe(IV)═O distance be sufficiently elongated to approach the crystallographically reported Fe-O distance. The latter is consistent only with a hydroxo species, either Fe(IV) or Fe(III). Our findings strongly support the Fe(IV)═O formulation of APX-II and highlight unresolved discrepancies in the nature of samples used across different experimental studies.

X-ray-induced photoreduction of heme metal centers rapidly induces active-site perturbations in a protein-independent manner

Since the advent of protein crystallography, atomic-level macromolecular structures have provided a basis to understand biological function. Enzymologists use detailed structural insights on ligand coordination, interatomic distances, and positioning of catalytic amino acids to rationalize the underlying electronic reaction mechanisms. Often the proteins in question catalyze redox reactions using metal cofactors that are explicitly intertwined with their function. In these cases, the exact nature of the coordination sphere and the oxidation state of the metal is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, the redox-active nature of metal cofactors makes them especially susceptible to photoreduction, meaning that information obtained by photoreducing X-ray sources about the environment of the cofactor is the least trustworthy part of the structure. In this work we directly compare the kinetics of photoreduction of six different heme protein crystal species by X-ray radiation. We show that a dose of ∼40 kilograys already yields 50% ferrous iron in a heme protein crystal. We also demonstrate that the kinetics of photoreduction are completely independent from variables unique to the different samples tested. The photoreduction-induced structural rearrangements around the metal cofactors have to be considered when biochemical data of ferric proteins are rationalized by constraints derived from crystal structures of reduced enzymes.

Synthetic Fe/Cu Complexes: Toward Understanding Heme-Copper Oxidase Structure and Function

Heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) are terminal enzymes on the mitochondrial or bacterial respiratory electron transport chain, which utilize a unique heterobinuclear active site to catalyze the 4H+/4e- reduction of dioxygen to water. This process involves a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) from a tyrosine (phenolic) residue and additional redox events coupled to transmembrane proton pumping and ATP synthesis. Given that HCOs are large, complex, membrane-bound enzymes, bioinspired synthetic model chemistry is a promising approach to better understand heme-Cu-mediated dioxygen reduction, including the details of proton and electron movements. This review encompasses important aspects of heme-O2 and copper-O2 (bio)chemistries as they relate to the design and interpretation of small molecule model systems and provides perspectives from fundamental coordination chemistry, which can be applied to the understanding of HCO activity. We focus on recent advancements from studies of heme-Cu models, evaluating experimental and computational results, which highlight important fundamental structure-function relationships. Finally, we provide an outlook for future potential contributions from synthetic inorganic chemistry and discuss their implications with relevance to biological O2-reduction.

Photoreduction and validation of haem-ligand intermediate states in protein crystals by in situ single-crystal spectroscopy and diffraction

Powerful synergies are available from the combination of multiple methods to study proteins in the crystalline form. Spectroscopies which probe the same region of the crystal from which X-ray crystal structures are determined can give insights into redox, ligand and spin states to complement the information gained from the electron-density maps. The correct assignment of crystal structures to the correct protein redox and ligand states is essential to avoid the misinterpretation of structural data. This is a particular concern for haem proteins, which can occupy a wide range of redox states and are exquisitely sensitive to becoming reduced by solvated electrons generated from interactions of X-rays with water molecules in the crystal. Here, single-crystal spectroscopic fingerprinting has been applied to investigate the laser photoreduction of ferric haem in cytochrome c'. Furthermore, in situ X-ray-driven generation of haem intermediates in crystals of the dye-decolourizing-type peroxidase A (DtpA) from Streptomyces lividans is described.

Structures of K42N and K42Y sperm whale myoglobins point to an inhibitory role of distal water in peroxidase activity

Sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) functions as an oxygen-storage protein, but in the ferric state it possesses a weak peroxidase activity which enables it to carry out H2O2-dependent dehalogenation reactions. Hemoglobin/dehaloperoxidase fromAmphitrite ornata(DHP) is a dual-function protein represented by two isoproteins DHP A and DHP B; its peroxidase activity is at least ten times stronger than that of Mb and plays a physiological role. The `DHP A-like' K42Y Mb mutant (K42Y) and the `DHP B-like' K42N mutant (K42N) were engineered in sperm whale Mb to mimic the extended heme environments of DHP A and DHP B, respectively. The peroxidase reaction rates increased ∼3.5-fold and ∼5.5-fold in K42Y and K42NversusMb, respectively. The crystal structures of the K42Y and K42N mutants revealed that the substitutions at position 42 slightly elongate not only the distances between the distal His55 and the heme iron but also the hydrogen-bonding distances between His55 and the Fe-coordinated water. The enhanced peroxidase activity of K42Y and K42N thus might be attributed in part to the weaker binding of the axial water molecule that competes with hydrogen peroxide for the binding site at the heme in the ferric state. This is likely to be the mechanism by which the relationship `longer distal histidine to Fe distance – better peroxidase activity', which was previously proposed for heme proteins by Matsuiet al.(1999) (J. Biol. Chem.274, 2838–2844), works. Furthermore, positive cooperativity in K42N was observed when its dehaloperoxidase activity was measured as a function of the concentration of the substrate trichlorophenol. This serendipitously engineered cooperativity was rationalized by K42N dimerization through the formation of a dityrosine bond induced by excess H2O2.

Radiation Damage of Myoglobin Crystals in Weak Stationary Electric and Magnetic Fields

Radiation damage is one of the bottlenecks in the field of structural biology. Cryo-cooling of protein crystals provided a breakthrough in the 1980s and resulted in significant reductions in radiation damage. Other factors positively influencing the progression of damage include the application of radical scavengers and reductions in the experimental beam size. Here we study the impact on radiation damage of applying static magnetic and electric fields during protein diffraction experiments, ultimately probing the Lorenz force effect on primary photoelectrons and secondary Auger electrons, which both contribute to the damage process. The design of a special mounting pin using graphene for applying electric fields on a crystalline sample is described. Analyses of myoglobin protein crystals exposed to the fields of ~40 mT and −300 V show a slower global radiation damage rate and also changes in the progression of specific damage process on the molecular level, in particular at doses extending beyond the Garman limit of 30 MGy.

Structural characterization of nitrosomonas europaea cytochrome c-552 variants with marked differences in electronic structure

Nitrosomonas europaea cytochrome c-552 (Ne c-552) variants with the same His/Met axial ligand set but with different EPR spectra have been characterized structurally, to aid understanding of how molecular structure determines heme electronic structure. Visible light absorption, Raman, and resonance Raman spectroscopy of the protein crystals was performed along with structure determination. The structures solved are those of Ne c-552, which displays a "HALS" (or highly anisotropic low-spin) EPR spectrum, and of the deletion mutant Ne N64Δ, which has a rhombic EPR spectrum. Two X-ray crystal structures of wild-type Ne c-552 are reported; one is of the protein isolated from N. europaea cells (Ne c-552n, 2.35 Å resolution), and the other is of recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli (Ne c-552r, 1.63 Å resolution). Ne N64Δ crystallized in two different space groups, and two structures are reported [monoclinic (2.1 Å resolution) and hexagonal (2.3 Å resolution)]. Comparison of the structures of the wild-type and mutant proteins reveals that heme ruffling is increased in the mutant; increased ruffling is predicted to yield a more rhombic EPR spectrum. The 2.35 Å Ne c-552n structure shows 18 molecules in the asymmetric unit; analysis of the structure is consistent with population of more than one axial Met configuration, as seen previously by NMR. Finally, the mutation was shown to yield a more hydrophobic heme pocket and to expel water molecules from near the axial Met. These structures reveal that heme pocket residue 64 plays multiple roles in regulating the axial ligand orientation and the interaction of water with the heme. These results support the hypothesis that more ruffled hemes lead to more rhombic EPR signals in cytochromes c with His/Met axial ligation.

Protein crystal microspectrophotometry

Single crystal microspectrophotometry has emerged as a valuable technique for monitoring molecular events that take place within protein crystals, thus tightly coupling structure to function. Absorption and fluorescence spectra, ligand binding affinities and kinetic constants can be determined, allowing i) the definition of the experimental conditions for X-ray crystallography experiments and their interpretation, ii) the assessment of whether crystal lattice forces have altered conformational equilibria, iii) the comparison with data obtained in solution. Microspectrophotometric measurements using oriented crystals and linearly polarized light are carried out usually off-line with respect to X-ray data collection and are aimed at an in- depth characterization of protein function in the crystal, leading to robust structure-function relationships. The power of this approach is highlighted by reporting a few case studies, including hemoglobins, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes and acetylcholinesterases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Structure and Function in the Crystalline State.

Structural biology of redox partner interactions in P450cam monooxygenase: a fresh look at an old system

The P450cam monooxygenase system consists of three separate proteins: the FAD-containing, NADH-dependent oxidoreductase (putidaredoxin reductase or Pdr), cytochrome P450cam and the 2Fe2S ferredoxin (putidaredoxin or Pdx), which transfers electrons from Pdr to P450cam. Over the past few years our lab has focused on the interaction between these redox components. It has been known for some time that Pdx can serve as an effector in addition to its electron shuttle role. The binding of Pdx to P450cam is thought to induce structural changes in the P450cam active site that couple electron transfer to substrate hydroxylation. The nature of these structural changes has remained unclear until a particular mutant of P450cam (Leu358Pro) was found to exhibit spectral perturbations similar to those observed in wild type P450cam bound to Pdx. The crystal structure of the L358P variant has provided some important insights on what might be happening when Pdx docks. In addition to these studies, many Pdx mutants have been analyzed to identify regions important for electron transfer. Somewhat surprisingly, we found that Pdx residues predicted to be at the P450cam-Pdx interface play different roles in the reduction of ferric P450cam and the ferrous P450-O(2) complex. More recently we have succeeded in obtaining the structure of a chemically cross-linked Pdr-Pdx complex. This fusion protein represents a valid model for the noncovalent Pdr-Pdx complex as it retains the redox activities of native Pdr and Pdx and supports monooxygenase reactions catalyzed by P450cam. The insights gained from these studies will be summarized in this review.

How different oxidation states of crystalline myoglobin are influenced by X-rays

X-ray induced radiation damage of protein crystals is well known to occur even at cryogenic temperatures. Redox active sites like metal sites seem especially vulnerable for these radiation-induced reductions. It is essential to know correctly the oxidation state of metal sites in protein crystal structures to be able to interpret the structure-function relation. Through previous structural studies, we have tried to characterise and understand the reactions between myoglobin and peroxides. These reaction intermediates are relevant because myoglobin is proposed to take part as scavenger of reactive oxygen species during oxidative stress, and because these intermediates are similar among the haem peroxidases and oxygenases. We have in our previous studies shown that these different myoglobin states are influenced by the X-rays used. In this study, we have in detail investigated the impact that X-rays have on these different oxidation states of myoglobin. An underlying goal has been to find a way to be able to determine mostly unreduced states. We have by using single-crystal light absorption spectroscopy found that the different oxidation states of myoglobin are to a different extent influenced by the X-rays (e.g. ferric Fe(III) myoglobin is faster reduced than ferryl Fe(IV)═O myoglobin). We observe that the higher oxidation states are not reduced to normal ferrous Fe(II) or ferric Fe(III) states, but end up in some intermediate and possibly artificial states. For ferric myoglobin, it seems that annealing of the radiation-induced/reduced state can reversibly more or less give the starting point (ferric myoglobin). Both scavengers and different dose-rates might influence to which extent the different states are affected by the X-rays. Our study shows that it is essential to do a time/dose monitoring of the influence X-rays have on each specific redox-state with spectroscopic techniques like single-crystal light absorption spectroscopy. This will determine to which extent you can collect X-ray diffraction data on your crystal before it becomes too heavily influenced/reduced by X-rays. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Structure and Function in the Crystalline State.

Crystallographic and single-crystal spectral analysis of the peroxidase ferryl intermediate

The ferryl [Fe(IV)O] intermediate is important in many heme enzymes, and thus, the precise nature of the Fe(IV)-O bond is critical in understanding enzymatic mechanisms. The 1.40 A crystal structure of cytochrome c peroxidase Compound I has been determined as a function of X-ray dose while the visible spectrum was being monitored. The Fe-O bond increases in length from 1.73 A in the low-X-ray dose structure to 1.90 A in the high-dose structure. The low-dose structure correlates well with an Fe(IV) horizontal lineO bond, while we postulate that the high-dose structure is the cryo-trapped Fe(III)-OH species previously thought to be an Fe(IV)-OH species.

Correlation between hemichrome stability and the root effect in tetrameric hemoglobins

Oxidation of Hbs leads to the formation of different forms of Fe(III) that are relevant to a range of biochemical and physiological functions. Here we report a combined EPR/x-ray crystallography study performed at acidic pH on six ferric tetrameric Hbs. Five of the Hbs were isolated from the high-Antarctic notothenioid fishes Trematomus bernacchii, Trematomus newnesi, and Gymnodraco acuticeps, and one was isolated from the sub-Antarctic notothenioid Cottoperca gobio. Our EPR analysis reveals that 1), in all of these Hbs, at acidic pH the aquomet form and two hemichromes coexist; and 2), only in the three Hbs that exhibit the Root effect is a significant amount of the pentacoordinate (5C) high-spin Fe(III) form found. The crystal structure at acidic pH of the ferric form of the Root-effect Hb from T. bernacchii is also reported at 1.7 A resolution. This structure reveals a 5C state of the heme iron for both the alpha- and beta-chains within a T quaternary structure. Altogether, the spectroscopic and crystallographic results indicate that the Root effect and hemichrome stability at acidic pH are correlated in tetrameric Hbs. Furthermore, Antarctic fish Hbs exhibit higher peroxidase activity than mammalian and temperate fish Hbs, suggesting that a partial hemichrome state in tetrameric Hbs, unlike in monomeric Hbs, does not remove the need for protection from peroxide attack, in contrast to previous results from monomeric Hbs.