The cytochrome c domain of dimeric cytochrome cd(1) of Paracoccus pantotrophus can be produced at high levels as a monomeric holoprotein using an improved c-type cytochrome expression system in Escherichia coli

A Biochemical Deconstruction-Based Strategy to Assist the Characterization of Bacterial Electric Conductive Filaments

Periplasmic nanowires and electric conductive filaments made of the polymeric assembly of c-type cytochromes from Geobacter sulfurreducens bacterium are crucial for electron storage and/or extracellular electron transfer. The elucidation of the redox properties of each heme is fundamental to the understanding of the electron transfer mechanisms in these systems, which first requires the specific assignment of the heme NMR signals. The high number of hemes and the molecular weight of the nanowires dramatically decrease the spectral resolution and make this assignment extremely complex or unattainable. The nanowire cytochrome GSU1996 (~42 kDa) is composed of four domains (A to D) each containing three c-type heme groups. In this work, the individual domains (A to D), bi-domains (AB, CD) and full-length nanowire were separately produced at natural abundance. Sufficient protein expression was obtained for domains C (~11 kDa/three hemes) and D (~10 kDa/three hemes), as well as for bi-domain CD (~21 kDa/six hemes). Using 2D-NMR experiments, the assignment of the heme proton NMR signals for domains C and D was obtained and then used to guide the assignment of the corresponding signals in the hexaheme bi-domain CD. This new biochemical deconstruction-based procedure, using nanowire GSU1996 as a model, establishes a new strategy to functionally characterize large multiheme cytochromes.

Cytochrome C with peroxidase-like activity encapsulated inside the small DPS protein nanocage

Nature utilizes self-assembled protein-based structures as subcellular compartments in prokaryotes to sequester catalysts for specialized biochemical reactions. These protein cage structures provide unique isolated environments for the encapsulated enzymes. Understanding these systems is useful in the bioinspired design of synthetic catalytic organelle-like nanomaterials. The DNA binding protein from starved cells (Dps), isolated from Sulfolobus solfataricus, is a 9 nm dodecameric protein cage making it the smallest known naturally occurring protein cage. It is naturally over-expressed in response to oxidative stress. The small size, natural biodistribution to the kidney, and ability to cross the glomerular filtration barrier in in vivo experiments highlight its potential as a synthetic antioxidant. Cytochrome C (CytC) is a small heme protein with peroxidase-like activity involved in the electron transport chain and also plays a critical role in cellular apoptosis. Here we report the encapsulation of CytC inside the 5 nm interior cavity of Dps and demonstrate the catalytic activity of the resultant Dps nanocage with enhanced antioxidant behavior. The small cavity can accommodate a single CytC and this was achieved through self-assembly of chimeric cages comprising Dps subunits and a Dps subunit to which the CytC was fused. For selective isolation of CytC containing Dps cages, we utilized engineered polyhistidine tag present only on the enzyme fused Dps subunits (6His-Dps-CytC). The catalytic activity of encapsulated CytC was studied using guaiacol and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as two different peroxidase substrates and compared to the free (unencapsulated) CytC activity. The encapsulated CytC showed better pH dependent catalytic activity compared to free enzyme and provides a proof-of-concept model to engineer these small protein cages for their potential as catalytic nanoreactors.

DynaFace: Discrimination between Obligatory and Non-obligatory Protein-Protein Interactions Based on the Complex's Dynamics

Protein-protein interfaces have been evolutionarily-designed to enable transduction between the interacting proteins. Thus, we hypothesize that analysis of the dynamics of the complex can reveal details about the nature of the interaction, and in particular whether it is obligatory, i.e., persists throughout the entire lifetime of the proteins, or not. Indeed, normal mode analysis, using the Gaussian network model, shows that for the most part obligatory and non-obligatory complexes differ in their decomposition into dynamic domains, i.e., the mobile elements of the protein complex. The dynamic domains of obligatory complexes often mix segments from the interacting chains, and the hinges between them do not overlap with the interface between the chains. In contrast, in non-obligatory complexes the interface often hinges between dynamic domains, held together through few anchor residues on one side of the interface that interact with their counterpart grooves in the other end. In automatic analysis, 117 of 139 obligatory (84.2%) and 203 of 246 non-obligatory (82.5%) complexes are correctly classified by our method: DynaFace. We further use DynaFace to predict obligatory and non-obligatory interactions among a set of 300 putative protein complexes. DynaFace is available at: http://safir.prc.boun.edu.tr/dynaface.

Expression of recombinant cytochromes c in E. coli

Answering questions about proteins' structures and functions in the new era of systems biology and genomics requires the development of new methods for heterologous production of numerous proteins from newly sequenced genomes. Cytochromes c - electron transfer proteins carrying one or more hemes covalently bound to the polypeptide chain - are one of the most recalcitrant classes of proteins with respect to heterologous expression because post-translational incorporation of hemes is required for proper folding and stability. However, significant advances in expression of recombinant cytochromes c have been made during the last decade. It has been shown that a single gene cluster, ccmA-H, is responsible for cytochrome c maturation in Escherichia coli under anaerobic conditions and that constitutive co-expression of this cluster under aerobic conditions is sufficient to provide heme incorporation in many different types of cytochromes c, regardless of their origin, as long as the nascent polypeptide is translocated to the periplasm. Using conditions that result in sub-maximal protein induction can dramatically increase the yield of mature protein. The intrinsic peroxidase activity of hemes can be used as a highly selective and sensitive detection method of mature cytochromes in samples resolved by gel electrophoresis.

Structure of a novel dodecaheme cytochrome c from Geobacter sulfurreducens reveals an extended 12 nm protein with interacting hemes

Multiheme cytochromes c are important in electron transfer pathways in reduction of both soluble and insoluble Fe(III) by Geobacter sulfurreducens. We determined the crystal structure at 3.2Å resolution of the first dodecaheme cytochrome c (GSU1996) along with its N-terminal and C-terminal hexaheme fragments at 2.6 and 2.15Å resolution, respectively. The macroscopic reduction potentials of the full-length protein and its fragments were measured. The sequence of GSU1996 can be divided into four c(7)-type domains (A, B, C and D) with homology to triheme cytochromes c(7). In cytochromes c(7) all three hemes are bis-His coordinated, whereas in c(7)-type domains the last heme is His-Met coordinated. The full-length GSU1996 has a 12nm long crescent shaped structure with the 12 hemes arranged along a polypeptide to form a "nanowire" of hemes; it has a modular structure. Surprisingly, while the C-terminal half of the protein consists of two separate c(7)-type domains (C and D) connected by a small linker, the N-terminal half of the protein has two c(7)-type domains (A and B) that form one structural unit. This is also observed in the AB fragment. There is an unexpected interaction between the hemes at the interface of domains A and B, which form a heme-pair with nearly parallel stacking of their porphyrin rings. The hemes adjacent to each other throughout the protein are within van der Waals distance which enables efficient electron exchange between them. For the first time, the structural details of c(7)-type domains from one multiheme protein were compared.

Structural characterization of a family of cytochromes c(7) involved in Fe(III) respiration by Geobacter sulfurreducens

Periplasmic cytochromes c(7) are important in electron transfer pathway(s) in Fe(III) respiration by Geobacter sulfurreducens. The genome of G. sulfurreducens encodes a family of five 10-kDa, three-heme cytochromes c(7). The sequence identity between the five proteins (designated PpcA, PpcB, PpcC, PpcD, and PpcE) varies between 45% and 77%. Here, we report the high-resolution structures of PpcC, PpcD, and PpcE determined by X-ray diffraction. This new information made it possible to compare the sequences and structures of the entire family. The triheme cores are largely conserved but are not identical. We observed changes, due to different crystal packing, in the relative positions of the hemes between two molecules in the crystal. The overall protein fold of the cytochromes is similar. The structure of PpcD differs most from that of the other homologs, which is not obvious from the sequence comparisons of the family. Interestingly, PpcD is the only cytochrome c(7) within the family that has higher abundance when G. sulfurreducens is grown on insoluble Fe(III) oxide compared to ferric citrate. The structures have the highest degree of conservation around "heme IV"; the protein surface around this heme is positively charged in all of the proteins, and therefore all cytochromes c(7) could interact with similar molecules involving this region. The structures and surface characteristics of the proteins near the other two hemes, "heme I" and "heme III", differ within the family. The above observations suggest that each of the five cytochromes c(7) could interact with its own redox partner via an interface involving the regions of heme I and/or heme III; this provides a possible rationalization for the existence of five similar proteins in G. sulfurreducens.

Structural insights into the modulation of the redox properties of two Geobacter sulfurreducens homologous triheme cytochromes

The redox properties of a periplasmic triheme cytochrome, PpcB from Geobacter sulfurreducens, were studied by NMR and visible spectroscopy. The structure of PpcB was determined by X-ray diffraction. PpcB is homologous to PpcA (77% sequence identity), which mediates cytoplasmic electron transfer to extracellular acceptors and is crucial in the bioenergetic metabolism of Geobacter spp. The heme core structure of PpcB in solution, probed by 2D-NMR, was compared to that of PpcA. The results showed that the heme core structures of PpcB and PpcA in solution are similar, in contrast to their crystal structures where the heme cores of the two proteins differ from each other. NMR redox titrations were carried out for both proteins and the order of oxidation of the heme groups was determined. The microscopic properties of PpcB and PpcA redox centers showed important differences: (i) the order in which hemes become oxidized is III-I-IV for PpcB, as opposed to I-IV-III for PpcA; (ii) the redox-Bohr effect is also different in the two proteins. The different redox features observed between PpcB and PpcA suggest that each protein uniquely modulates the properties of their co-factors to assure effectiveness in their respective metabolic pathways. The origins of the observed differences are discussed.

Isotopic labeling of c-type multiheme cytochromes overexpressed in E. coli

Progresses made in bacterial genome sequencing show a remarkable profusion of multiheme c-type cytochromes in many bacteria, highlighting the importance of these proteins in different cellular events. However, the characterization of multiheme cytochromes has been significantly retarded by the numerous experimental challenges encountered by researchers who attempt to overexpress these proteins, especially if isotopic labeling is required. Here we describe a methodology for isotopic labeling of multiheme cytochromes c overexpressed in Escherichia coli, using the triheme cytochrome PpcA from Geobacter sulfurreducens as a model protein. By combining different strategies previously described and using E. coli cells containing the gene coding for PpcA and the cytochrome c maturation gene cluster, an experimental labeling methodology was developed that is based on two major aspects: (i) use of a two-step culture growth procedure, where cell growth in rich media was followed by transfer to minimal media containing (15)N-labeled ammonium chloride, and (ii) incorporation of the heme precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid in minimal culture media. The yields of labeled protein obtained were comparable to those obtained for expression of PpcA in rich media. Proper protein folding and labeling were confirmed by UV-visible and NMR spectroscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a recombinant multiheme cytochrome labeling and it represents a major breakthrough for functional and structural studies of multiheme cytochromes.

Redox-linked structural changes associated with the formation of a catalytically competent form of the diheme cytochrome c peroxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A recombinant form of the prototypic diheme bacterial cytochrome c peroxidase (BCCP) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsaCCP) has been expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. This material was used to carry out the first integrated biochemical, spectroscopic and structural investigation of the factors leading to reductive activation of this class of enzymes. A single, tightly bound, Ca2+ ion (K = 3 x 10(10) M-1) found at the domain interface of both the fully oxidized and mixed-valence forms of the enzyme is absolutely required for catalytic activity. Reduction of the electron-transferring (high-potential) heme in the presence of Ca2+ ions triggers substantial structural rearrangements around the active-site (low-potential) heme to allow substrate binding and catalysis. The enzyme also forms a mixed-valence state in the absence of Ca2+ ions, but a combination of electronic absorption, and EPR spectroscopies suggests that under these circumstances the low potential heme remains six-coordinate, unable to bind substrate and therefore catalytically inactive. Our observations strongly suggest that the two mixed-valence forms of native PsaCCP reported previously by Foote and colleagues (Foote, N., Peterson, J., Gadsby, P., Greenwood, C., and Thomson, A. (1985) Biochem. J. 230, 227-237) correspond to the Ca2+-loaded and -depleted forms of the enzyme.

Characterization of a c-type heme-containing PAS sensor domain from Geobacter sulfurreducens representing a novel family of periplasmic sensors in Geobacteraceae and other bacteria

Geobacter sulfurreducens encodes one of the largest numbers of proteins annotated as parts of the two-component signal transduction and/or chemotaxis pathways. Ten of these signal transducers have homologous periplasmic sensor domains that contain the sequence signature for c-type hemes. One such sensor domain encoded by gene GSU0303 was isolated and characterized. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and was isolated as two colored species (green and red). The green species is a monomer of the sensor domain with a five-coordinated high-spin heme and the red species is probably a noncovalent dimer of the sensor domain which might have an uncharacterized ligand bound to the dimer. The UV-VIS spectrum of the green species indicates that it has a c'-type heme, but its structure is predicted to be homologous to CitA, a periplasmic PAS domain that does not contain heme. The GSU0303 sensor domain represents a previously unreported family of PAS-type periplasmic sensor domains that contain c-type hemes; these proteins could be part of an important mechanism for sensing redox potential or small ligands in the periplasm. Homologs to the sensor domains we identified in G. sulfurreducens are observed in various bacteria although they occur in larger numbers in the Geobacteraceae.

Heterologous expression of dodecaheme “nanowire” cytochromes c from Geobacter sulfurreducens

Multiheme cytochromes c are difficult to produce in heterologous systems. The genome of delta-proteobacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens contains more than a hundred genes coding for c-type cytochromes. Among those are two dodecaheme cytochromes c representing a new class of multiheme cytochromes, whose putative structure is a one-dimensional array of small highly homologous domains that contain three hemes and are covalently bound by short linkers. They are likely to form "nanowires" that are part of the electron transfer chain. We cloned the genes coding for the two cytochromes into a vector we developed for ligation-independent cloning of proteins targeted to the Escherichia coli periplasmic space. We expressed the proteins in E. coli co-transformed with a plasmid harboring the cytochrome c maturation genes. Expression levels were optimized by varying IPTG concentrations used for induction. Although both proteins appeared insoluble or strongly associated with cell membranes, they were solubilized using 0.5 M sodium chloride which was more selective than conventional solubilizing agents, such as HEGA-10 or beta-octylglucoside. The solubilized proteins were dialyzed and purified by cation exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration. Mass-spectrometry analysis confirmed that both purified proteins contained the complete set of covalently attached hemes, 12 per molecule. Their visible spectra were typical of c-type cytochromes. Both proteins were successfully crystallized.

Heterologous expression of hexaheme fragments of a multidomain cytochrome from Geobacter sulfurreducens representing a novel class of cytochromes c

Multiheme cytochromes c are of great interest for researchers for a variety of reasons but difficult to obtain in quantities sufficient for the majority of studies. The genome of delta-proteobacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens contains more than a hundred genes coding for c-type cytochromes. Three of them represent a new class of multiheme cytochromes characterized by a mixed type of heme coordination and multidomain organization. We cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli three hexaheme fragments corresponding to two-domain fragments of one such protein containing 12 heme binding motifs and believed to consist of four triheme domains. Despite high sequence similarity among the fragments, expression levels varied significantly. Expression was optimized either by host strain variation or by reducing the rate of apoprotein synthesis. All three fragments were purified by cation exchange followed by gel filtration and were shown to contain six covalently attached hemes as confirmed by mass spectrometry. Their visible spectra are typical of c-type cytochromes. One of the fragments was crystallized and its preliminary X-ray structure shows two separate domains.

The enigma of Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome cd1 activation

Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase is isolated under aerobic conditions from anaerobically grown cells in an inactive form. This state requires reductive activation to make it catalytically competent for nitrite reduction. In this work, we discuss the methods of this reductive activation and its consequences for the cell.

Overproduction of CcmABCDEFGH restores cytochrome c maturation in a DsbD deletion strain of E. coli: another route for reductant?

The multidomain transmembrane protein DsbD is essential for cytochrome c maturation (Ccm) in Escherichia coli and transports reductant to the otherwise oxidising environment of the bacterial periplasm. The Ccm proteins ABCDEFGH are also essential and we show that the overproduction of these proteins can unexpectedly complement for the absence of DsbD in a deletion strain by partially restoring the production of an exogenous c-type cytochrome under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This suggests that one or more of the Ccm proteins can provide reductant to the periplasm. The Ccm proteins do not, however, restore the normal disulfide mis-isomerisation phenotype of the deletion strain, as shown by assay of the multidisulfide-bonded enzyme urokinase.

Paracoccus pantotrophusNapC can reductively activate cytochromecd1nitrite reductase

The oxidized "as isolated" form of Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase has a bis-histidinyl coordinated c heme and a histidine/tyrosine coordinated d1 heme. This form of the enzyme has previously been shown to be kinetically incompetent. Upon reduction, the coordination of both hemes changes and the enzyme is kinetically activated. Here, we show that P. pantotrophus NapC, a tetraheme c-type cytochrome belonging to a large family of such proteins, is capable of reducing, and hence activating, "as isolated" cytochrome cd1. NapC is the first protein from P. pantotrophus identified as being capable of this activation step and, given the periplasmic co-location and co-expression of the two proteins, is a strong candidate to be a physiological activation partner.

A cytochrome c from a lupanine-transforming Pseudomonas putida strain is expressed in Escherichia coli during aerobic cultivation and efficiently exported and assembled in the periplasm

We have cloned, sequenced, and heterologously expressed a periplasmic cytochrome c from a lupanine-utilizing Pseudomonas putida strain. Aerobic batch cultivation of Escherichia coli TB1 harboring the cytochrome c gene placed downstream of the lac promoter in pUC9 vector resulted in significant production of the holo-cytochrome c in the periplasm ( approximately 4 mg of hemoprotein/liter of culture). The recombinant cytochrome c was purified to homogeneity and was found to be functional in accepting electrons from lupanine hydroxylase while catalyzing hydroxylation of lupanine. Comparison of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the isolated cytochrome c with that deduced from the DNA sequence indicated that the signal sequence was processed at the bond position predicted by the SigPep program. The molecular size of the cytochrome c determined by electrospray mass spectrometry (9,595) was in precise agreement with that predicted from the nucleotide sequence.

Structure and kinetic properties of Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase with the d1 heme active site ligand tyrosine 25 replaced by serine

The 1.4-A crystal structure of the oxidized state of a Y25S variant of cytochrome cd(1) nitrite reductase from Paracoccus pantotrophus is described. It shows that loss of Tyr(25), a ligand via its hydroxy group to the iron of the d(1) heme in the oxidized (as prepared) wild-type enzyme, does not result in a switch at the c heme of the unusual bishistidinyl coordination to the histidine/methionine coordination seen in other conformations of the enzyme. The Ser(25) side chain is seen in two positions in the d(1) heme pocket with relative occupancies of approximately 7:3, but in neither case is the hydroxy group bound to the iron atom; instead, a sulfate ion from the crystallization solution is bound between the Ser(25) side chain and the heme iron. Unlike the wild-type enzyme, the Y25S mutant is active as a reductase toward nitrite, oxygen, and hydroxylamine without a reductive activation step. It is concluded that Tyr(25) is not essential for catalysis of reduction of any substrate, but that the requirement for activation by reduction of the wild-type enzyme is related to a requirement to drive the dissociation of this residue from the active site. The Y25S protein retains the d(1) heme less well than the wild-type protein, suggesting that the tyrosine residue has a role in stabilizing the binding of this cofactor.

Identification of two domains and distal histidine ligands to the four haems in the bacterial c-type cytochrome NapC; the prototype connector between quinol/quinone and periplasmic oxido-reductases

NapC is a tetra-haem member of a family of bacterial membrane-anchored multi-haem c -type cytochromes implicated in electron transfer between membrane quinols and periplasmic enzymes. The water-soluble tetra-haem fragment of Paracoccus pantotrophus NapC has been expressed as a periplasmic protein (NapC(sol)) in Paracoccus denitrificans, P. pantotrophus and Escherichia coli. Site-specific mutagenesis of NapC(sol), combined with spectroscopic studies, suggests that each haem iron centre has bis -histidinyl co-ordination. Four proximal ligands arise from each of four Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-His haem-binding motifs; candidates for the four distal ligands are His(81), His(99), His(174) and His(194). NapC(H81A), NapC(H99A), NapC(H174A) and NapC(H194A) mutants (with alanine substituted for each of the four candidate residues) have all been purified from E. coli. In each case, one of the haems has become high-spin, as judged by the presence of a broad absorption band between 620 nm and 650 nm for the oxidized cytochrome; this feature is absent for wild-type protein and presumably arises because of the absence of the distal histidine ligand from one of the haems. NapC(H81A) and NapC(H174A) are less well expressed in E. coli than NapC(H99A) and NapC(H194A) and cannot be detected when expressed in P. denitrificans or P. pantotrophus. In vitro and in vivo complementation studies demonstrate that the soluble periplasmic NapC can mediate electron transfer from quinols to the periplasmic nitrate reductase. This capacity was retained in vitro with the NapC(H99A) and NapC(H194A) mutants but was lost in vivo. A model for the structural organization of NapC(sol) into two domains, each containing a di-haem pair, is proposed. In this model, each haem pair obtains one distal haem ligand from its own domain and a second from the other domain. The suggestion of two domains is supported by observations that the 24 kDa NapC(sol) cleaves to yield a 12 kDa haem-staining band. Determination of the cleavage site showed it was between two equally sized di-haem domains predicted from sequence analysis.

A system for the heterologous expression of complex redox proteins in Rhodobacter capsulatus: characterisation of recombinant sulphite:cytochrome c oxidoreductase from Starkeya novella

The phototrophic purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus expresses a wide variety of complex redox proteins in response to changing environmental conditions. Here we report the construction and evaluation of an expression system for recombinant proteins in that organism which makes use of the dor promoter from the same organism. A generic expression vector, pDorEX, was constructed and used to express sulphite:cytochrome c oxidoreductase from Starkeya novella, a heterodimeric protein containing both molybdenum and haem c. The recombinant protein was secreted to the periplasm and its biochemical properties were very similar to those of the native enzyme. The pDorEX system therefore seems to be potentially useful for heterologous expression of multi-subunit proteins containing complex redox cofactors.

The cytochrome complex SoxXA of Paracoccus pantotrophus is produced in Escherichia coli and functional in the reconstituted sulfur-oxidizing enzyme system

The heterodimeric c-type cytochrome complex SoxXA of Paracoccus pantotrophus was produced in Escherichia coli. The soxX and soxA genes, separated by two genes in the sox gene cluster of P. pantotrophus, were fused with ribosome binding sites optimal for E. coli and combined to give soxXA in pRD133.27. The cytochrome complex SoxXA was produced in E. coli M15 containing pRD133.27, pREP4 encoding the Lac repressor and plasmid pEC86, carrying essential cytochrome c maturation genes. SoxX and SoxA were formed in a ratio of about 2.5:1. SoxA appeared to be unstable when not complexed with SoxX. The cytochrome complex SoxXA, purified to homogeneity from periplasmic extracts of E. coli M15 (pRD133.27, pREP4, pEC86), exhibited identical biochemical and biophysical properties as compared to SoxXA of P. pantotrophus. Moreover, this cytochrome complex was shown to be equally catalytically active with respect to rates and reactivity with different sulfur substrates in the reconstituted sulfur-oxidizing enzyme system using homogeneous Sox-proteins of P. pantotrophus. Homogeneous SoxX was catalytically inactive.

Production and preliminary characterization of a recombinant triheme cytochrome c(7) from Geobacter sulfurreducens in Escherichia coli

Multiheme cytochromes c have been found in a number of sulfate- and metal ion-reducing bacteria. Geobacter sulfurreducens is one of a family of microorganisms that oxidize organic compounds, with Fe(III) oxide as the terminal electron acceptor. A triheme 9.6 kDa cytochrome c(7) from G. sulfurreducens is a part of the metal ion reduction pathway. We cloned the gene for cytochrome c(7) and expressed it in Escherichia coli together with the cytochrome c maturation gene cluster, ccmABCDEFGH, on a separate plasmid. We designed two constructs, with and without an N-terminal His-tag. The untagged version provided a good yield (up to 6 mg/l of aerobic culture) of the fully matured protein, with all three hemes attached, while the N-terminal His-tag appeared to be detrimental for proper heme incorporation. The recombinant protein (untagged) is properly folded, it has the same molecular weight and displays the same absorption spectra, both in reduced and in oxidized forms, as the protein isolated from G. sulfurreducens and it is capable of reducing metal ions in vitro. The shape parameters for the recombinant cytochrome c(7) determined by small angle X-ray scattering are in good agreement with the ones calculated from a homologous cytochrome c(7) of known structure.

Cytochrome cd1, reductive activation and kinetic analysis of a multifunctional respiratory enzyme

Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome cd(1) is an enzyme of bacterial respiration, capable of using nitrite in vivo and also hydroxylamine and oxygen in vitro as electron acceptors. We present a comprehensive analysis of the steady state kinetic properties of the enzyme with each electron acceptor and three electron donors, pseudoazurin and cytochrome c(550), both physiological, and the non-physiological horse heart cytochrome c. At pH 5.8, optimal for nitrite reduction, the enzyme has a turnover number up to 121 s(-1) per d(1) heme, significantly higher than previously observed for any cytochrome cd(1). Pre-activation of the enzyme via reduction is necessary to establish full catalytic competence with any of the electron donor proteins. There is no significant kinetic distinction between the alternative physiological electron donors in any respect, providing support for the concept of pseudospecificity, in which proteins with substantially different tertiary structures can transfer electrons to the same acceptor. A low level hydroxylamine disproportionase activity that may be an intrinsic property of cytochromes c is also reported. Important implications for the enzymology of P. pantotrophus cytochrome cd(1) are discussed and proposals are made about the mechanism of reduction of nitrite, based on new observations placed in the context of recent rapid reaction studies.