An EPR investigation of non-haem iron sites in Escherichia coli bacterioferritin and their interaction with phosphate. A study using nitric oxide as a spin probe

Ferritins: furnishing proteins with iron

Ferritins are a superfamily of iron oxidation, storage and mineralization proteins found throughout the animal, plant, and microbial kingdoms. The majority of ferritins consist of 24 subunits that individually fold into 4-α-helix bundles and assemble in a highly symmetric manner to form an approximately spherical protein coat around a central cavity into which an iron-containing mineral can be formed. Channels through the coat at inter-subunit contact points facilitate passage of iron ions to and from the central cavity, and intrasubunit catalytic sites, called ferroxidase centers, drive Fe²⁺ oxidation and O₂ reduction. Though the different members of the superfamily share a common structure, there is often little amino acid sequence identity between them. Even where there is a high degree of sequence identity between two ferritins there can be major differences in how the proteins handle iron. In this review we describe some of the important structural features of ferritins and their mineralized iron cores, consider how iron might be released from ferritins, and examine in detail how three selected ferritins oxidise Fe²⁺ to explore the mechanistic variations that exist amongst ferritins. We suggest that the mechanistic differences reflect differing evolutionary pressures on amino acid sequences, and that these differing pressures are a consequence of different primary functions for different ferritins.

Monitoring the iron status of the ferroxidase center of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin using fluorescence spectroscopy

Ferritins solubilize and detoxify the essential metal iron through formation of a ferric mineral within the protein's central cavity. Key to this activity is an intrasubunit catalytic dinuclear iron center called the ferroxidase center. Here we show that the fluorescence intensity of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin (BFR), due to the presence of two tryptophan residues (Trp35 and Trp133) in each of the 24 subunits, is highly sensitive to the iron status of the ferroxidase center and is quenched to different extents by Fe2+ and Fe3+. Recovery of the quench following oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ at the ferroxidase center was not observed, indicating that the di-Fe3+ form of the center is stable. Studies of the single-tryptophan variants W35F and W133F showed that Trp133, which lies approximately 10 A from the ferroxidase center, is primarily responsible for the observed fluorescence sensitivity to iron, while studies of a stable E. coli BFR subunit dimer demonstrated that the observed quench properties are principally derived from the interaction of iron with tryptophan residues within the subunit dimer. A double-tryptophan variant (W35F/W133F) was found to exhibit fluorescence from the seven tyrosine residues present in each subunit, which was also sensitive to the iron status of the ferroxidase center. Finally, we demonstrate using Zn2+, a potent competitive inhibitor of Fe2+ binding and oxidation, that the fluorescence response can be used to monitor the loss of iron from the ferroxidase center.

A highly thermostable ferritin from the hyperthermophilic archaeal anaerobe Pyrococcus furiosus

A ferritin from the obligate anaerobe and hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (optimal growth at 100 degrees C) has been cloned and overproduced in Escherichia coli to one-fourth of total cell-free extract protein, and has been purified in one step to homogeneity. The ferritin (PfFtn) is structurally similar to known bacterial and eukaryal ferritins; it is a 24-mer of 20 kDa subunits, which add up to a total Mr 480 kDa. The protein belongs to the non-heme type of ferritins. The 24-mer contains approximately 17 Fe (as isolated), 2,700 Fe (fully loaded), or <1 Fe (apoprotein). Fe-loaded protein exhibits an EPR spectrum characteristic for superparamagnetic core formation. At 25 degrees C V(max) = 25 micromole core Fe(3+) formed per min per mg protein when measured at 315 nm, and the K(0.5) = 5 mM Fe(II). At 0.3 mM Fe(II) activity increases 100-fold from 25 to 85 degrees C. The wild-type ferritin is detected in P. furiosus grown on starch. PfFtn is extremely thermostable; its activity has a half-life of 48 h at 100 degrees C and 85 min at 120 degrees C. No apparent melting temperature was found up to 120 degrees C. The extreme thermostability of PfFtn has potential value for biotechnological applications.

Core Formation in Escherichia coli Bacterioferritin Requires a Functional Ferroxidase Center

Bacterioferritin from Escherichia coli is able to accumulate large quantities of iron in the form of an inorganic iron(III) mineral core. Core formation in the wild-type protein and a number of ferroxidase center variants was studied to determine key features of the core formation process and, in particular, the role played by the ferroxidase center. Core formation rates were found to be iron(II)-dependent and also depended on the amount of iron already present in the core, indicating the importance of the core surface in the mineralization reaction. Core formation was also found to be pH-dependent in terms of both rate and iron-loading characteristics, occurring with maximum efficiency at pH 6.5. Even at this optimum pH, however, the effective iron capacity was approximately 2700 per molecule, i.e., well below the theoretical limit of approximately 4500, suggesting that competing oxidation/precipitation processes have a major influence on the amount of iron accumulated. Disruption of the ferroxidase center, by site-directed mutagenesis or by chemical inhibition with zinc(II), had a profound effect on core formation. Effective iron capacities were found to be linked to iron(II) oxidation rates, and in zinc(II)-inhibited wild-type and E18A bacterioferritins core formation was severely restricted. Zinc(II) was also able, even at low stoichiometries (12-60 ions/protein), to significantly inhibit further core formation in protein already containing a substantial core, indicating the importance of the ferroxidase center throughout the core formation process. A mechanism is proposed that incorporates essential roles for the core surface and the ferroxidase center. A central feature of this mechanism is that dioxygen cannot readily gain access to the core, perhaps because the channels through the bacterioferritin coat are hydrophilic and dioxygen is nonpolar.

The iron oxidation and hydrolysis chemistry of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin

Bacterioferritins are members of a class of spherical shell-like iron storage proteins that catalyze the oxidation and hydrolysis of iron at specific sites inside the protein shell, resulting in formation of a mineral core of hydrated ferric oxide within the protein cavity. Electrode oximetry/pH stat was used to study iron oxidation and hydrolysis chemistry in E. coli bacterioferritin. Consistent with previous UV-visible absorbance measurements, three distinct kinetic phases were detected, and the stoichiometric equations corresponding to each have been determined. The rapid phase 1 reaction corresponds to pairwise binding of 2 Fe(2+) ions at a dinuclear site, called the ferroxidase site, located within each of the 24 subunits, viz., 2Fe(2+) + P(Z) --> [Fe(2)-P](Z) + 4H(+), where P(Z) is the apoprotein of net charge Z and [Fe(2)-P](Z) represents a diferrous ferroxidase complex. The slower phase 2 reaction corresponds to the oxidation of this complex by molecular oxygen according to the net equation: [Fe(2)-P](Z) + (1)/(2)O(2) --> [Fe(2)O-P](Z) where [Fe(2)O-P](Z) represents an oxidized diferric ferroxidase complex, probably a mu-oxo-bridged species as suggested by UV-visible and EPR spectrometric titration data. The third phase corresponds to mineral core formation according to the net reaction: 4Fe(2+) + O(2) + 6H(2)O --> 4FeO(OH)((core)) + 8H(+). Iron oxidation is inhibited by the presence of Zn(2+) ions. The patterns of phase 2 and phase 3 inhibition are different, though inhibition of both phases is complete at 48 Zn(2+)per 24mer, i.e., 2 Zn(2+) per ferroxidase center.

Nitric oxide and iron proteins

Nitric oxide interactions with iron are the most important biological reactions in which NO participates. Reversible binding to ferrous haem iron is responsible for the observed activation of guanylate cyclase and inhibition of cytochrome oxidase. Unlike carbon monoxide or oxygen, NO can also bind reversibly to ferric iron. The latter reaction is responsible for the inhibition of catalase by NO. NO reacts with the oxygen adduct of ferrous haem proteins (e.g. oxyhaemoglobin) to generate nitrate and ferric haem; this reaction is responsible for the majority of NO metabolism in the vasculature. NO can also interact with iron-sulphur enzymes (e.g. aconitase, NADH dehydrogenase). This review describes the underlying kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanisms and biological role of the interactions of NO with iron species (protein and non-protein bound). The possible significance of iron reactions with reactive NO metabolites, in particular peroxynitrite and nitroxyl anion, is also discussed.

Iron storage in bacteria

Iron is an essential nutrient for nearly all organisms but presents problems of toxicity, poor solubility and low availability. These problems are alleviated through the use of iron-storage proteins. Bacteria possess two types of iron-storage protein, the haem-containing bacterioferritins and the haem-free ferritins. These proteins are widespread in bacteria, with at least 39 examples known so far in eubacteria and archaebacteria. The bacterioferritins and ferritins are distantly related but retain similar structural and functional properties. Both are composed of 24 identical or similar subunits (approximately 19 kDa) that form a roughly spherical protein (approximately 450 kDa, approximately 120 A diameter) containing a large hollow centre (approximately 80 A diameter). The hollow centre acts as an iron-storage cavity with the capacity to accommodate at least 2000 iron atoms in the form of a ferric-hydroxyphosphate core. Each subunit contains a four-helix bundle which carries the active site or ferroxidase centre of the protein. The ferroxidase centres endow ferrous-iron-oxidizing activity and are able to form a di-iron species that is an intermediate in the iron uptake, oxidation and core formation process. Bacterioferritins contain up to 12 protoporphyrin IX haem groups located at the two-fold interfaces between pairs of two-fold related subunits. The role of the haem is unknown, although it may be involved in mediating iron-core reduction and iron release. Some bacterioferritins are composed of two subunit types, one conferring haem-binding ability (alpha) and the other (beta) bestowing ferroxidase activity. Bacterioferritin genes are often adjacent to genes encoding a small [2Fe-2S]-ferredoxin (bacterioferritin-associated ferredoxin or Bfd). Bfd may directly interact with bacterioferritin and could be involved in releasing iron from (or delivering iron to) bacterioferritin or other iron complexes. Some bacteria contain two bacterioferritin subunits, or two ferritin subunits, that in most cases co-assemble. Others possess both a bacterioferritin and a ferritin, while some appear to lack any type of iron-storage protein. The reason for these differences is not understood. Studies on ferritin mutants have shown that ferritin enhances growth during iron starvation and is also involved in iron accumulation in the stationary phase of growth. The ferritin of Campylobacter jejuni is involved in redox stress resistance, although this does not appear to be the case for Escherichia coli ferritin (FtnA). No phenotype has been determined for E. coli bacterioferritin mutants and the precise role of bacterioferritin in E. coli remains uncertain.

Nitric oxide protects cardiomyocytes against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced formation of alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals and peroxidation of phosphatidylserine

We studied protective effects of nitric oxide against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage to cardiac myocytes. Two distinct free radicals species--alkoxyl radicals associated with non-heme iron catalytic sites and myoglobin protein-centered peroxyl radicals--were found in low-temperature EPR spectra of cardiac myocytes exposed to t-BuOOH. The t-BuOOH-induced radical formation was accompanied by site-specific oxidative stress in membrane phospholipids (peroxidation of phosphatidylserine) assayed by fluorescence HPLC after metabolic labeling of cell phospholipids with oxidation-sensitive cis-parinaric acid. An NO-donor, (Z)-1-[N-(3-ammonio-propyl)-N-(n-propyl) amino]-diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate], protected cardiac myocytes against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced: (i) formation of non-protein- and protein-centered free radical species and (ii) concomitant peroxidation of phosphatidylserine. Thus nitric oxide can act as an effective antioxidant in live cardiomyocytes.

Interaction of nitric oxide with non-haem iron sites of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin: reduction of nitric oxide to nitrous oxide and oxidation of iron(II) to iron(III)

The bacterioferritin (BFR) of Escherichia coli consists of 24 identical subunits, each containing a dinuclear metal-binding site consisting of two histidines and four carboxylic acid residues. Earlier studies showed that the characterization of iron binding to BFR could be aided by EPR analysis of iron-nitrosyl species resulting from the addition of NO to the protein [Le Brun, Cheesman, Andrews, Harrison, Guest, Moore and Thomson (1993) FEBS Lett. 323, 261-266]. We now report data from gas chromatographic head space analysis combined with EPR spectroscopy to show that NO is not an inert probe: iron(II)-BFR catalyses the reduction of NO to N2O, resulting in oxidation of iron(II) at the dinuclear centre and the subsequent detection of mononuclear iron(III). In the presence of excess reductant (sodium ascorbate), iron(II)-BFR also catalyses the reduction of NO to N2O, giving rise to three mononuclear iron-nitrosyl species which are detectable by EPR. One of these, a dinitrosyl-iron complex of S = 1/2, present at a maximum of one per subunit, is shown by EPR studies of site-directed variants of BFR not to be located at the dinuclear centre. This is consistent with a proposal that the diferric form of the centre is unstable and breaks down to form mononuclear iron species.

The ferritins: molecular properties, iron storage function and cellular regulation

The iron storage protein, ferritin, plays a key role in iron metabolism. Its ability to sequester the element gives ferritin the dual functions of iron detoxification and iron reserve. The importance of these functions is emphasised by ferritin's ubiquitous distribution among living species. Ferritin's three-dimensional structure is highly conserved. All ferritins have 24 protein subunits arranged in 432 symmetry to give a hollow shell with an 80 A diameter cavity capable of storing up to 4500 Fe(III) atoms as an inorganic complex. Subunits are folded as 4-helix bundles each having a fifth short helix at roughly 60 degrees to the bundle axis. Structural features of ferritins from humans, horse, bullfrog and bacteria are described: all have essentially the same architecture in spite of large variations in primary structure (amino acid sequence identities can be as low as 14%) and the presence in some bacterial ferritins of haem groups. Ferritin molecules isolated from vertebrates are composed of two types of subunit (H and L), whereas those from plants and bacteria contain only H-type chains, where 'H-type' is associated with the presence of centres catalysing the oxidation of two Fe(II) atoms. The similarity between the dinuclear iron centres of ferritin H-chains and those of ribonucleotide reductase and other proteins suggests a possible wider evolutionary linkage. A great deal of research effort is now concentrated on two aspects of ferritin: its functional mechanisms and its regulation. These form the major part of the review. Steps in iron storage within ferritin molecules consist of Fe(II) oxidation, Fe(III) migration and the nucleation and growth of the iron core mineral. H-chains are important for Fe(II) oxidation and L-chains assist in core formation. Iron mobilisation, relevant to ferritin's role as iron reserve, is also discussed. Translational regulation of mammalian ferritin synthesis in response to iron and the apparent links between iron and citrate metabolism through a single molecule with dual function are described. The molecule, when binding a [4Fe-4S] cluster, is a functioning (cytoplasmic) aconitase. When cellular iron is low, loss of the [4Fe-4S] cluster allows the molecule to bind to the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of the ferritin m-RNA and thus to repress translation. In this form it is known as the iron regulatory protein (IRP) and the stem-loop RNA structure to which it binds is the iron regulatory element (IRE). IREs are found in the 3'-UTR of the transferrin receptor and in the 5'-UTR of erythroid aminolaevulinic acid synthase, enabling tight co-ordination between cellular iron uptake and the synthesis of ferritin and haem. Degradation of ferritin could potentially lead to an increase in toxicity due to uncontrolled release of iron. Degradation within membrane-encapsulated "secondary lysosomes' may avoid this problem and this seems to be the origin of another form of storage iron known as haemosiderin. However, in certain pathological states, massive deposits of "haemosiderin' are found which do not arise directly from ferritin breakdown. Understanding the numerous inter-relationships between the various intracellular iron complexes presents a major challenge.

Iron incorporation into ferritins: evidence for the transfer of monomeric Fe(III) between ferritin molecules and for the formation of an unusual mineral in the ferritin of Escherichia coli

Iron that has been oxidized by H-chain ferritin can be transferred into other ferritin molecules before it is incorporated into mature ferrihydrite iron cores. Iron(III) dimers are formed at the ferroxidase centres of ferritin H chains at an early stage of Fe(II) oxidation. Mössbauer spectroscopic data now show that the iron is transferred as monomeric species arising from dimer dissociation and that it binds to the iron core of the acceptor ferritin. Human H-chain ferritin variants containing altered threefold channels can act as acceptors, as can the ferritin of Escherichia coli (Ec-FTN). A human H-chain ferritin variant with a substituted tyrosine (rHuHF-Y34F) can act as a donor of Fe(III). Since an Fe(III)-tyrosinate (first identified in bullfrog H-chain ferritin) is absent from variant rHuHF-Y34F, the Fe(III) transferred is not derived from this tyrosinate complex. Mössbauer parameters of the small iron cores formed within Ec-FTN are significantly different from those of mammalian ferritins. Analysis of the spectra suggests that they are derived from both ferrihydrite and non-ferrihydrite components. This provides further evidence that the ferritin protein shell can influence the structure of its iron core.

Direct observation of the iron binding sites in a ferritin

X-Ray analysis of the ferritin of Escherichia coli (Ec-FTN) and of Ec-FTN crystals soaked in (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2 has revealed the presence of three iron-binding sites per subunit. Two of these form a di-iron site in the centre of the subunit as has been proposed for the 'ferroxidase centres' of human ferritin H chains. This di-iron site, lying within the 4-alpha-helix bundle, resemble those of ribonucleotide reductase, methane monoxygenase and haemerythrin. The third iron is bound by ligands unique to Ec-FTN on the inner surface of the protein shell. It is speculated that this state may represent the nucleation centre of a novel type of Fe(III) cluster, recently observed in Ec-FTN.