Use of 1H longitudinal relaxation times in the solution structure of paramagnetic proteins. Application to [4Fe-4S] proteins

Paramagnetic NMR Spectroscopy Is a Tool to Address Reactivity, Structure, and Protein–Protein Interactions of Metalloproteins: The Case of Iron–Sulfur Proteins

The study of cellular machineries responsible for the iron–sulfur (Fe–S) cluster biogenesis has led to the identification of a large number of proteins, whose importance for life is documented by an increasing number of diseases linked to them. The labile nature of Fe–S clusters and the transient protein–protein interactions, occurring during the various steps of the maturation process, make their structural characterization in solution particularly difficult. Paramagnetic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been used for decades to characterize chemical composition, magnetic coupling, and the electronic structure of Fe–S clusters in proteins; it represents, therefore, a powerful tool to study the protein–protein interaction networks of proteins involving into iron–sulfur cluster biogenesis. The optimization of the various NMR experiments with respect to the hyperfine interaction will be summarized here in the form of a protocol; recently developed experiments for measuring longitudinal and transverse nuclear relaxation rates in highly paramagnetic systems will be also reviewed. Finally, we will address the use of extrinsic paramagnetic centers covalently bound to diamagnetic proteins, which contributed over the last twenty years to promote the applications of paramagnetic NMR well beyond the structural biology of metalloproteins.

Neuroprotective alpha-cleavage of the human prion protein significantly impacts Cu(ii) coordination at its His111 site

Alpha-cleavage proteolytic processing of human prion protein significantly impacts its Cu(ii) coordination properties at the His111 site.

Copper Coordination Features of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide: The Type 2 Diabetes Peptide

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is the major component of amyloid deposits found in pancreatic β-cells of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Copper ions have an inhibitory effect on the amyloid aggregation of hIAPP, and they may play a role in the etiology of T2D. However, deeper knowledge of the structural details of the copper-hIAPP interaction is required to understand the molecular mechanisms involved. Here, we performed a spectroscopic study of Cu(II) binding to hIAPP and several variants, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electronic absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) in the UV-vis region in combination with Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) and density functional theory geometry optimizations. We find that Cu(II) binds to the imidazole N1 of His18, the deprotonated amides of Ser19 and Ser20, and an oxygen-based ligand provided by Ser20, either via its hydroxyl group or its backbone carbonyl, while Asn22 might also play a role as an axial ligand. Ser20 plays a crucial role in stabilizing Cu(II) coordination toward the C-terminal, providing a potential link between the S20G mutation associated with early onset of T2D, its impact in Cu binding properties, and hIAPP amyloid aggregation. Our study defines the nature of the coordination environment in the Cu(II)-hIAPP complex, revealing that the amino acid residues involved in metal ion binding are also key residues for the formation of β-sheet structures and amyloid fibrils. Cu(II) binding to hIAPP may lead to the coexistence of more than one coordination mode, which in turn could favor different sets of Cu-induced conformational ensembles. Cu-induced hIAPP conformers would display a higher energetic barrier to form amyloid fibrils, hence explaining the inhibitory effect of Cu ions in hIAPP aggregation. Overall, this study provides further structural insights into the bioinorganic chemistry of T2D.

Accurate structure and dynamics of the metal-site of paramagnetic metalloproteins from NMR parameters using natural bond orbitals

A natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of unpaired electron spin density in metalloproteins is presented, which allows a fast and robust calculation of paramagnetic NMR parameters. Approximately 90% of the unpaired electron spin density occupies metal–ligand NBOs, allowing the majority of the density to be modeled by only a few NBOs that reflect the chemical bonding environment. We show that the paramagnetic relaxation rate of protons can be calculated accurately using only the metal–ligand NBOs and that these rates are in good agreement with corresponding rates measured experimentally. This holds, in particular, for protons of ligand residues where the point-dipole approximation breaks down. To describe the paramagnetic relaxation of heavy nuclei, also the electron spin density in the local orbitals must be taken into account. Geometric distance restraints for ¹⁵N can be derived from the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement and the Fermi contact shift when local NBOs are included in the analysis. Thus, the NBO approach allows us to include experimental paramagnetic NMR parameters of ¹⁵N nuclei as restraints in a structure optimization protocol. We performed a molecular dynamics simulation and structure determination of oxidized rubredoxin using the experimentally obtained paramagnetic NMR parameters of ¹⁵N. The corresponding structures obtained are in good agreement with the crystal structure of rubredoxin. Thus, the NBO approach allows an accurate description of the geometric structure and the dynamics of metalloproteins, when NMR parameters are available of nuclei in the immediate vicinity of the metal-site.

Bioinorganic chemistry of Parkinson's disease: structural determinants for the copper-mediated amyloid formation of alpha-synuclein

The aggregation of alpha-synuclein (AS) is a critical step in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). A central, unresolved question in the pathophysiology of PD relates to the role of AS-metal interactions in amyloid fibril formation and neurodegeneration. Our previous works established a hierarchy in alpha-synuclein-metal ion interactions, where Cu(II) binds specifically to the protein and triggers its aggregation under conditions that might be relevant for the development of PD. Two independent, non-interacting copper-binding sites were identified at the N-terminal region of AS, with significant difference in their affinities for the metal ion. In this work we have solved unknown details related to the structural binding specificity and aggregation enhancement mediated by Cu(II). The high-resolution structural characterization of the highest affinity N-terminus AS-Cu(II) complex is reported here. Through the measurement of AS aggregation kinetics we proved conclusively that the copper-enhanced AS amyloid formation is a direct consequence of the formation of the AS-Cu(II) complex at the highest affinity binding site. The kinetic behavior was not influenced by the His residue at position 50, arguing against an active role for this residue in the structural and biological events involved in the mechanism of copper-mediated AS aggregation. These new findings are central to elucidate the mechanism through which the metal ion participates in the fibrillization of AS and represent relevant progress in the understanding of the bioinorganic chemistry of PD.

Heteronuclear and homonuclear Cu2+ and Zn2+ complexes with multihistidine peptides based on zebrafish prion-like protein

The homeostasis of metal ions, especially copper and zinc, is a major factor that may influence the prion diseases and the biological function of prion protein (PrP). The His-rich regions are basic sites for metal binding and antioxidant activity of the PrP structures. Animal prion-like proteins contain also His-rich domains, and their coordination chemistry may provide better insight into the chemistry and biology of PrP structures and related diseases. Herein, we report an equilibrium study on heteronuclear Zn(2+)-Cu(2+) complexes with zrel-PrP fragments from zebrafish. Potentiometric, spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric methods showed that the binding of copper is much more effective than the binding of zinc. At physiological pH, both metals bind to the histidine imidazole N donors of the studied peptides.

Structural features and oxidative stress towards plasmid DNA of apramycin copper complex

The interaction of apramycin with copper at different pH values was investigated by potentiometric titrations and EPR, UV-vis and CD spectroscopic techniques. The Cu(II)-apramycin complex prevailing at pH 6.5 was further characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Metal-proton distances derived from paramagnetic relaxation enhancements were used as restraints in a conformational search procedure in order to define the structure of the complex. Longitudinal relaxation rates were measured with the IR-COSY pulse sequence, thus solving the problems due to signal overlap. At pH 6.5 apramycin binds copper(II) with a 2 : 1 stoichiometry, through the vicinal hydroxyl and deprotonated amino groups of ring III. Plasmid DNA electrophoresis showed that the Cu(II)-apramycin complex is more active than free Cu(II) in generating strand breakages. Interestingly, this complex in the presence of ascorbic acid damages DNA with a higher yield than in the presence of H(2)O(2).

Structural and Dynamic Characterization of Copper(II) Binding of the Human Prion Protein Outside the Octarepeat Region

Human prion protein (hPrP) fragments encompassing the 91-120 region, namely hPrP92-100 (SP1), hPrP106-113 (SP2), hPrP91-120 (LP1), and hPrP91-114 (LP2), were considered for delineation of the Cu(II)-binding site(s). NMR and EPR spectroscopy results obtained from LP1 or LP2 were compared with those obtained from SP1 and SP2. The coexistence of two binding sites, one centered at His96 and the other at His111, was evidenced and ratified by ESI mass spectrometry at low and high metal:peptide ratios. While room-temperature NMR spectroscopy data were consistent with the binding site centered on His111 being approximately fourfold stronger than that centered on His96, low-temperature EPR spectroscopy results yielded evidence for the opposite trend. This disagreement, which has also occurred in the literature, was clarified by temperature-dependent molecular dynamics runs that demonstrated Met112 approaching the metal at room temperature, a process that is expected to stabilize the His111-centered binding site through hydrophobic shielding of the metal coordination sphere.

Frequency-switching inversion-recovery for severely hyperfine-shifted NMR: evidence of asymmetric electron relaxation in high-spin Co(II)

A new method for reliably measuring longitudinal relaxation rates for severely hyperfine-shifted NMR signals in aqueous solutions is presented. The method is illustrated for a well-defined cobalt tetracysteinate, with relevance to cobalt-substituted metalloproteins. The relaxation measurements are indicative of asymmetric electronic relaxation of the high-spin Co(II) ion.

1H and 13C-NMR and molecular dynamics studies of cyclosporin a interacting with magnesium(II) or cerium(III) in acetonitrile. Conformational changes and cis-trans conversion of peptide bonds

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an important drug used to prevent graft rejection in organ transplantations. Its immunosuppressive activity is related to the inhibition of T-cell activation through binding with the proteins Cyclophilin (Cyp) and, subsequently, Calcineurin (CN). In the complex with its target (Cyp), CsA adopts a conformation with all trans peptide bonds and this feature is very important for its pharmacological action. Unfortunately, CsA can cause several side effects, and it can favor the excretion of calcium and magnesium. To evaluate the possible role of conformational effects induced by these two metal ions in the action mechanism of CsA, its complexes with Mg(II) and Ce(III) (the latter as a paramagnetic probe for calcium) have been examined by two-dimensional NMR and relaxation rate analysis. The conformations of the two complexes and of the free form have been determined by restrained molecular dynamics calculations based on the experimentally obtained metal-proton and interproton distances. The findings here ratify the formation of 1:1 complexes of CsA with both Mg(II) and Ce(III), with metal coordination taking place on carbonyl oxygens and substantially altering the peptide structure with respect to the free form, although the residues involved and the resulting conformational changes, including cis-trans conversion of peptide bonds, are different for the two metals.

Interaction of the human prion PrP(106-126) sequence with copper(II), manganese(II), and zinc(II): NMR and EPR studies

The synthetic peptide encompassing residues 106-126 (PrP106-126, KTNMKHMAGAAAAGAVVGGLG) of the human prion protein was considered for its binding properties toward copper(II), manganese(II) and zinc(II) at pH 5.7. 1H and 13C 1D spectra, 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates, and 1H-15N and 1H-13C HSQC 2D experiments were obtained in the absence and in the presence of metal ions. While Zn(II) was found to yield negligible effects upon any NMR parameter, metal-peptide association was demonstrated by the paramagnetic effects of Cu(II) and Mn(II) upon 1D and 2D spectra. Delineation of structures of metal complexes was sought by interpreting the paramagnetic effect on 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates. Exchange of peptide molecules from the metal coordination sphere was shown to provide sizable contribution to the observed relaxation rates. Such contribution was calculated in the case of Cu(II); whereas the faster paramagnetic rates of peptide molecules bound to Mn(II) were determining spin-lattice relaxation rates almost exclusively dominated by exchange. Proton-metal distances were therefore evaluated in the case of the Cu(II) complex only and used as restraints in molecular dynamics calculations where from the structure of the complex was obtained. The peptide was shown to bind copper through the imidazole nitrogen and the ionized amide nitrogen of His-111 and the amino-terminal group with the terminal carboxyl stabilizing the coordination sphere through ionic interactions. The data were interpreted as to demonstrate that the hydrophobic C-terminal region was not affecting the copper-binding properties of the peptide and that this hydrophobic tail is left free to interact with other target molecules. As for the complex with Mn(II), qualitative information was obtained on carbonyl oxygens of Gly-124 and Leu-125, beyond the terminal Gly-126 carboxyl, being at close distance from the metal ion, that also interacts, most likely, through a hydrogen bond of metal-bound water, with the imidazole ring of His-111.

NMR studies on Cu(ii)–peptide complexes: exchange kinetics and determination of structures in solution

The interaction of copper(II) with histidine containing peptides has recently acquired renewed interest following the established link between abnormal protein behaviour in neurodegenerative processes and unpaired copper homeostasis. Five peptide sequences taken from the amyloid precursor protein and the prion protein were considered. Addition of paramagnetic Cu(II) ions to solutions of such peptides was not found to severely affect the appearance of NMR spectra, thus limiting the usual approach for structural determination. Exchange kinetics was shown to play a major role in determining the observed paramagnetic spin-lattice relaxation rates. Two independent methods were suggested for evaluating the exchange rates of His-containing peptides from the copper-coordination sphere and to calculate copper-proton distances. In such a way NMR was demonstrated to have the potential of providing detailed structures of the Cu(II)-peptide complexes in solution.

Strategy for the study of paramagnetic proteins with slow electronic relaxation rates by nmr spectroscopy: application to oxidized human [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin

NMR studies of paramagnetic proteins are hampered by the rapid relaxation of nuclei near the paramagnetic center, which prevents the application of conventional methods to investigations of the most interesting regions of such molecules. This problem is particularly acute in systems with slow electronic relaxation rates. We present a strategy that can be used with a protein with slow electronic relaxation to identify and assign resonances from nuclei near the paramagnetic center. Oxidized human [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin (adrenodoxin) was used to test the approach. The strategy involves six steps: (1) NMR signals from (1)H, (13)C, and (15)N nuclei unaffected or minimally affected by paramagnetic effects are assigned by standard multinuclear two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) spectroscopic methods with protein samples labeled uniformly with (13)C and (15)N. (2) The very broad, hyperfine-shifted signals from carbons in the residues that ligate the metal center are classified by amino acid and atom type by selective (13)C labeling and one-dimensional (1D) (13)C NMR spectroscopy. (3) Spin systems involving carbons near the paramagnetic center that are broadened but not hyperfine-shifted are elucidated by (13)C[(13)C] constant time correlation spectroscopy (CT-COSY). (4) Signals from amide nitrogens affected by the paramagnetic center are assigned to amino acid type by selective (15)N labeling and 1D (15)N NMR spectroscopy. (5) Sequence-specific assignments of these carbon and nitrogen signals are determined by 1D (13)C[(15)N] difference decoupling experiments. (6) Signals from (1)H nuclei in these spin systems are assigned by paramagnetic-optimized 2D and 3D (1)H[(13)C] experiments. For oxidized human ferredoxin, this strategy led to assignments (to amino acid and atom type) for 88% of the carbons in the [2Fe-2S] cluster-binding loops (residues 43-58 and 89-94). These included complete carbon spin-system assignments for eight of the 22 residues and partial assignments for each of the others. Sequence-specific assignments were determined for the backbone (15)N signals from nine of the 22 residues and ambiguous assignments for five of the others.

Determination of the electron relaxation rates in paramagnetic metal complexes: applicability of available NMR methods

Four different approaches for determining the electron relaxation rates in paramagnetic metallo-proteins are investigated, using a paramagnetic Ni2+ complex of a protein as an example. All four approaches rely on the determination of the longitudinal paramagnetic relaxation enhancements, R1p, of the 1H nuclei and the backbone 15N nuclei. Three of the methods utilize the field dependence of the R1p rates. It is found that the applicability of each of these methods depends on whether the fast-motion condition, omegaS2tau2<<1, applies to the electron relaxation, omegaS being the Larmor frequency of the electron spin S and tau the correlation time of the electron relaxation. If the fast-motion condition is fulfilled, the electron relaxation rate can be obtained from the ratio of the R1p rates of one or more protons at two magnetic field strengths (method A). On the other hand, if the fast-motion condition does not apply, more elaborate methods must be used that, in general, require a determination of the R1p rates over a larger range of magnetic field strengths (method C). However, in the case of paramagnetic metal ions with relatively slow electron relaxation rates only two magnetic field strengths suffice, if the R1p rates of a hetero nucleus are included in the analysis (method B). In the fourth method (method D), the electron relaxation is estimated as a parameter in a structure calculation, using distance constraints derived from proton R1p rates at only one magnetic field strength. In general, only methods B and C give unambiguous electron relaxation rates.

Mapping the Electronic Structure of the Blue Copper Site in Plastocyanin by NMR Relaxation

The biological function of metalloproteins stems from the electronic and geometric structures of their active sites. Thus, in blue copper proteins such as plastocyanins, an unusual electronic structure of the metal site is believed to contribute to the rapid, long-range electron-transfer reactivity that characterizes these proteins. To clarify this structure-function relationship, numerous quantum chemical calculations of the electronic structure of the blue copper proteins have been made. However, the obtained structures depend strongly on the applied model. Experimental approaches based on ENDOR spectroscopy and X-ray absorption have also been used to elucidate the electronic structure of the blue copper site. Still, the determination of the electronic structure relies on a calibration with quantum chemical calculations, performed on small model complexes. Here we present an approach that allows a direct experimental mapping of the electron spin delocalization in paramagnetic metalloproteins using oxidized plastocyanin from Anabaena variabilis as an example. The approach utilizes the longitudinal paramagnetic relaxation of protons close to the metal site and relies on the dependence of these relaxations on the spatial distribution of the unpaired electron of the metal ion. Surprisingly it is found that the unpaired electron of the copper ion in plastocyanin is less delocalized than predicted by most of the quantum chemical calculations.

Identification of a novel high affinity copper binding site in the APP(145–155) fragment of amyloid precursor protein

The copper(II) binding features of the APP(145-155) and APP(145-157) fragments of the amyloid precursor protein, Ac-Glu-Thr-His-Leu-His-Trp-His-Thr-Val-Ala-Lys-NH2 and Ac-Glu-Thr-His-Leu-His-Trp-His-Thr-Val-Ala-Lys-Glu-Thr-NH2 were studied by NMR spectroscopy and NMR findings were supported by UV-vis, CD and EPR spectra. Potentiometric measurements were performed only for the more soluble Ac-Glu-Thr-His-Leu-His-Trp-His-Thr-Val-Ala-Lys-Glu-Thr-NH2 peptide fragment. The following was shown: (i) the imidazole rings of all the three His residues are involved in metal coordination; (ii) metal binding induces ionisation of Leu-148 and His-149 amide nitrogens that complete the donor set to copper(II) in the species dominant at neutral pH; (iii) the unusual coordination scheme of the His-Xxx-His-Xxx-His consensus sequence justifies the high specificity for Cu(II) when compared to SOD-like or albumin-like peptides or even in amyloid Abeta fragments. The present findings may represent the key for interpreting the observed requirement of His residues conservation for the redox cycling between Cu(II) and Cu(I) by soluble APP.

NMR and EPR structural delineation of copper(ii) complexes formed by kanamycin A in water

The complexes formed by kanamycin A at three different pH values (5.5, 7.4 and 12.0) were investigated by NMR and EPR spectroscopy. Paramagnetic relaxation contributions to proton relaxation rates were measured using a combination of the TOCSY sequence with the inversion recovery experiment in order to gain signal resolution in the bulk region. Measured contributions were converted into distances and used for structural determination by restrained simulated annealing where all possible chair and boat conformations of the rings were taken into account. The interaction of the Cu(II) ion with the nitrogen of the C ring is apparent at all pH values. At higher pH also the amino group of ring A starts to be involved in the metal coordination sphere. This is accompanied by a switch in conformation of ring C. Structures are consistent with the involvement in the coordination sphere either of the 2' or 4' hydroxyl oxygens at pH 5.5 and the 5 and the 6' hydroxyl oxygens (or the ring oxygen) at pH 12.0.

Detection of short-lived transient protein-protein interactions by intermolecular nuclear paramagnetic relaxation: plastocyanin from Anabaena variabilis

An NMR approach is presented that provides detailed information about short-lived, transient interactions between protein molecules in solution. The approach is based on the longitudinal paramagnetic relaxation rates of the protein nuclei and requires that at least one of the interacting molecules is paramagnetic. The specific interactions are monitored by the intermolecular paramagnetic contribution to the relaxation of protons at or close to the interaction surface. By applying the approach to plastocyanin from Anabaena variabilis, specific regions of interaction that may be involved in the electron self-exchange process of this plastocyanin were identified. This is in accord with recent 15N NMR relaxation studies of the backbone dynamics of Anabaena variabilis plastocyanin, with site-directed mutagenesis studies of the functional importance of the corresponding regions in Phormidium laminosum plastocyanin and with the crystal packing surface of P. laminosum plastocyanin.

HiPIP in Rubrivivax gelatinosus is firmly associated to the membrane in a conformation efficient for electron transfer towards the photosynthetic reaction centre

High potential iron-sulfur protein (HiPIP), a small soluble redox protein, has been shown to serve in vivo as electron donor to the photosynthetic reaction centre (RC) in Rubrivivax gelatinosus [Biochemistry 34 (1995) 11736]. The results of time-resolved optical spectroscopy on membrane-fragments from this organism indicates that the photooxidized RC is re-reduced by HiPIP even in the absence of the soluble fraction. This implies that a significant fraction of HiPIP can firmly bind to the membrane in a conformation able to interact with the RCs. Salt treatment of the membrane-fragments abolishes these re-reduction kinetics, demonstrating the presence of HiPIP on the membrane due to association with the RC rather than due to simple trapping in hypothetical chromatophores. The existence of such a functional complex in membranes is confirmed and its structure further examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) performed on membrane-fragments. Orientation-dependent EPR spectra of HiPIP were recorded on partially ordered membranes, oxidized either chemically or photochemically. Whereas hardly any preferential orientation of the HiPIP was seen in the chemically oxidised sample, a subpopulation of HiPIP showing specific orientations could be photooxidised. This fraction arises from the electron transfer complex between HiPIP and the RC.

Electron transfer in ferredoxin: are tunneling pathways evolutionarily conserved?

A theoretical study of electron transfer (ET) pathways in a recently crystallized Clostridium acidurici ferredoxin is reported. The electronic structure of the protein complex is treated at the semiempirical extended Hückel level, and the tunneling pathways are calculated with the rigorous quantum mechanical method of tunneling currents. The model predicts two pathways between the two [4Fe-4S] cubanes: a strong one running directly from Cys(14) to Cys(43) and a weaker one from Cys(14) via Ile(23) to Cys(18), whereas other amino acids do not play a significant role in the electron tunneling. The cysteine ligands conduct almost all of the current when Ile(23) is mutated to valine in silico, so that there is no appreciable change in the ET rate. The calculated value of the transfer matrix element is consistent with the experimentally determined rate of transfer. Results of the sequence analysis performed on this ferredoxin reveal that Ile(23) is a highly variable amino acid compared with the cubane-ligating cysteine amino acids, even though Ile(23) lies directly between the donor and acceptor complexes. We further argue that the homologous proteins with a [3Fe-4S] cofactor, which does not have one of the four cysteine ligands, use the same tunneling pathways as those in this ferredoxin, on the basis of the high homology as well as the absolute conservation of Cys(14) and Cys(43) which serve as the main tunneling conduit. Our results explain why mutation of amino acids around and between the donor and acceptor cubane clusters, including that of Ile(23), does not appreciably affect the rate of transfer and add support to the proposal that there exist evolutionarily conserved electron tunneling pathways in biological ET reactions.

Paramagnetic 1H NMR spectroscopy of the reduced, unbound photosystem I subunit PsaC: sequence-specific assignment of contact-shifted resonances and identification of mixed- and equal-valence Fe-Fe pairs in [4Fe-4S] centers FA- and FB-

The PsaC subunit of Photosystem I (PS I) is a 9.3-kDa protein that binds two important cofactors in photosynthetic electron transfer: the [4Fe-4S] clusters FA and FB. The g-tensor orientation of FA- and FB- is believed to be correlated to the preferential localization of the mixed-valence and equal-valence (ferrous) iron pairs in each [4Fe-4S]+ cluster. The preferential position of the mixed-valence and equal-valence pairs, in turn. can be inferred from the study of the temperature dependence of contact-shifted resonances by 1H NMR spectroscopy. For this, a sequence-specific assignment of these signals is required. The 1H NMR spectrum of reduced, unbound PsaC from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 at 280.4 K in 99% D2O solution shows 18 hyperfine-shifted resonances. The non-solvent-exchangeable, hyperfine-shifted resonances of reduced PsaC are clearly identified as belonging to the cysteines coordinating the clusters FA- and FB- by their downfield chemical shifts, by their temperature dependencies, and by their short T1 relaxation times. The usual fast method of assigning the 1H NMR spectra of reduced [4Fe-4S] proteins through magnetization transfer from the oxidized to the reduced state was not feasible in the case of reduced PsaC. Therefore, a de novo self-consistent sequence-specific assignment of the hyperfine-shifted resonances was obtained based on dipolar connectivities from 1D NOE difference spectra and on longitudinal relaxation times using the X-ray structure of Clostridium acidi urici 2[4Fe-4S] cluster ferredoxin at 0.94 A resolution as a model. The results clearly show the same sequence-specific distribution of Curie and anti-Curie cysteines for unbound, reduced PsaC as established for other [4Fe-4S]-containing proteins; therefore, the mixed-valence and equal-valence (ferrous) Fe-Fe pairs in FA- and FB- have the same preferential positions relative to the protein. The analysis reveals that the magnetic properties of the two [4Fe-4S] clusters are essentially indistinguishable in unbound PsaC, in contrast to the PsaC that is bound as a component of the PS I complex.

Electron transfer properties of iron-sulfur proteins

The details of most electron transfer reactions involving iron-sulfur proteins have remained undisclosed because of the lack of experimental methods suitable to measure precisely the relevant rates. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides a powerful means to overcome these problems, at least with selected proteins. A combination of NMR studies and site-directed mutagenesis experiments has been instrumental in defining both the site of interaction and the main trends of the intracomplex electron transfer in the case of rubredoxin electron self-exchange. Analysis of the NMR data obtained for mixtures of different redox levels of several 2[4Fe-4S] ferredoxins provided both first-order, for intramolecular, and second-order, for intermolecular, rate constants. Their dependence as a function of structural changes gave insight into the mechanism of electron transfer in this type of protein. Contrary to some expectations, the high-spin [4Fe-4Se]+ clusters assembled in isopotential ferredoxins do not change the intramolecular electron transfer rate as compared to low-spin [4Fe-4S]+ homologs. In combination with activity measurements, the kinetic data have been used to model the electron transfer competent complexes between Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin and the main enzymes acting as redox partners in vivo.

Measurement of relaxation rates of N(H) and H(alpha) backbone protons in proteins with tailored initial conditions

Several methods are presented for the selective determination of spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation rates of backbone protons in labeled proteins. The relaxation rates of amide protons in (15)N labeled proteins can be measured by using two-way selective cross-polarization (SCP). The measurement of H(alpha) relaxation rates can be achieved by combining this method with homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn transfer using doubly selective irradiation. Various schemes for selective or nonselective inversion of the longitudinal proton magnetization lead to different initial recovery rates. The methods have been applied to lysine K6 in (15)N-labeled human ubiquitin and to leucine L5 in (15)N- and (13)C-labeled octapeptide YG*G*F*LRRI (GFL) in which the marked residues are (15)N- and (13)C-labeled.

PASE (PAramagnetic signals enhancement): a new method for NMR study of paramagnetic proteins

A new method for NMR spectra acquisition of paramagnetic proteins is described, based on the simple use of homonuclear broadband decoupling of the diamagnetic region. Several advantages are associated with this method which was applied to one-dimensional spectra, to 1D NOE-difference spectroscopy, and to 2D NOESY. The main advantage is a very flat baseline obtained using the PASE (paramagnetic signals enhancement) method. Furthermore, the bulky region of the diamagnetic protons being suppressed, clean NOE-difference spectra can be acquired as well as improved 2D NOESY maps. Applications on 1D 1H spectrum of bovine liver catalase (MW 230,000), and 1D and 2D on the high-spin form of the myoglobin, used as a model protein, are presented.

Determination of the structure of oxidised Desulfovibrio africanus ferredoxin I by 1H NMR spectroscopy and comparison of its solution structure with its crystal structure

The solution structure of the 64 amino acid Fe4S4 ferredoxin I from Desulfovibrio africanus has been determined using two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. Sequence-specific assignments were obtained for 59 amino acid residues and the structure determined with the program DIANA on the basis of 549 nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) upper distance limits, and four dihedral angle and 52 distance constraints for the Fe4S4 cluster. The NMR structure was refined using the simulated annealing and energy minimisation protocols of the program X-PLOR to yield a final family of 19 structures selected on the basis of good covalent geometry and minimal restraint violations. The r.m.s.d. values to the average structure for this family are 0.49(+/-0.07) A and 0.94(+/-0.09) A for the backbone and heavy-atoms of residues 3 to 62, respectively. The NMR structure has been compared to the previously reported X-ray structures for the two molecules within the asymmetric unit of the crystal, which have a network of seven hydrogen bonds between them. This intermolecular interface, involving residues 38, 40 to 43 and 46, has the same conformation in the solution structures showing that the crystal packing does not perturb the structure. There are three regions in which the NMR and X-ray structures differ: around the cluster, a turn involving residues 8 to 10, and a loop involving residues 29 to 32. In the family of solution structures the backbone of the loop region incorporating residues 29 to 32 is well-defined whilst in both of the X-ray molecules it is ill-defined. The small differences between the X-ray and NMR structures for the cluster environment and the turn between residues 8 to 10 probably reflects a lack of NMR constraints. The observation of relatively rapid amide NH hydrogen exchange of NH groups close to the cluster, together with rapid flipping for Phe25, which is also close to the cluster, indicates that the cluster environment is more dynamic than the corresponding regions of related Fe/S proteins.

1H and (13)C NMR Studies of an Oxidized HiPIP

1H-(13)C HETCOR NMR spectra have been recorded for the oxidized HiPIP I from Ectothiorhodospira halophila for which an extended (1)H assignment was available. The hyperfine shifts of the alpha and beta carbons of the coordinated cysteines, as well as those of their attached protons, have been discussed in terms of the current magnetic coupling models and of the mechanisms of spin density delocalization. Through HSQC spectra preceded by a proton 180 degrees pulse, the nonselective T(1) values of the protons have been accurately obtained. It is shown how the nuclear T(1) values can be used as constraints, together with NOEs, for solution structure determination even when the present magnetic coupling scheme occurs. The oxidized cluster is shown to have an effective relaxation time much shorter than that in the reduced state.

Solution structure of the paramagnetic complex of the N-terminal domain of calmodulin with two Ce3+ ions by 1H NMR

The solution structure of the dicerium(III) complex of the N-terminal domain of calmodulin (Ce2-TR1C hereafter) has been solved employing paramagnetic T1 relaxation enhancements and pseudocontact shifts introduced by the Ce3+ ions, together with conventional NOE constraints. The use of pseudocontact shift constraints constitutes the first attempt to locate metal ions within a protein structure by NMR. Like calcium(II), paramagnetic cerium(III) has been found to bind to the two metal binding sites of the TR1C fragment of calmodulin in a cooperative manner. Due to the presence of pseudocontact interactions between the Ce3+ ions and protons of the 76-residue protein, the 1H NMR spectra of the complex show resonances shifted between +22 and -9 ppm. Eighty percent of its proton resonances could be assigned through a standard approach using TOCSY/COSY and NOESY spectra and through 1D NOE difference spectra for the broad resonances of protons close to the paramagnetic ions. A family of structures was calculated by means of the torsion angle dynamics program DYANA [Güntert, P., Mumenthaler, C., & Wüthrich, K. (1996) XVIIthInternational Conference on Magnetic Resonance inBiological Systems (Abstract)] using 1012 NOEs. Longitudinal proton relaxation times helped to roughly define the position of the metal ions within the protein. A total of 381 pseudocontact shift constraints, whose evaluation and use are critically discussed, have then been added to further refine the metal coordinates within the protein frame and to improve the structure resolution. A dramatic resolution improvement of the metal coordinates together with a sizable resolution improvement in the regions close to the paramagnetic centers, where the number of NOEs is low, is observed. The good quality of the solution structure permitted a meaningful comparison with the solid-state structure of calcium-loaded calmodulin at 1.7 A resolution [Chattopadhyaya, R., Meador, W. E., Means, A. R., & Quiocho, F. A. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 228, 1177]. The Ce2-TR1C complex is overall more compact than the Ca form.