Recent mechanistic developments for cytochrome c nitrite reductase, the key enzyme in the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium pathway

Cytochrome c nitrite reductase, NrfA, is a soluble, periplasmic pentaheme cytochrome responsible for the reduction of nitrite to ammonium in the Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium (DNRA) pathway, a vital reaction in the global nitrogen cycle. NrfA catalyzes this six-electron and eight-proton reduction of nitrite at a single active site with the help of its quinol oxidase partners. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in elucidating the reaction mechanism of ammonia production, including new findings about the active site architecture of NrfA, as well as recent results that elucidate electron transfer and storage in the pentaheme scaffold of this enzyme.

Effect of Oriented Electric Fields on Biologically Relevant Iron-Sulfur Clusters: Tuning Redox Reactivity for Catalysis

Enzyme-based iron-sulfur clusters, exemplified in families such as hydrogenases, nitrogenases, and radical S-adenosylmethionine enzymes, feature in many essential biological processes. The functionality of biological iron-sulfur clusters extends beyond simple electron transfer, relying primarily on the redox activity of the clusters, with a remarkable diversity for different enzymes. The active-site structure and the electrostatic environment in which the cluster resides direct this redox reactivity. Oriented electric fields in enzymatic active sites can be significantly strong, and understanding the extent of their effect on iron-sulfur cluster reactivity can inform first steps toward rationally engineering their reactivity. An extensive systematic density functional theory-based screening approach using OPBE/TZP has afforded a simple electric field-effect representation. The results demonstrate that the orientation of an external electric field of strength 28.8 MV cm^-1 at the center of the cluster can have a significant effect on its relative stability in the order of 35 kJ mol^-1. This shows clear implications for the reactivity of iron-sulfur clusters in enzymes. The results also demonstrate that the orientation of the electric field can alter the most stable broken-symmetry state, which further has implications on the directionality of initiated electron-transfer reactions. These insights open the path for manipulating the enzymatic redox reactivity of iron-sulfur cluster-containing enzymes by rationally engineering oriented electric fields within the enzymes.

Following Electroenzymatic Hydrogen Production by Rotating Ring-Disk Electrochemistry and Mass Spectrometry*

Gas-processing metalloenzymes are of interest to future bio- and bioinspired technologies. Of particular importance are hydrogenases and nitrogenases, which both produce molecular hydrogen (H₂ ) from proton (H⁺ ) reduction. Herein, we report on the use of rotating ring-disk electrochemistry (RRDE) and mass spectrometry (MS) to follow the production of H₂ and isotopes produced from deuteron (D⁺ ) reduction (HD and D₂ ) using the [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum, a model hydrogen-evolving metalloenzyme. This facilitates enzymology studies independent of non-innocent chemical reductants. We anticipate that these approaches will be of value in resolving the catalytic mechanisms of H₂ -producing metalloenzymes and the design of bioinspired catalysts for H₂ production and N₂ fixation.

Cell-based electrochemical cytosensor for rapid and sensitive evaluation of the anticancer effects of saponin on human malignant melanoma cells

Discovering new anticancer agents and analyzing their activities is a vital part of drug development, but it requires a huge amount of time and resources, leading to the increasing demands for more-effective techniques. Herein, a novel and simple cell-based electrochemical biosensor, referred to as a cytosensor, was proposed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of human skin malignant melanoma (SK-MEL28) cells and the anticancer effect of saponin on cell viability. To enhance both electrocatalytic properties and biocompatibility, gold nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited onto a conductive substrate, and poly-L-lysine was further added to the electrode surface. Electric signals from SK-MEL28 cells on the electrodes were obtained from cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The cathodic peak current was proportional to the cell viability and showed a detection range of 2,880-40,000 cells per device with an excellent linear cell number-intensity relationship (R²= 0.9952). Furthermore, the anticancer effect of saponin on SK-MEL28 cells was clearly established at concentrations higher than 20 μM, which was highly consistent with conventional assays. Moreover, the developed electrochemical cytosensor for evaluating anticancer effects enabled rapid (<2 min), sensitive (LOQ: 2,880cells/device), and non-invasive measurements, thus providing a new avenue for assessing the anticancer drugs in vitro.

Methodologies for "Wiring" Redox Proteins/Enzymes to Electrode Surfaces

The immobilization of redox proteins or enzymes onto conductive surfaces has application in the analysis of biological processes, the fabrication of biosensors, and in the development of green technologies and biochemical synthetic approaches. This review evaluates the methods through which redox proteins can be attached to electrode surfaces in a "wired" configuration, that is, one that facilitates direct electron transfer. The feasibility of simple electroactive adsorption onto a range of electrode surfaces is illustrated, with a highlight on the recent advances that have been achieved in biotechnological device construction using carbon materials and metal oxides. The covalent crosslinking strategies commonly used for the modification and biofunctionalization of electrode surfaces are also evaluated. Recent innovations in harnessing chemical biology methods for electrically wiring redox biology to surfaces are emphasized.

Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase

Understanding the chemistry of redox proteins demands methods that provide precise control over redox centers within the protein. The technique of protein film electrochemistry, in which a protein is immobilized on an electrode surface such that the electrode replaces physiological electron donors or acceptors, has provided functional insight into the redox reactions of a range of different proteins. Full chemical understanding requires electrochemical control to be combined with other techniques that can add additional structural and mechanistic insight. Here we demonstrate a technique, protein film infrared electrochemistry, which combines protein film electrochemistry with infrared spectroscopic sampling of redox proteins. The technique uses a multiple-reflection attenuated total reflectance geometry to probe a redox protein immobilized on a high surface area carbon black electrode. Incorporation of this electrode into a flow cell allows solution pH or solute concentrations to be changed during measurements. This is particularly powerful in addressing redox enzymes, where rapid catalytic turnover can be sustained and controlled at the electrode allowing spectroscopic observation of long-lived intermediate species in the catalytic mechanism. We demonstrate the technique with experiments on E. coli hydrogenase 1 under turnover (H2 oxidation) and non-turnover conditions.

Explorations of time and electrochemical potential: opportunities for fresh perspectives on signalling proteins

Apoptosis is triggered by an accumulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) produced by proteins of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The levels of ROS are controlled by the activities of mitochondrial redox proteins such as glutaredoxin 2 that help to modulate the susceptibility of a cell to apoptosis. However, once downstream events have resulted in the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, it is widely considered that cell death is inevitable. Cytochrome c may promote its own release from mitochondria through interactions with the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol). In the present article, spectroelectrochemistry of the cardiolipin complex of cytochrome c and protein film electrochemistry of glutaredoxin 2 are reviewed to illustrate how electrochemical methods provide insight into the properties of signalling proteins.

Nitrate and periplasmic nitrate reductases

The nitrate anion is a simple, abundant and relatively stable species, yet plays a significant role in global cycling of nitrogen, global climate change, and human health. Although it has been known for quite some time that nitrate is an important species environmentally, recent studies have identified potential medical applications. In this respect the nitrate anion remains an enigmatic species that promises to offer exciting science in years to come. Many bacteria readily reduce nitrate to nitrite via nitrate reductases. Classified into three distinct types--periplasmic nitrate reductase (Nap), respiratory nitrate reductase (Nar) and assimilatory nitrate reductase (Nas), they are defined by their cellular location, operon organization and active site structure. Of these, Nap proteins are the focus of this review. Despite similarities in the catalytic and spectroscopic properties Nap from different Proteobacteria are phylogenetically distinct. This review has two major sections: in the first section, nitrate in the nitrogen cycle and human health, taxonomy of nitrate reductases, assimilatory and dissimilatory nitrate reduction, cellular locations of nitrate reductases, structural and redox chemistry are discussed. The second section focuses on the features of periplasmic nitrate reductase where the catalytic subunit of the Nap and its kinetic properties, auxiliary Nap proteins, operon structure and phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

The roles of CymA in support of the respiratory flexibility of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Shewanella species are isolated from the oxic/anoxic regions of seawater and aquatic sediments where redox conditions fluctuate in time and space. Colonization of these environments is by virtue of flexible respiratory chains, many of which are notable for the ability to reduce extracellular substrates including the Fe(III) and Mn(IV) contained in oxide and phyllosilicate minerals. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 serves as a model organism to consider the biochemical basis of this flexibility. In the present paper, we summarize the various systems that serve to branch the respiratory chain of S. oneidensis MR-1 in order that electrons from quinol oxidation can be delivered the various terminal electron acceptors able to support aerobic and anaerobic growth. This serves to highlight several unanswered questions relating to the regulation of respiratory electron transport in Shewanella and the central role(s) of the tetrahaem-containing quinol dehydrogenase CymA in that process.

Multi-heme proteins: nature's electronic multi-purpose tool

While iron is often a limiting nutrient to Biology, when the element is found in the form of heme cofactors (iron protoporphyrin IX), living systems have excelled at modifying and tailoring the chemistry of the metal. In the context of proteins and enzymes, heme cofactors are increasingly found in stoichiometries greater than one, where a single protein macromolecule contains more than one heme unit. When paired or coupled together, these protein associated heme groups perform a wide variety of tasks, such as redox communication, long range electron transfer and storage of reducing/oxidizing equivalents. Here, we review recent advances in the field of multi-heme proteins, focusing on emergent properties of these complex redox proteins, and strategies found in Nature where such proteins appear to be modular and essential components of larger biochemical pathways. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Metals in Bioenergetics and Biomimetics Systems.

Direct electrochemistry of Shewanella oneidensis cytochrome c nitrite reductase: evidence of interactions across the dimeric interface

Shewanella oneidensis cytochrome c nitrite reductase (soNrfA), a dimeric enzyme that houses five c-type hemes per protomer, conducts the six-electron reduction of nitrite and the two-electron reduction of hydroxylamine. Protein film voltammetry (PFV) has been used to study the cytochrome c nitrite reductase from Escherichia coli (ecNrfA) previously, revealing catalytic reduction of both nitrite and hydroxylamine substrates by ecNrfA adsorbed to a graphite electrode that is characterized by "boosts" and attenuations in activity depending on the applied potential. Here, we use PFV to investigate the catalytic properties of soNrfA during both nitrite and hydroxylamine turnover and compare those properties to the properties of ecNrfA. Distinct differences in both the electrochemical and kinetic characteristics of soNrfA are observed; e.g., all detected electron transfer steps are one-electron in nature, contrary to what has been observed in ecNrfA [Angove, H. C., Cole, J. A., Richardson, D. J., and Butt, J. N. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 23374-23381]. Additionally, we find evidence of substrate inhibition during nitrite turnover and negative cooperativity during hydroxylamine turnover, neither of which has previously been observed in any cytochrome c nitrite reductase. Collectively, these data provide evidence that during catalysis, potential pathways of communication exist between the individual soNrfA monomers comprising the native homodimer.

Redox properties of lysine- and methionine-coordinated hemes ensure downhill electron transfer in NrfH2A4 nitrite reductase

The multiheme NrfHA nitrite reductase is a menaquinol:nitrite oxidoreductase that catalyzes the 6-electron reduction of nitrite to ammonia in a reaction that involves eight protons. X-ray crystallography of the enzyme from Desulfovibrio vulgaris revealed that the biological unit, NrfH2A4, houses 28 c-type heme groups, 22 of them with low spin and 6 with pentacoordinated high spin configuration. The high spin hemes, which are the electron entry and exit points of the complex, carry a highly unusual coordination for c-type hemes, lysine and methionine as proximal ligands in NrfA and NrfH, respectively. Employing redox titrations followed by X-band EPR spectroscopy and surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroelectrochemistry, we provide the first experimental evidence for the midpoint redox potential of the NrfH menaquinol-interacting methionine-coordinated heme (-270 ± 10 mV, z = 0.96), identified by the use of the inhibitor HQNO, a structural analogue of the physiological electron donor. The redox potential of the catalytic lysine-coordinated high spin heme of NrfA is -50 ± 10 mV, z = 0.9. These values determined for the integral NrfH2A4 complex indicate that a driving force for a downhill electron transfer is ensured in this complex.

Laue crystal structure of Shewanella oneidensis cytochrome c nitrite reductase from a high-yield expression system

The high-yield expression and purification of Shewanella oneidensis cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNiR) and its characterization by a variety of methods, notably Laue crystallography, are reported. A key component of the expression system is an artificial ccNiR gene in which the N-terminal signal peptide from the highly expressed S. oneidensis protein "small tetraheme c" replaces the wild-type signal peptide. This gene, inserted into the plasmid pHSG298 and expressed in S. oneidensis TSP-1 strain, generated approximately 20 mg crude ccNiR per liter of culture, compared with 0.5-1 mg/L for untransformed cells. Purified ccNiR has nitrite and hydroxylamine reductase activities comparable to those previously reported for Escherichia coli ccNiR, and is stable for over 2 weeks in pH 7 solution at 4 °C. UV/vis spectropotentiometric titrations and protein film voltammetry identified five independent one-electron reduction processes. Global analysis of the spectropotentiometric data also allowed determination of the extinction coefficient spectra for the five reduced ccNiR species. The characteristics of the individual extinction coefficient spectra suggest that, within each reduced species, the electrons are distributed among the various hemes, rather than being localized on specific heme centers. The purified ccNiR yielded good-quality crystals, with which the 2.59-Å-resolution structure was solved at room temperature using the Laue diffraction method. The structure is similar to that of E. coli ccNiR, except in the region where the enzyme interacts with its physiological electron donor (CymA in the case of S. oneidensis ccNiR, NrfB in the case of the E. coli protein).

Spectroscopic analysis of immobilised redox enzymes under direct electrochemical control

This article reviews recent developments in spectroscopic analysis of electrode-immobilised enzymes under direct, unmediated electrochemical control. These methods unite the suite of spectroscopic methods available for characterisation of structural, electronic and coordination changes in proteins with the exquisite control over complex redox enzymes that can be achieved in protein film electrochemistry in which immobilised protein molecules exchange electrons directly with an electrode. This combination is particularly powerful in studies of highly active enzymes where redox states can be controlled even under fast electrocatalytic turnover. We examine examples in which UV-visible, IR, Raman and MCD spectroscopy have been combined with direct electrochemistry to probe redox-dependent chemistry, and consider future opportunities for 'direct' spectroelectrochemistry of immobilised enzymes.