Tertiary structure of two-electron reduced Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin and some implications, as determined by two-dimensional 1H-NMR and restrained molecular dynamics

Structure, dynamics, and redox reactivity of an all-purpose flavodoxin

The flavodoxin of Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 (Rp9Fld) supplies highly reducing equivalents to crucial enzymes such as hydrogenase, especially when the organism is iron-restricted. By acquiring those electrons from photodriven electron flow via the bifurcating electron transfer flavoprotein, Rp9Fld provides solar power to vital metabolic processes. To understand Rp9Fld's ability to work with diverse partners, we solved its crystal structure. We observed the canonical flavodoxin (Fld) fold and features common to other long-chain Flds but not all the surface loops thought to recognize partner proteins. Moreover, some of the loops display alternative structures and dynamics. To advance studies of protein-protein associations and conformational consequences, we assigned the 19F NMR signals of all five tyrosines (Tyrs). Our electrochemical measurements show that incorporation of 3-19F-Tyr in place of Tyr has only a modest effect on Rp9Fld's redox properties even though Tyrs flank the flavin on both sides. Meanwhile, the 19F probes demonstrate the expected paramagnetic effect, with signals from nearby Tyrs becoming broadened beyond detection when the flavin semiquinone is formed. However, the temperature dependencies of chemical shifts and linewidths reveal dynamics affecting loops close to the flavin and regions that bind to partners in a variety of systems. These coincide with patterns of amino acid type conservation but not retention of specific residues, arguing against detailed specificity with respect to partners. We propose that the loops surrounding the flavin adopt altered conformations upon binding to partners and may even participate actively in electron transfer.

¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N resonance assignments of the apo and holo states of flavodoxin YqcA from Escherichia coli

Flavodoxins are a family of FMN binding proteins widely distributed in prokaryotes. They involve in various electron transfer reactions using the non-covalently bound FMN cofactor as the redox center. The Escherichia coli yqcA gene was identified to encode a short-chain favodoxin based on sequence information. However, the structure of YqcA protein is unknown and its exact biological function in cell is yet to be investigated. Herein, we report the resonance assignments of (1)H, (13)C and (15)N atoms of E. coli YqcA in both the apo and holo states.

NMR spectroscopy on flavins and flavoproteins

(1)H-, (11)B-, (13)C-, (15)N-, (17)O-, (19)F-, and (31)P-NMR chemical shifts of flavocoenzymes and derivatives of it, as well as of alloxazines and isoalloxazinium salts, from NMR experiments performed under various experimental conditions (e.g., dependence of the chemical shifts on temperature, concentration, solvent polarity, and pH) are reported. Also solid-state (13)C- and (15)N-NMR experiments are described revealing the anisotropic values of corresponding chemical shifts. These data, in combination with a number of coupling constants, led to a detailed description of the electronic structure of oxidized and reduced flavins. The data also demonstrate that the structure of oxidized flavin can assume a configuration deviating from coplanarity, depending on substitutions in the isoalloxazine ring, while that of reduced flavin exhibits several configurations, from almost planar to quite bended. The complexes formed between oxidized flavin and metal ions or organic molecules revealed three coordination sites with metal ions (depending on the chemical nature of the ion), and specific interactions between the pyrimidine moiety of flavin and organic molecules, mimicking specific interactions between apoflavoproteins and their coenzymes. Most NMR studies on flavoproteins were performed using (13)C- and (15)N-substituted coenzymes, either specifically enriched in the pterin moiety of flavin or uniformly labeled flavins. The chemical shifts of free flavins are used as a guide in the interpretation of the chemical shifts observed in flavoproteins. Although the hydrogen-bonding pattern in oxidized and reduced flavoproteins varies considerably, no correlation is obvious between these patterns and the corresponding redox potentials. In all reduced flavoproteins the N(1)H group of the flavocoenzyme is deprotonated, an exception is thioredoxin reductase. Three-dimensional structures of only a few flavoproteins, mostly belonging to the family of flavodoxins, have been solved. Also the kinetics of unfolding and refolding of flavodoxins has been investigated by NMR techniques. In addition, (31)P-NMR data of all so far studied flavoproteins and some (19)F-NMR spectra are discussed.

Reconstructing a flavodoxin oxidoreductase with early amino acids

Primitive proteins are proposed to have utilized organic cofactors more frequently than transition metals in redox reactions. Thus, an experimental validation on whether a protein constituted solely by early amino acids and an organic cofactor can perform electron transfer activity is an urgent challenge. In this paper, by substituting "late amino acids (C, F, M, T, W, and Y)" with "early amino acids (A, L, and V)" in a flavodoxin, we constructed a flavodoxin mutant and evaluated its characteristic properties. The major results showed that: (1) The flavodoxin mutant has structural characteristics similar to wild-type protein; (2) Although the semiquinone and hydroquinone flavodoxin mutants possess lower stability than the corresponding form of wild-type flavodoxin, the redox potential of double electron reduction Em,7 (fld) reached -360 mV, indicating that the flavodoxin mutant constituted solely by early amino acids can exert effective electron transfer activity.

A crystallographic study of Cys69Ala flavodoxin II from Azotobacter vinelandii: structural determinants of redox potential

Flavodoxin II from Azotobacter vinelandii is a "long-chain" flavodoxin and has one of the lowest E1 midpoint potentials found within the flavodoxin family. To better understand the relationship between structural features and redox potentials, the oxidized form of the C69A mutant of this flavodoxin was crystallized and its three-dimensional structure determined to a resolution of 2.25 A by molecular replacement. Its overall fold is similar to that of other flavodoxins, with a central five-stranded parallel beta-sheet flanked on either side by alpha-helices. An eight-residue insertion, compared with other long-chain flavodoxins, forms a short 3(10) helix preceding the start of the alpha3 helix. The flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor is flanked by a leucine on its re face instead of the more conserved tryptophan, resulting in a more solvent-accessible FMN binding site and stabilization of the hydroquinone (hq) state. In particular the absence of a hydrogen bond to the N5 atom of the oxidized FMN was identified, which destabilizes the ox form, as well as an exceptionally large patch of acidic residues in the vicinity of the FMN N1 atom, which destabilizes the hq form. It is also argued that the presence of a Gly at position 58 in the sequence stabilizes the semiquinone (sq) form, as a result, raising the E2 value in particular.

Cofactor-Apoprotein Hydrogen Bonding in Oxidized and Fully Reduced Flavodoxin Monitored by Trans-Hydrogen-Bond Scalar Couplings

Hydrogen bonding plays a key role in the tight binding of the FMN cofactor and the regulation of its redox properties in flavodoxins. Hydrogen bonding interactions can be directly observed in solution by multidimensional heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy through the scalar couplings between donor and acceptor nuclei. Here we report on the detection of intermolecular trans-hydrogen-bond couplings ((h)J) between the flavin ring system and the backbone of Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin in the oxidized and the two-electron reduced states. For this purpose, experiments are adapted from pulse sequences previously applied to determining (h)J coupling constants in nucleic acid-base pairs and proteins. The resulting (h2)J(N,N), (h4)J(N,N), (h3)J(C,N), and (h1)J(H,N) couplings involve the (15)N(1), (13)C(2), and (15)N(3) nuclei of the pyrimidine moiety of FMN, whereas no such interactions are detectable for (13)C(4) and (15)N(5). Several long-range (15)N-(15)N, (13)C-(15)N, and (1)H-(15)N J-coupling constants within the flavin are obtained as "by-products". The magnitudes of both (h)J and regular J couplings are found to be dependent on the redox state. In general, good correlations between (h)J coupling constants and donor-group (1)H chemical shifts and also crystallographic donor-acceptor distances are observed.

Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 flavodoxin as electron carrier from photosystem I to ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. Role of Trp(57) and Tyr(94)

The influence of the amino acid residues sandwiching the flavin ring in flavodoxin (Fld) from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 in complex formation and electron transfer (ET) with its natural partners, photosystem I (PSI) and ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase (FNR), was examined in mutants of the key residues Trp(57) and Tyr(94). The mutants' ability to form complexes with either FNR or PSI is similar to that of wild-type Fld. However, some of the mutants exhibit altered kinetic properties in their ET processes that can be explained in terms of altered flavin accessibility and/or thermodynamic parameters. The most noticeable alteration is produced upon replacement of Tyr(94) by alanine. In this mutant, the processes that involve the transfer of one electron from either PSI or FNR are clearly accelerated, which might be attributable to a larger accessibility of the flavin to the reductant. However, when the opposite ET flow is analyzed with FNR, the reduced Y94A mutant transfers electrons to FNR slightly more slowly than wild type. This can be explained thermodynamically from a decrease in driving force due to the significant shift of 137 mV in the reduction potential value for the semiquinone/hydroquinone couple (E(1)) of Y94A, relative to wild type (Lostao, A., Gómez-Moreno, C., Mayhew, S. G., and Sancho, J. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 14334-14344). The behavior of the rest of the mutants can be explained in the same way. Overall, our data indicate that Trp(57) and Tyr(94) do not play any active role in flavodoxin redox reactions providing a path for the electrons but are rather involved in setting an appropriate structural and electronic environment that modulates in vivo ET from PSI to FNR while providing a tight FMN binding.

Cloning, sequencing and expression of the gene for flavodoxin from Megasphaera elsdenii and the effects of removing the protein negative charge that is closest to N(1) of the bound FMN

The gene for the electron-transfer protein flavodoxin has been cloned from Megasphaera elsdenii using the polymerase chain reaction. The recombinant gene was sequenced, expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system, and the recombinant protein purified and characterized. With the exception of an additional methionine residue at the N-terminus, the physico-chemical properties of the protein, including its optical spectrum and oxidation-reduction properties, are very similar to those of native flavodoxin. A site-directed mutant, E60Q, was made to investigate the effects of removing the negatively charged group that is nearest to N(1) of the bound FMN. The absorbance maximum in the visible region of the bound flavin moves from 446 to 453 nm. The midpoint oxidation-reduction potential at pH 7 for reduction of oxidized flavodoxin to the semiquinone E2 becomes more negative, decreasing from -114 to -242 mV; E1, the potential for reduction of semiquinone to the hydroquinone, becomes less negative, increasing from -373 mV to -271 mV. A redox-linked pKa associated with the hydroquinone is decreased from 5.8 to < or = 4.3. The spectra of the hydroquinones of wild-type and mutant proteins depend on pH (apparent pKa values of 5.8 and < or = 5.2, respectively). The complexes of apoprotein and all three redox forms of FMN are much weaker for the mutant, with the greatest effect occurring when the flavin is in the semiquinone form. These results suggest that glutamate 60 plays a major role in control of the redox properties of M. elsdenii flavodoxin, and they provide experimental support to an earlier proposal that the carboxylate on its side-chain is associated with the redox-linked pKa of 5.8 in the hydroquinone.

Protein folding and stability investigated by fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy: the flavodoxin story

In this review, the experimental results obtained on the folding and stability of Azotobacter vinelandii flavodoxin are summarised. By doing so, three main spectroscopic techniques used to investigate protein folding and stability are briefly introduced. These techniques are: circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination with the hydrogen exchange methodology. Results on the denaturant-induced and thermal equilibrium unfolding of apoflavodoxin from A. vinelandii, i.e. flavodoxin in the absence of the riboflavin-5'-monophosphate (FMN) cofactor, are discussed. A scheme for the equilibrium unfolding of apoflavodoxin is presented which involves a relatively stable molten globule-like intermediate. Denaturant-induced apoflavodoxin (un)folding as followed at the residue-level by NMR shows that the transition of native A. vinelandii apoflavodoxin to its molten globule state is highly co-operative. However, the unfolding of the molten globule to the unfolded state of the protein is non-co-operative. A comparison of the folding of A. vinelandii flavodoxin with the folding of flavodoxin from Anaboena PCC 7119 is made. The local stabilities of apo- and holoflavodoxin from A. vinelandii as measured by NMR spectroscopy are compared. Both Che Y and cutinase, which have no sequence homology with apoflavodoxin but which share the flavodoxin-like topology, have stabilisation centres different from that of apoflavodoxin from A. vinelandii. The stable centres of structurally similar proteins can thus reside in different parts of the same protein topology. Insight in the variations in (local) unfolding processes of structurally similar proteins can be used to stabilise proteins with a flavodoxin-like fold. Finally, the importance of some recent experimental and theoretical developments for the study of flavodoxin folding is briefly discussed.

Apoflavodoxin (un)folding followed at the residue level by NMR

The denaturant-induced (un)folding of apoflavodoxin from Azotobacter vinelandii has been followed at the residue level by NMR spectroscopy. NH groups of 21 residues of the protein could be followed in a series of 1H-15N heteronuclear single-quantum coherence spectra recorded at increasing concentrations of guanidinium hydrochloride despite the formation of protein aggregate. These NH groups are distributed throughout the whole apoflavodoxin structure. The midpoints of unfolding determined by NMR coincide with the one obtained by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Both techniques give rise to unfolding curves with transition zones at significantly lower denaturant concentrations than the one obtained by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The NMR (un)folding data support a mechanism for apoflavodoxin folding in which a relatively stable intermediate is involved. Native apoflavodoxin is shown to cooperatively unfold to a molten globule-like state with extremely broadened NMR resonances. This initial unfolding step is slow on the NMR chemical shift timescale. The subsequent unfolding of the molten globule is faster on the NMR chemical shift timescale and the limited appearance of 1H-15N HSQC cross peaks of unfolded apoflavodoxin in the denaturant range studied indicates that it is noncooperative.

Electron-nuclear double resonance and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopic studies of flavodoxin mutants from Anabaena sp. PCC 7119

The influence of the amino acid residues surrounding the flavin ring in the flavodoxin of the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7119 on the electron spin density distribution of the flavin semiquinone was examined in mutants of the key residues Trp(57) and Tyr(94) at the FMN binding site. Neutral semiquinone radicals of the proteins were obtained by photoreduction and examined by electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopies. Significant differences in electron density distribution were observed in the flavodoxin mutants Trp(57) --> Ala and Tyr(94) --> Ala. The results indicate that the presence of a bulky residue (either aromatic or aliphatic) at position 57, as compared with an alanine, decreases the electron spin density in the nuclei of the benzene flavin ring, whereas an aromatic residue at position 94 increases the electron spin density at positions N(5) and C(6) of the flavin ring. The influence of the FMN ribityl and phosphate on the flavin semiquinone was determined by reconstituting apoflavodoxin samples with riboflavin and with lumiflavin. The coupling parameters of the different nuclei of the isoalloxazine group, as detected by ENDOR and HYSCORE, were very similar to those of the native flavodoxin. This indicates that the protein conformation around the flavin ring and the electron density distribution in the semiquinone form are not influenced by the phosphate and the ribityl of FMN.

The equilibrium unfolding of Azotobacter vinelandii apoflavodoxin II occurs via a relatively stable folding intermediate

A flavodoxin from Azotobacter vinelandii is chosen as a model system to study the folding of alpha/beta doubly wound proteins. The guanidinium hydrochloride induced unfolding of apoflavodoxin is demonstrated to be reversible. Apoflavodoxin thus can fold in the absence of the FMN cofactor. The unfolding curves obtained for wild-type, C69A and C69S apoflavodoxin as monitored by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy do not coincide. Apoflavodoxin unfolding occurs therefore not via a simple two-state mechanism. The experimental data can be described by a three-state mechanism of apoflavodoxin equilibrium unfolding in which a relatively stable intermediate is involved. The intermediate species lacks the characteristic tertiary structure of native apoflavodoxin as deduced from fluorescence spectroscopy, but has significant secondary structure as inferred from circular dichroism spectroscopy. Both spectroscopic techniques show that thermally-induced unfolding of apoflavodoxin also proceeds through formation of a similar molten globule-like species. Thermal unfolding of apoflavodoxin is accompanied by anomalous circular dichroism characteristics: the negative ellipticity at 222 nM increases in the transition zone of unfolding. This effect is most likely attributable to changes in tertiary interactions of aromatic side chains upon protein unfolding. From the presented results and hydrogen/deuterium exchange data, a model for the equilibrium unfolding of apoflavodoxin is presented.

Structural characterisation of apoflavodoxin shows that the location of the stable nucleus differs among proteins with a flavodoxin-like topology

The structural characteristics of Azotobacter vinelandii apoflavodoxin II have been determined using multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. Apoflavodoxin has a stable, well-ordered core but its flavin binding region is flexible. The local stability of apoflavodoxin was probed using hydrogen/deuterium exchange measurements. The existence of an apoflavodoxin equilibrium folding intermediate is inferred from the non-coincidence of CD and fluorescence unfolding curves obtained for the guanidinium hydrochloride induced unfolding of apoflavodoxin. We suggest that the structured part of the putative intermediate is composed of the elements of secondary structure which have the slowest exchanging amide protons in the native protein. These elements are strands beta1, beta3, beta4 and beta5a and helices alpha4 and alpha5. We propose that it is a general feature of flavodoxins that the stable nucleus resides in the C-terminal part of these proteins. The results on flavodoxin are compared with those on two sequentially unrelated proteins sharing the flavodoxin-like fold: Che Y and cutinase. It is shown that the stable nucleus is found in different parts of the flavodoxin-like topology.

Apparent local stability of the secondary structure of Azotobacter vinelandii holoflavodoxin II as probed by hydrogen exchange: implications for redox potential regulation and flavodoxin folding

As a first step to determine the folding pathway of a protein with an alpha/beta doubly wound topology, the 1H, 13C, and 15N backbone chemical shifts of Azotobacter vinelandii holoflavodoxin II (179 residues) have been determined using multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. Its secondary structure is shown to contain a five-stranded parallel beta-sheet (beta2-beta1-beta3-beta4-beta5) and five alpha-helices. Exchange rates for the individual amide protons of holoflavodoxin were determined using the hydrogen exchange method. The amide protons of 65 residues distributed throughout the structure of holoflavodoxin exchange slowly at pH* 6.2 [kex < 10(-5) s(-1)] and can be used as probes in future folding studies. Measured exchange rates relate to apparent local free energies for transient opening. We propose that the amide protons in the core of holoflavodoxin only exchange by global unfolding of the apo state of the protein. The results obtained are discussed with respect to their implications for flavodoxin folding and for modulation of the flavin redox potential by the apoprotein. We do not find any evidence that A. vinelandii holoflavodoxin II is divided into two subdomains based on its amide proton exchange rates, as opposed to what is found for the structurally but not sequentially homologous alpha/beta doubly wound protein Che Y.

NMR investigation of the solution conformation of oxidized flavodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Determination of the tertiary structure and detection of protein-bound water molecules

Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin has been investigated with a combination of homo- and hetero-nuclear two-dimensional and three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The analysis of NOE, hydrogen exchange and J-coupling data led to a set of 1349 NOE, 63 hydrogen bond and 109 backbone phi-angle restraints which were used to determine the solution structure of the oxidized flavodoxin applying the distance geometry program DIANA combined with restrained energy minimization methods. Flavodoxin in solution consists of a five-stranded parallel beta-sheet which is pairwise flanked by four alpha-helices. The solution structure has been compared with the known crystal structure. While the global fold is identical, differences have been detected concerning local conformations. In addition, protein-bound water molecules have been localized by NOE effects which were detected in NMR experiments avoiding solvent suppression. The locations of these water molecules have been compared with those found in the X-ray structure.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of the binding of riboflavin, riboflavin 5'-phosphate and riboflavin 3',5'-bisphosphate by apoflavodoxins

The reactions of excess apoflavodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Anabaena variabilis and Azotobacter vinelandii with riboflavin 5'-phosphate (FMN), riboflavin 3',5'-bisphosphate and riboflavin are pseudo-first-order. The rates increase with decreasing pH in the range pH 5-8, and, in general, they increase with increasing ionic strength to approach a maximum at an ionic strength greater than 0.4 M. The rate of FMN binding in phosphate at high pH increases to a maximum at an ionic strength of about 0.1 M, and then decreases as the phosphate concentration is increased further. The dissociation constants for the complexes with FMN and riboflavin decrease with an increase of ionic strength. Inorganic phosphate stabilizes the complex with riboflavin. The effects of phosphate on riboflavin binding suggest that phosphate interacts with the apoprotein at the site normally occupied by the phosphate of FMN. Redox potentials determined for the oxidized/semiquinone and semiquinone/hydroquinone couples of the riboflavin and FMN complexes were used with K delta values for the complexes with the oxidized flavins to calculate values for K delta for the semiquinone and hydroquinone complexes. The hydroquinone complexes are all less stable than the complexes with the two other redox forms of the flavin. Destabilization of the hydroquinone is less marked in the complexes with riboflavin, supporting a proposal that the terminal phosphate group of FMN plays a role in decreasing the redox potential of the semiquinone/hydroquinone couple.

Six new candidate members of the alpha/beta twisted open-sheet family detected by sequence similarity to flavodoxin

Strong sequence similarity has been reported among WrbA (the Trp repressor-binding protein of Escherichia coli); Ycp4, a protein of unknown function from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; P25, the pap1-dependent protein of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe; and the translation product of a partial cDNA sequence from rice seedling root (Oryza sativa, locus Ricr02421a; here referred to as RicR). Further homology search with the profile method indicates that all the above sequences are related to the flavodoxin family and, in turn, allows detection of the recently proposed flavodoxin-like proteins from E. coli, MioC and the hypothetical protein YihB. We discuss sequence conservation with reference to the known 3-dimensional structures of flavodoxins. Conserved sequence and hydrophobicity patterns, as well as residue-pair interaction potentials, strongly support the hypothesis that these proteins share the alpha/beta twisted open-sheet fold typical of flavodoxins, with an additional alpha/beta unit in the WrbA family. On the basis of the proposed structural homology, we discuss the details of the putative FMN-binding sites. Our analysis also suggests that the helix-turn-helix motif we identified previously in the C-terminal region of the WrbA family is unlikely to reflect a DNA-binding function of this new protein family.

Primary sequence, oxidation-reduction potentials and tertiary-structure prediction of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 flavodoxin

Flavodoxin was isolated and purified from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774, a sulfate-reducing organism that can also utilize nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor. Mid-point oxidation-reduction potentials of this flavodoxin were determined by ultraviolet/visible and EPR methods coupled to potentiometric measurements and their pH dependence studied in detail. The redox potential E2, for the couple oxidized/semiquinone forms at pH 6.7 and 25 degrees C is -40 mV, while the value for the semiquinone/hydroquinone forms (E1), at the same pH, -387 mV. E2 varies linearly with pH, while E1 is independent of pH at high values. However, at low pH (< 7.0), this value is less negative, compatible with a redox-linked protonation of the flavodoxin hydroquinone. A comparative study is presented for Desulfovibrio salexigens NCIB 8403 flavodoxin [Moura, I., Moura, J.J.G., Bruschi, M. & LeGall, J. (1980) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 591, 1-8]. The complete primary amino acid sequence was obtained by automated Edman degradation from peptides obtained by chemical and enzymic procedures. The amino acid sequence was confirmed by FAB/MS. Using the previously determined tridimensional structure of Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin as a model [similarity, 48.6%; Watenpaugh, K.D., Sieker, L.C., Jensen, L.H., LeGall, J. & Dubourdieu M. (1972) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 69, 3185-3188], the tridimensional structure of D. desulfuricans ATCC 27774 flavodoxin was predicted using AMBER force-field calculations.

Molecular dynamics simulations of oxidized and reduced Clostridium beijerinckii flavodoxin

Molecular dynamics simulations of oxidized and reduced Clostridium beijerinckii flavodoxin in water have been performed in a sphere of 1.4-nm radius surrounded by a restrained shell of 0.8 nm. The flavin binding site, comprising the active site of the flavodoxin, was in the center of the sphere. No explicit information about protein-bound water molecules was included. An analysis is made of the motional characteristics of residues located in the active site. Positional fluctuations, hydrogen bonding patterns, dihedral angle transitions, solvent behavior, and time-dependent correlations are examined. The 375-ps trajectories show that both oxidized and reduced protein-bound flavins are immobilized within the protein matrix, in agreement with earlier obtained time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy data. The calculated time-correlated behavior of the tryptophan residues reveals significant picosecond mobility of the tryptophan side chain located close to the reduced isoalloxazine part of the flavin.

Flavin dynamics in oxidized Clostridium beijerinckii flavodoxin as assessed by time-resolved polarized fluorescence

The time-resolved fluorescence characteristics of flavin in oxidized flavodoxin isolated from the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium beijerinckii have been examined. The fluorescence intensity decays were analyzed using the maximum-entropy method. It is demonstrated that there exist large differences in fluorescence behaviour between free and protein-bound FMN. Three fluorescence lifetime components are found in oxidized flavodoxin, two of which are not present in the fluorescence-intensity decay of free FMN. The main component is distributed at 30 ps, with relative contribution of 90%. Another minor component (4% contribution) is distributed at 0.5 ns. The third component is distributed at 4.8 ns (6%), coinciding with the main distribution present in the fluorescence decay of free FMN. The results allowed us to determine the dissociation constant, Kd = 2.61 x 10(-10) M (at 20 degrees C). Collisional fluorescence-quenching experiments revealed that the flavin moiety responsible for the longest fluorescence lifetime is, at least partially, exposed to the solvent. The shortest lifetime is not affected significantly, indicating that it possibly originates from an active-site conformation in which the flavin is more or less buried in the protein and not accessible to iodide. The fluorescence anisotropy behaviour of free and protein-bound FMN was examined and analyzed with the maximum-entropy method. It was found that an excess of apoflavodoxin is required to detect differences between free and protein-bound FMN. In free FMN one single distribution of rotational correlation times is detected, whereas in flavodoxin the anisotropy decay is composed of more than one distribution. Associative analysis of fluorescence anisotropy decays shows that part of the 4.8 ns fluorescence lifetime present in the flavodoxin fluorescence decay, is coupled to a rotational correlation time similar to that of free FMN in solution, while another part of this lifetime is coupled to a longer correlation time of about 1 ns. This finding is in accordance with earlier studies [Barman, B. G. & Tollin, G. (1972) Biochemistry 11, 4746-4754] in which it was proposed that the first binding step of the flavin to the protein involves the phosphate group rather than another part of the FMN. The two shortest fluorescence lifetimes, which do not carry information on the long-term rotational behaviour of the protein, seem nonetheless to be associated with a longer rotational correlation time which is comparable to overall protein tumbling. These lifetime components probably originate from a complex in which the flavin-ring system is more or less immobilized within the protein matrix.

Homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR studies of oxidized Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin. Sequential assignments and identification of secondary structure elements

Recombinant Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin (molecular mass 16.3 kDa) was produced in Escherichia coli. The oxidized protein has been investigated with a combination of homonuclear and heteronuclear two-dimensional and heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Sequence-specific assignment of all backbone and most of the side chain 1H and 15N resonances has been obtained. The secondary structure has been inferred from the pattern of sequential, medium-, and long-range NOEs, together with information about slowly exchanging amide hydrogens and HN-H alpha spin-spin coupling constants. In solution, flavodoxin consists of a five-stranded parallel beta-sheet and four alpha-helices. Residues 3-9, 32-36, 52-58, 87-96, and 123-128 are involved in the beta-sheet whereas the a-helical regions comprise residues 13-28, 69-76, 104-114, and 134-148. Several proton resonances of the bound flavin mononucleotide cofactor have been assigned. NOE contacts between the prosthetic group and the apoprotein have been detected.

Flavin dynamics in reduced flavodoxins. A time-resolved polarized fluorescence study

The time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy characteristics of reduced flavin mononucleotide in solution as well as bound in flavodoxins isolated from the bacteria Desulfovibrio gigas, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Clostridium beijerinckii MP and Megasphaera elsdenii have been examined. All fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy decays were analyzed by two different methods: (a) least-squares fitting with a sum of exponentials and (b) the maximum entropy method to yield distributed lifetimes and correlation times. The results of both approaches are in excellent agreement. The fluorescence decay of the free as well as protein-bound reduced flavin chromophore is made up of three components. The shortest component proves to be relatively sensitive to the environment and can therefore be used as a diagnostic tool to probe the microenvironment of the reduced isoalloxazine ring system. The other two longer fluorescence lifetime components are insensitive to the chromophore environment and seem therefore to be related to intrinsic, photophysical properties of the reduced chromophore. Fluorescence anisotropy decays show that the flavin mononucleotide in all four reduced flavodoxins is immobilized within the protein matrix, as indicated by the recovery of a single rotational correlation time, reflecting the rotation of the whole protein. No indications are found that rapid structural fluctuations occur in reduced flavodoxins, and the mechanism of electron transfer from flavodoxin to other redox proteins seems to involve immobilized reduced flavin.

Crystal structure of oxidized flavodoxin from a red alga Chondrus crispus refined at 1.8 A resolution. Description of the flavin mononucleotide binding site

In order to describe the detailed conformation of the oxidized flavodoxin from a eukaryotic red alga, Chondrus crispus, the crystal structure has been refined by a restrained least-squares method. The crystallographic R factor is 0.168 for 13,899 reflections with F greater than 2 sigma F between 6.0 and 1.8 A resolution. The refined model includes 173 amino acid residues, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and 110 water molecules. The root-mean-square deviation in bond lengths from ideal values is 0.015 A, and the mean co-ordinate error is estimated to be 0.2 A. The FMN is located at the periphery of the molecule. The orientation of the isoalloxazine ring is such that the C-7 and C-8 methyl groups are exposed to solvent and the pyrimidine moiety is buried in the protein. Three peptide segments, T8-T13, T55-T58 and D94-C103, are involved in FMN binding. The first segment of T8-T13 enfolds the phosphate group of the FMN. The three oxygen atoms in the phosphate group form extensive hydrogen bonds with amide groups of the main chain and the O gamma atoms of the side-chains in this segment. T55 O and W56 N epsilon 1 in the second segment form hydrogen bonds with O-2 in the ribityl moiety and one of the oxygen atoms in the phosphate group, respectively. The O gamma H of T58 forms a hydrogen bond with the N-5 atom in the isoalloxazine ring, which is expected to be protonated in the semiquinone form. The third segment is in contact with the isoalloxazine ring. It appears that the hydrogen bond acceptor of the NH of Asp94 in the third segment is O-2 rather than N-1 in the isoalloxazine ring. The isoalloxazine ring is flanked by the side-chains of Trp56 and Tyr98; it forms an angle of 38 degrees with the indole ring of Trp56 and is almost parallel to the benzene ring of Tyr98. The environment of the phosphate group is conserved as in other flavodoxins whereas that of the isoalloxazine ring differs. The relationship between the hydrogen bond to the N-5 in the ring and the redox potential for the oxidized/semiquinone couple is discussed.

1H and 15N resonance assignments of oxidized flavodoxin from Anacystis nidulans with 3D NMR

Proton and nitrogen-15 sequence-specific nuclear magnetic resonance assignments have been determined for recombinant oxidized flavodoxin from Anacystis nidulans (169 residues, Mr 19,048). Assignments were obtained by using 15N-1H heteronuclear three-dimensional (3D) NMR spectroscopy on a uniformly nitrogen-15 enriched sample of the protein, pH 6.6, at 30 degrees C. For 165 residues, the backbone and a large fraction of the side-chain proton resonances have been assigned. Medium- and long-range NOE's have been used to characterize the secondary structure. In solution, flavodoxin consists of a five-stranded parallel beta sheet involving residues 3-9, 31-37, 49-56, 81-89, 114-117, and 141-144. Medium-range NOE's indicate the presence of several helices. Several 15N and 1H resonances of the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) prosthetic group have been assigned. The FMN-binding site has been investigated by using polypeptide-FMN NOE's.

Three-dimensional correlated NMR study of Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin in the oxidized state

The value of a three-dimensional (3D) non-selective total correlation/nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (TOCSY-NOESY) spectrum for making sequential resonance assignments in proteins is demonstrated using the relatively large Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin (molecular mass 15 kDa) in the oxidized state. An easy and concise method for the analysis of 3D-NMR spectra and a strategy for the resonance assignment of 3D-NMR protein spectra is introduced. In this context, non-selective TOCSY-NOESY is compared with selective TOCSY-NOESY and non-selective NOESY-TOCSY. Sequential assignments in various secondary structure elements of flavodoxin are made using the method of analysis introduced. NOEs not previously identified in 2D-NMR spectra due to resonance overlap are found in the 3D Clean-TOCSY-NOESY spectrum. Also additional side-chain assignments could be made.

A two-dimensional 1H-NMR study on Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin in the oxidized state and some comparisons with the two-electron-reduced state

Assignments for the 137 amino acid residues of oxidized Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin have been made using the sequential resonance assignment procedure. Great benefit was experienced from assignments of the fully reduced protein. The secondary and tertiary structures of the typical alpha/beta protein remain virtually identical on going from the oxidized to the two-electron-reduced state as judged from two-dimensional NOE spectroscopy. However, functionally important conformation changes in the flavin-binding region do occur on reduction. Considerable reduction-state-dependent chemical shift variations of protons in the immediate vicinity of the isoalloxazine moiety take place. From analysis of these shifts, it can be concluded that ring current effects of the pyrazine part of the flavin diminish on two-electron reduction.