Understanding High-Salt and Cold Adaptation of a Polyextremophilic Enzyme

The haloarchaeon Halorubrum lacusprofundi is among the few polyextremophilic organisms capable of surviving in one of the most extreme aquatic environments on Earth, the Deep Lake of Antarctica (−18 °C to +11.5 °C and 21–28%, w/v salt content). Hence, H. lacusprofundi has been proposed as a model for biotechnology and astrobiology to investigate potential life beyond Earth. To understand the mechanisms that allow proteins to adapt to both salinity and cold, we structurally (including X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations) and functionally characterized the β-galactosidase from H. lacusprofundi (hla_bga). Recombinant hla_bga (produced in Haloferax volcanii) revealed exceptional stability, tolerating up to 4 M NaCl and up to 20% (v/v) of organic solvents. Despite being cold-adapted, hla_bga was also stable up to 60 °C. Structural analysis showed that hla_bga combined increased surface acidity (associated with halophily) with increased structural flexibility, fine-tuned on a residue level, for sustaining activity at low temperatures. The resulting blend enhanced structural flexibility at low temperatures but also limited protein movements at higher temperatures relative to mesophilic homologs. Collectively, these observations help in understanding the molecular basis of a dual psychrophilic and halophilic adaptation and suggest that such enzymes may be intrinsically stable and functional over an exceptionally large temperature range.

Biodegradable Magnetic Silica@Iron Oxide Nanovectors with Ultra-Large Mesopores for High Protein Loading, Magnetothermal Release, and Delivery

The delivery of large cargos of diameter above 15nm for biomedical applications has proved challenging since it requires biocompatible, stably-loaded, and biodegradable nanomaterials. In this study, we describe the design of biodegradable silica-iron oxide hybrid nanovectors with large mesopores for large protein delivery in cancer cells. The mesopores of the nanomaterials spanned from 20 to 60nm in diameter and post-functionalization allowed the electrostatic immobilization of large proteins (e.g. mTFP-Ferritin, ~534kDa). Half of the content of the nanovectors was based with iron oxide nanophases which allowed the rapid biodegradation of the carrier in fetal bovine serum and a magnetic responsiveness. The nanovectors released large protein cargos in aqueous solution under acidic pH or magnetic stimuli. The delivery of large proteins was then autonomously achieved in cancer cells via the silica-iron oxide nanovectors, which is thus a promising for biomedical applications.

Mechanistic insights into the reductive dehydroxylation pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids promoted by the IspH enzyme

Here, we report an integrated quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) study of the bio-organometallic reaction pathway of the 2H⁺/2e^- reduction of (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP) into the so called universal terpenoid precursors isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), promoted by the IspH enzyme. Our results support the viability of the bio-organometallic pathway through rotation of the OH group of HMBPP away from the [Fe₄S₄] cluster at the core of the catalytic site, to become engaged in a H-bond with Glu126. This rotation is synchronous with π-coordination of the C2 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 C3 double bond of HMBPP to the apical Fe atom of the [Fe₄S₄] cluster. Dehydroxylation of HMBPP is triggered by a proton transfer from Glu126 to the OH group of HMBPP. The reaction pathway is completed by competitive proton transfer from the terminal phosphate group to the C2 or C4 atom of HMBPP.

Yttrium calix[4]arene complexes. Silylation and silylamine elimination reactions on model oxo surfaces

The synthesis and the spectroscopic and structural characterization of lower-rim-silylated and rare-earth-metalated calix[4]arenes are presented. Hexamethyldisilazane, HN(SiMe3)2, reacted in a selective manner with [p-tert-buttylcalix[4]arene]H4 (1) in refluxing mesitylene to give the 1,3-silylated product [p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(SiMe3)2]H2 (2) in high yield. The molecular structure of compound 2, as revealed by X-ray crystallography, shows the pinched cone conformation of the calixarene bowl, featuring hydrogen bonding between the phenylsilyl ether and phenolic oxygen atoms (O...O, 2.838 A). From the reaction of the sterically more crowded tetraphenyldimethyldisilazane, HN(SiMePh2)2, only starting material could be recovered. In contrast, tetramethyldisilazane, HN(SiHMe2)2, afforded the tetrakis-silylated product [p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(SiHMe2)4] (3) in hexane solution at ambient temperature. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of compound 3 established the 1,2-alternate conformation, which is also present in solution, as indicated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The yttrium complex Y[N(SiHMe2)2]3(THF)2 (4) exchanged all of its silylamide ligands when treated with an equimolar amount of 1 in toluene at ambient temperature to yield compound 5, as indicated by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of 5 revealed a centrosymmetric dimer of composition [Y(p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(SiHMe2)(THF)]2. Three of the deprotonated phenolic oxygen atoms of the calixarene bowl bind to the metal center, two as terminal ligands and one in a bridging mode, while the fourth undergoes in situ silylation (nu(SiH) 2127 cm-1). The distorted-trigonal-bipyramidal coordination geometry is completed by a THF molecule. Bis-silylated 2 reacted with 4 to form the heteroleptic complex (Y[p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(SiMe3)2][N(SiHMe2)2]) (6). Crystal data: C50H72O4Si2 (2), triclinic, P1, a = 12.8914(3) A, b = 14.9270(5) A, c = 15.1652(4) A, alpha = 77.293(2) degrees, beta = 65.019(2) degrees, gamma = 72.234(2) degrees, Z = 2; C52H80O4Si4 (3), triclinic, P1, a = 10.1774(2) A, b = 14.1680(2) A, c = 18.7206(2) A, alpha = 95.8195(8) degrees, beta = 95.5294(8) degrees, gamma = 98.1098(7) degrees, Z = 2; C100H132O10Si2Y2, 2(C6H6) (5), triclinic, P1, a = 13.2625(4) A, b = 14.5894(3) A, c = 17.0458(5) A, alpha = 65.0986(14) degrees, beta = 77.8786(8) degrees, gamma = 85.5125(13) degrees, Z = 1.