Abstract P4-15-12: Rebastinib in combination with eribulin ablates TIE2-expressing macrophages, reduces metastasis, and increases survival in the PyMT metastatic breast cancer model

In cancer models, TIE2 kinase plays an important role in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and tumor metastasis. TIE2 expression is largely restricted to vascular endothelial cells, tissue macrophages, and bone marrow derived TIE2-expressing monocytes (TEMs), which are proangiogenic, provasculogenic and enhance invasiveness. The hypoxic tumor environment engendered by damaging the vasculature with chemotherapy, radiation, or anti-angiogenic treatments leads to rebound tumor vascularization by an angiogenic switch from the VEGF pathway to the angiopoietin/TIE2 pathway. This leads to recruitment of provasculogenic TEMs from the bone marrow, leading to the growth of residual tumor cells and disease progression. Significantly, a subset of TIE2-expressing macrophages are located within specialized vascular structures known as tumor microenvironment for metastases (TMEMs). Recent observations have linked TIE2-expressing macrophages within TMEM structures to intravasation of cancer cells into circulation and subsequent dissemination to metastatic sites. We hypothesized that TIE2 inhibition should decrease migration and association of TEMs with blood vessels in the tumor stroma, therefore blocking their proangiogenic activity and leading to reduced tumor growth. TIE2 inhibition may also alter TMEM function, leading directly to a blockade of metastasis.

Rebastinib is a picomolar inhibitor of TIE2 kinase, and exhibits an extraordinarily long off-rate from TIE2, measured to be over 24 hours in a cell-based assay. Herein, we examine the efficacy of rebastinib in the polyoma middle-T antigen (PyMT) syngeneic mouse breast cancer model. In this model, PyMT breast cancer cells are implanted in the mammary fat pad, and primary tumor growth leads to metastasis, which is known to be modulated by TEMs and TMEM vascular structures. We examined dosing rebastinib in combination with eribulin, an inhibitor of microtubule dynamics that recently was FDA-approved for treatment-refractory metastatic breast cancer. Rebastinib treatment in this model significantly ablated TEMs in the primary tumor stroma and caused a significant decrease in lung metastases. Furthermore, the combination of rebastinib and eribulin led to a significant further decrease in lung metastases compared to treatment with eribulin alone (Table 1). Rebastinib also enhanced the activity of eribulin in reducing primary tumor growth and regrowth of tumor post-resection.

TIE2 inhibition represents a novel treatment approach for metastatic breast cancer and other cancers that rely on TEMs and TMEMs for growth and metastasis. As such, rebastinib has been selected for further clinical development in combination with eribulin for treatment-refractory metastatic breast cancer, with a Phase 1b trial being planned for late 2013.

Rebastinib reduces lung metastases in the PyMT breast cancer modelTreatmentLung Metastases (% of Control)Vehicle100%Eribulin 1 mg/kg three times/week71%Rebastinib 10 mg/kg twice/week + Eribulin 1 mg/kg23%Eribulin 0.3 mg/kg three times/week71%Rebastinib 10 mg/kg twice/week + Eribulin 0.3 mg/kg51%Eribulin 0.1 mg/kg three times/week72%Rebastinib 10 mg/kg twice/week + Eribulin 0.1 mg/kg43%

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-15-12.

Abstract P4-15-13: Rebastinib in combination with paclitaxel ablates TIE2-expressing macrophages, reduces metastasis, and increases survival in the PyMT metastatic breast cancer model

In cancer models, TIE2 kinase plays an important role in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and tumor metastasis. TIE2 expression is largely restricted to vascular endothelial cells, tissue macrophages, and bone marrow derived TIE2-expressing monocytes (TEMs), which are proangiogenic, provasculogenic and enhance invasiveness. The hypoxic tumor environment engendered by damaging the vasculature with chemotherapy, radiation, or anti-angiogenic treatments leads to rebound tumor vascularization by an angiogenic switch from the VEGF pathway to the angiopoietin/TIE2 pathway. This leads to recruitment of provasculogenic TEMs from the bone marrow, leading to the growth of residual tumor cells and disease progression. Significantly, a subset of TIE2-expressing macrophages are located within specialized vascular structures known as tumor microenvironment for metastases (TMEMs). Recent observations have linked TIE2-expressing macrophages within TMEM structures to intravasation of cancer cells into circulation and subsequent dissemination to metastatic sites. We hypothesized that TIE2 inhibition should decrease migration and association of TEMs with blood vessels in the tumor stroma, therefore blocking their proangiogenic activity and leading to reduced tumor growth. TIE2 inhibition may also alter TMEM function, leading directly to a blockade of metastasis.

Rebastinib is a picomolar inhibitor of TIE2 kinase, and exhibits an extraordinarily long off-rate from TIE2, measured to be over 24 hours in a cell-based assay. Herein, we examine the efficacy of rebastinib in the polyoma middle-T antigen (PyMT) syngeneic mouse breast cancer model. In this model, PyMT breast cancer cells are implanted in the mammary fat pad, and primary tumor growth leads to metastasis, which is known to be modulated by TEMs and TMEM vascular structures. We examined multiple dosing schedules of rebastinib in combination with paclitaxel. Rebastinib treatment in this model significantly ablated TEMs in the primary tumor stroma and caused a significant decrease in lung metastases (Table 1). Furthermore, the combination of rebastinib and paclitaxel led to a significant further decrease in lung metastases compared to treatment with paclitaxel or rebastinib alone. Rebastinib also enhanced the activity of paclitaxel in reducing primary tumor growth and regrowth of tumor post-resection.

TIE2 inhibition with targeted therapy represents a novel treatment approach for metastatic breast cancer and other cancers that rely on TEMs and TMEMs for growth and metastasis. As such, rebastinib has been selected for further clinical development for treatment-refractory metastatic breast cancer, with a Phase 1b trial being planned for late 2013.

Rebastinib reduces lung metastases in the PyMT breast cancer modelStudynTreatmentLung Metastases (% of Control)110Vehicle100%110Paclitaxel 10 mg/kg Q5D36%110Rebastinib 10 mg/kg BID28%110Rebastinib 10 mg/kg BID + Paclitaxel7%210Vehicle100%210Paclitaxel 10 mg/kg Q5D51%210Rebastinib 10 mg/kg QD + Paclitaxel21%33Vehicle100%33Paclitaxel 10 mg/kg Q5D58%33Rebastinib 10 mg/kg twice/week + Paclitaxel28%

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-15-13.

Targeting the KIT activating switch control pocket: a novel mechanism to inhibit neoplastic mast cell proliferation and mast cell activation

Activating mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT, most notably KIT D816V, are commonly observed in patients with systemic mastocytosis. Thus, inhibition of KIT has been a major focus for treatment of this disorder. Here we investigated a novel approach to such inhibition. Utilizing rational drug design, we targeted the switch pocket (SP) of KIT which regulates its catalytic conformation. Two SP inhibitors thus identified, DP-2976 and DP-4851, were examined for effects on neoplastic mast cell proliferation and mast cell activation. Autophosphorylation of both wild type (WT) and, where also examined, KIT D816V was blocked by these compounds in transfected 293T cells, HMC 1.1 and 1.2 human mast cell lines; and in CD34⁺-derived human mast cells activated by stem cell factor (SCF). Both inhibitors induced apoptosis in the neoplastic mast cell lines and reduced survival of primary bone marrow mast cells from patients with mastocytosis. Moreover, the SP inhibitors more selectively blocked SCF potentiation of FcεRI-mediated degranulation. Overall, SP inhibitors represent an innovative mechanism of KIT inhibition whose dual suppression of KIT D816V neoplastic mast cell proliferation and SCF enhanced mast cell activation may provide significant therapeutic benefits.

Kinetics of beta-lactam interactions with penicillin-susceptible and -resistant penicillin-binding protein 2x proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae. Involvement of acylation and deacylation in beta-lactam resistance

Kinetic interactions of beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin-G and cefotaxime with normal, penicillin-susceptible PBP2x from Streptococcus pneumoniae and a penicillin-resistant PBP2x (PBP2x(R)) from a resistant clinical isolate (CS109) of the bacterium have been extensively characterized using electrospray mass spectrometry coupled with a fast reaction (quench flow) technique. Kinetic evidence for a two-step acylation of PBP2x by penicillin-G has been demonstrated, and the dissociation constant, K(d) of 0.9 mm, and the acylation rate constant, k(2) of 180 s(-1), have been determined for the first time. The millimolar range K(d) implies that the beta-lactam fits to the active site pocket of the penicillin-sensitive PBP rather poorly, whereas the extremely fast k(2) value indicates that this step contributes most of the binding affinity of the beta-lactam. The values of K(d) (4 mm) and k(2) (0.56 s(-1)) were also determined for PBP2x(R). The combined value of k(2)/K(d), known as overall binding efficiency, for PBP2x(R) (137 m(-1) s(-1)) was over 1000-fold slower than that for PBP2x (200,000 m(-1) s(-1)), indicating that a major part is played by the acylation steps in penicillin resistance. Most of the decreased binding efficiency of PBP2x(R) comes from the decreased ( approximately 300-fold) k(2). Kinetic studies of cefotaxime acylation of the two PBP2x proteins confirmed all of the above findings. Deacylation rate constants (k(3)) for the third step of the interactions were determined to be 8 x 10(-6) s(-1) for penicilloyl-PBP2x and 5.7 x 10(-4) s(-1) for penicilloyl-PBP2x(R), corresponding to over 70-fold increase of the deacylation rate for the resistant PBP2x(R). Similarly, over 80-fold enhancement of the deacylation rate was found for cefotaxime-PBP2x(R) complex (k(3) = 3 x 10(-4) s(-1)) as compared with that of cefotaxime-PBP2x complex (3.5 x 10(-6) s(-1)). This is the first time that such a significant increase of k(3) values was found for a beta-lactam-resistant penicillin-binding protein. These data indicate that the deacylation step also plays a role, which is much more important than previously thought, in PBP2x(R) resistance to beta-lactams.

Penicillin-binding protein 2a from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: kinetic characterization of its interactions with beta-lactams using electrospray mass spectrometry

Penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) is the primary beta-lactam resistance determinant of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MecA, the gene coding for PBP2a, was cloned with the membrane-anchoring region at the N-terminus deleted. The truncated protein (PBP2a) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli mostly in the soluble form accounting for approximately 25% of soluble cell protein and was purified to homogeneity. The purified protein was shown to covalently bind beta-lactams in an 1:1 ratio as determined by electrospray mass spectrometry. A novel method based on HPLC-elctrospray mass spectrometry has been developed to quantitatively determine the formation of the covalent adducts or acyl-PBP2a complexes. By using this method, combined with kinetic techniques including quench flow, we have extensively characterized the interactions between PBP2a and three beta-lactams and determined related kinetic parameters for the first time. The apparent first-order rate constants (ka) of PBP2a acylation by benzylpenicillin showed a hyperbolic dependence on the concentration of benzylpenicillin. This is consistent with the mechanism that the binding of the penicillin to PBP2a consists of reversible formation of a Michaelis complex followed by formation of the penicilloyl-PBP2a adduct, and allowed the determination of the individual kinetic parameters for these two steps, the dissociation constant Kd of 13.3 mM and the first-order rate constant k2 of 0.22 s-1. From these values, the second-order rate constant k2/Kd, the value reflecting the overall binding efficiency of a beta-lactam, of 16.5 M-1 s-1 was obtained. The fairly high Kd value indicates that benzylpenicillin fits rather poorly into the protein active site. Similar studies on the interaction between PBP2a and methicillin revealed k2 of 0.0083 s-1 and Kd of 16.9 mM, resulting in an even smaller k2/Kd value of 0.49 M-1 s-1. The rate constants k3 for deacylation of the acyl-PBP2a complexes, the third step in the interactions, were measured to be <1.5 x 10(-)5 s-1. These results indicate that the resistance of PBP2a to penicillin inactivation is mainly due to the extremely low penicillin acylating rate in addition to the low association affinity, but not to a fast rate of deacylation. Acylation of PBP2a by a high-affinity cephalosporin, Compound 1, also followed a saturation curve of ka versus the compound concentration, from which k2 = 0.39 s-1, Kd = 0.22 mM, and k2/Kd = 1750 M-1 s-1 were obtained. The 100-fold increase in the k2/Kd value as compared with that of benzylpenicillin is mostly attributable to the decreased (60-fold) Kd, indicating that the cephalosporin fits much better to the binding pocket of the protein.

Mechanism of carbon monoxide oxidation by the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA synthase from Clostridium thermoaceticum: kinetic characterization of the intermediates

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA synthase (CODH/ACS) from Clostridium thermoaceticum catalyzes (i) the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from a methylated corrinoid protein, CO, and coenzyme A and (ii) the oxidation of CO to CO2. CO oxidation occurs at a Ni- and FeS-containing center known as cluster C. Electrons are transferred from cluster C to a separate metal center, cluster B, to external acceptors like ferredoxin. In the work described here, we performed reductive titrations of CODH/ACS with CO and sodium dithionite and monitored the reaction by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. We also performed pre-steady-state kinetic studies by rapid freeze-quench EPR spectroscopy (FQ-EPR) and stopped-flow kinetics. Redox titrations of CODH/ACS revealed the existence of a UV-visible and EPR-silent electron acceptor denoted center S that does not appear to be associated with any of the other metal centers in the protein. Our results support the previous proposals [Anderson, M. E., & Lindahl, P. A. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 8702-8711; Anderson, M. E., & Lindahl, P. A. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 8371-8380] that the Cred2 form of cluster C is two electrons more reduced than the Cred1 form. The combined results from titrations and pre-steady-state studies were used to formulate a mechanism for CO oxidation, composed of the following steps: (i) CO binding to the [Cred1,Box, Xox] state to yield a Cred1-CO complex; (ii) two-electron reduction of Cred1 to Cred2 concerted with CO2 release; (iii) binding of a second CO molecule to the [Cred2,Box,Xox] state to form a Cred2-CO complex; (iv) electron transfer from Cred2-CO to cluster B to form [Cred2,Bred,Xred] with concerted release of the second CO2. Step iii competes with internal electron transfer from Cred2 to Box and Xox. At high CO concentrations, step iii is favored, whereas at low concentrations, only one CO molecule per turnover binds and undergoes oxidation. Closure of the catalytic cycle involves electron transfer from reduced enzyme to an electron acceptor protein, like ferredoxin. Xox is a yet-uncharacterized electron acceptor that may be an intermediate in the reduction of center S. The Cred2 state appears to be the predominant state of cluster C during steady-state turnover. The rate-determining step for the first half-reaction is step iv, while during steady-state turnover, it appears to be electron transfer to external electron acceptors.

Oxidative metabolism of inorganic sulfur compounds by bacteria

The history of the elucidation of the microbiology and biochemistry of the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds in chemolithotrophic bacteria is briefly reviewed, and the contribution of Martinus Beijerinck to the study of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria highlighted. Recent developments in the biochemistry, enzymology and molecular biology of sulfur oxidation in obligately and facultatively lithotrophic bacteria are summarized, and the existence of at least two major pathways of thiosulfate (sulfur and sulfide) oxidation confirmed. These are identified as the 'Paracoccus sulfur oxidation' (or PSO) pathway and the 'S4intermediate' (or S4I) pathway respectively. The former occurs in organisms such as Paracoccus (Thiobacillus) versutus and P. denitrificans, and possibly in Thiobacillus novellus and Xanthobacter spp. The latter pathway is characteristic of the obligate chemolithotrophs (e.g. Thiobacillus tepidarius, T. neapolitanus, T. ferrooxidans, T. thiooxidans) and facultative species such as T. acidophilus and T. aquaesulis, all of which can produce or oxidize tetrathionate when grown on thiosulfate. The central problem, as yet incompletely resolved in all cases, is the enzymology of the conversion of sulfane-sulfur (as in the outer [S-] atom of thiosulfate [-S-SO3-]), or sulfur itself, to sulfate, and whether sulfite is involved as a free intermediate in this process in all, or only some, cases. The study of inorganic sulfur compound oxidation for energetic purposes in bacteria (i.e. chemolithotrophy and sulfur photolithotrophy) poses challenges for comparative biochemistry. It also provides evidence of convergent evolution among diverse bacterial groups to achieve the end of energy-yielding sulfur compound oxidation (to drive autotrophic growth on carbon dioxide) but using a variety of enzymological systems, which share some common features. Some new data are presented on the oxidation of 35S-thiosulfate, and on the effect of other anions (selenate, molybdate, tungstate, chromate, vanadate) on sulfur compound oxidation, including observations which relate to the roles of polythionates and elemental sulfur as intermediates.

Mechanism of CO oxidation by carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Clostridium thermoaceticum and its inhibition by anions

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) performs two distinct reactions at two different metal centers. The synthesis of acetyl-CoA from a methyl group, CO, and coenzyme A occurs at center A and the oxidation of CO to CO2 occurs at center C. In the work reported here, we have studied the mechanism of CO oxidation by CODH and its inhibition by thiocyanate. Our data are consistent with a ping-pong mechanism. A scheme to explain the first half-reaction was developed that includes binding of water and CO to the oxidized form of center C, deprotonation of coordinated water to yield enzyme-bound hydroxyl, nucleophilic attack on coordinated CO by OH- to form enzyme-bound carboxyl, and deprotonation and decarboxylation to form CO2 and the reduced form of center C. In the second half-reaction, the reduced enzyme is reoxidized by an electron acceptor. CO oxidation was pH dependent. The pH dependence of kcat/Km for CO gave a single pKa of 7.7 and a maximum value at 55 degrees C and high pH of 9.1 x 10(6) M-1 s-1. The pH dependence of kcat followed a two-phase titration curve with pKa values of 7.1 and 9.5 and maximum value of kcat at 55 degrees C and high pH of 3250 s-1 (1310 mumol of CO oxidized min-1 mg-1). The pH dependencies of kcat/Km and kcat are interpreted to reflect the ionization of enzyme-bound water from binary and ternary complexes with center C. Reaction with thiocyanate, azide, or cyanate was found to cause a striking shift in the EPR spectrum of center C from gav = 1.82 (g = 2.01, 1.81, 1.65) to a two-component spectrum with gav = 2.15 (g = 2.34, 2.067, 2.03) and gav = 2.17 (g = 2.34, 2.115, 2.047). Thiocyanate acted as a mixed partial inhibitor with respect to CO. The inhibition constants were pH and temperature dependent. The pH dependencies of the inhibition constants gave pKa values of approximately 7.7. Binding of thiocyanate to the oxidized form of center C appears to be favored by a negative enthalpy that is offset by a decrease in entropy yielding a slightly unfavorable free energy of association.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the partially purified N5-methyltetrahydromethanopterin:coenzyme M methyltransferase from Methanosarcina mazei Gö1

The N5-methyltetrahydromethanopterin:coenzyme M methyltransferase is a membrane-bound cobalamin-containing protein of Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 that couples the methylation of coenzyme M by methyltetra-hydrosarcinopterin to the translocation of Na+ across the cell membrane (B. Becher, V. Müller, and G. Gottschalk, J. Bacteriol. 174:7656-7660, 1992). We have partially purified this enzyme and shown that, in addition to the cobamide, at least one iron-sulfur cluster is essential for the transmethylation reaction. The membrane fraction or the partly purified protein contains a "base-on" cobamide with a standard reduction potential (Eo') for the Co2+/1+ couple of -426 mV. The iron-sulfur cluster appears to be a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ type with an Eo' value of -215 mV. We have determined the methyltransferase activity at various controlled redox potentials and demonstrated that the enzyme activity is activated by a one-electron reduction with half-maximum activity occurring at -235 mV in the presence of ATP and -450 mV in its absence. No activation was observed when ATP was replaced by other nucleoside triphosphates or nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs.

Binding of carbon disulfide to the site of acetyl-CoA synthesis by the nickel-iron-sulfur protein, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, from Clostridium thermoaceticum

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) is a key enzyme in the pathway of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide fixation by anaerobic bacteria. It performs the oxidation of CO to CO2, the reduction of CO2 to CO, and the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from a methylated corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein, CO, and CoA. These reactions occur at metal centers on CODH and involve metal-carbon bond formation and transformation. There are three iron-containing centers that play distinct roles in CODH: Centers A, B, and C. Center A is the site of synthesis of acetyl-CoA and catalyzes an exchange reaction between CO and acetyl-CoA. Center C is the site of CO oxidation and CO2 reduction. In the work described here, inhibition of CODH by carbon disulfide was studied. CS2 was found to serve as a probe of the interaction of CODH with CO at Center A. EPR spectroscopic and steady-state kinetic studies demonstrated that CS2 mimics the binding of CO to the nickel/iron-sulfur cluster at Center A; however, CS2 itself does not undergo oxidation-reduction and does not appear to bind to Center C as does CO. In the isotope exchange reaction between acetyl-CoA and CO, CS2 was found to be a competitive inhibitor with respect to CO (Ki = 0.47 mM) and a mixed inhibitor with respect to acetyl-CoA (Ki1 = 0.30 and Ki2 = 1.1 mM). The reaction of dithionite-reduced CODH with CS2 resulted in an EPR spectrum with g values of 2,200, 2,087, and 2,017.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the iron-sulfur clusters in ferredoxin from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

Ferredoxin from Methanosarcina thermophila is an electron acceptor for the CO dehydrogenase complex which decarbonylates acetyl-coenzyme A and oxidizes the carbonyl group to carbon dioxide in the pathway for conversion of the methyl group of acetate to methane (K. C. Terlesky and J. G. Ferry, J. Biol. Chem. 263:4080-4082, 1988). Resonance Raman spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroelectrochemistry indicated that the ferredoxin contained two [4Fe-4S] clusters per monomer of 6,790 Da, each with a midpoint potential of -407 mV. A [3Fe-4S] species, with a midpoint potential of +103 mV, was also detected in the protein at high redox potentials. Quantitation of the [3Fe-4S] and [4Fe-4S] centers revealed 0.4 and 2.1 spins per monomer, respectively. The iron-sulfur clusters were unstable in the presence of air, and the rate of cluster loss increased with increasing temperature. A ferredoxin preparation, with a low spin quantitation of [4Fe-4S] centers, was treated with Fe2+ and S2-, which resulted in an increase in [4Fe-4S] and a decrease in [3Fe-4S] clusters. The results of these studies suggest the [3Fe-4S] species may be an artifact formed from degradation of [4Fe-4S] clusters.

Characterization of the metal centers of the Ni/Fe-S component of the carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase enzyme complex from Methanosarcina thermophila

Methanosarcina thermophila contains a multienzyme complex called the carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase complex, which has been resolved into a nickel/iron-sulfur and a corrinoid/iron-sulfur component. This complex plays a central role in acetoclastic methanogenesis. The Ni/Fe-S component catalyzes CO oxidation and has been proposed to be involved in cleavage of acetyl-CoA into its methyl, carbonyl, and CoA moieties. In the work reported here, three metal centers in the Ni/Fe-S component were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry and pre-steady state kinetics. Center A contains nickel and iron and forms an EPR active adduct with CO, which is called the NiFeC species. The EPR spectrum of the NiFeC species has g values of 2.059, 2.051, and 2.029 and is observable at temperatures as high as 150 K. This signal had previously been observed only in the carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase complex of M. thermophila and the acetyl-CoA synthase from acetate-producing bacteria. Incubation of the CO-reduced Ni/Fe-S component with acetyl-CoA resulted in an increase in intensity of the NiFeC signal, which supports a role for the component in the cleavage of acetyl-CoA. Generation of the NiFeC EPR signal occurs with a rate constant of 0.4 s-1, a result that demonstrates the kinetic competence of this species in the acetyl-CoA cleavage reaction but rules it out as the site of oxidation of CO to CO2. Center B is likely to be a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ center with g values of 2.04, 1.93, and 1.89 (gav = 1.95) and a standard reduction potential (E'0) of -444 mV. At potentials less than -500 mV, another EPR signal develops that appears to originate from another state of Center B. Center C is a fast relaxing center with g values of 2.02, 1.88, and 1.71 (gav = 1.87) and an E'0 of -154 mV.

Sequence and expression of the gene encoding the corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein from Clostridium thermoaceticum and reconstitution of the recombinant protein to full activity

The corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein (C/Fe-SP) from Clostridium thermoaceticum acts as a methyl group carrier in the anaerobic acetyl-CoA pathway of CO and CO2 fixation. Consisting of a small (approximately 33 kDa) and a large (approximately 55 kDa) subunit, the C/Fe-SP contains 1 mol of cobalt in a corrinoid cofactor and 1 mol of [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ cluster/mol of alpha beta dimer. Cobalt is the site of methylation, and the [4Fe-4S] center appears to serve an electron transfer function. The genes encoding both subunits have been cloned previously and are located within a gene cluster that includes other genes required for CO2 fixation by anaerobic bacteria. When the genes encoding the C/Fe-SP were expressed in Escherichia coli, the protein was found to be inactive. We report the amino acid sequences of the large and small subunits of the C/Fe-SP based on the DNA sequences of the cloned genes. The [4Fe-4S] cluster was found to be located in the large subunit. Although the primary structural lattice for cobamide binding resides in the small subunit, both subunits are required for formation of a stable cobamide-binding protein. Based on sequence comparisons with other [4Fe-4S]-containing proteins, 3 of the 4 cysteine residues that serve as ligands to the iron sites in the cluster have been located. The two subunits were independently overexpressed in E. coli to a level of 30-50% of cell protein; however, the resulting protein was inactive, lacked stoichiometric amounts of Fe-S cluster, and lacked cobamide. By combining the recombinant subunits, unfolding them with urea, and refolding in the presence of cobamide, iron, and inorganic sulfide, the resulting C/Fe-SP was found to contain stoichiometric amounts of cobamide and [4Fe-4S] cluster and had spectroscopic and enzymatic properties similar to those of the native protein. We expect that the methods developed here may be used for heterologous overexpression and reconstitution of other complex metalloenzymes. The C/Fe-SP was found to utilize with equal efficiency either vitamin B12 or the natural cofactor 5-methoxybenzimidazolylcobamide as a methyl carrier.

Characterization of the metal centers of the corrinoid/iron-sulfur component of the CO dehydrogenase enzyme complex from Methanosarcina thermophila by EPR spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry

The multienzyme carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex from Methanosarcina thermophila contains at least two protein components: a CO-oxidizing nickel/iron-sulfur (Ni/Fe-S) component and a cobalt-containing corrinoid/iron-sulfur component (Co/Fe-S). The CO dehydrogenase complex has been shown to synthesize acetyl-CoA from CoA, CH3I, and CO as well as to cleave acetyl-CoA into its methyl, carbonyl, and CoA components as the first step in the catabolism of acetyl-CoA to methane and CO2. Presumed to serve as an acceptor of the methyl group of acetyl-CoA en route to methane, the Co/Fe-S component contains iron, acid-labile sulfur, and a corrinoid cofactor (factor III) that is the site of methylation. Using EPR spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry, we characterized the cobalt and Fe-S centers of the Co/Fe-S component. The redox and EPR properties of the metal centers in the isolated Co/Fe-S component are similar to those of the Co/Fe-S component in the CO dehydrogenase enzyme complex, a result that indicates that any protein-protein interaction between components in the complex has little influence on the properties of the metal centers. The corrinoid is maintained in the base-off state with a formal equilibrium reduction potential (E'o) at pH 7.8 of -486 mV for the Co2+/1+ couple that facilitates reduction of the Co2+ state by approximately 12 kcal/mol relative to base-on cobamides. The Co/Fe-S component also contains a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ cluster with an E'o at pH 7.8 of -502 mV, which is nearly isopotential with the Co2+/1+ couple of the cobamide.

Acetyl-coenzyme A synthesis from methyltetrahydrofolate, CO, and coenzyme A by enzymes purified from Clostridium thermoaceticum: attainment of in vivo rates and identification of rate-limiting steps

Many anaerobic bacteria fix CO2 via the acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) (Wood) pathway. Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), a corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein (C/Fe-SP), methyltransferase (MeTr), and an electron transfer protein such as ferredoxin II play pivotal roles in the conversion of methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate), CO, and CoA to acetyl-CoA. In the study reported here, our goals were (i) to optimize the method for determining the activity of the synthesis of acetyl-CoA, (ii) to evaluate how closely the rate of synthesis of acetyl-CoA by purified enzymes approaches the rate at which whole cells synthesize acetate, and (iii) to determine which steps limit the rate of acetyl-CoA synthesis. In this study, CODH, MeTr, C/Fe-SP, and ferredoxin were purified from Clostridium thermoaceticum to apparent homogeneity. We optimized conditions for studying the synthesis of acetyl-CoA and found that when the reaction is dependent upon MeTr, the rate is 5.3 mumol min-1 mg-1 of MeTr. This rate is approximately 10-fold higher than that reported previously and is as fast as that predicted on the basis of the rate of in vivo acetate synthesis. When the reaction is dependent upon CODH, the rate of acetyl-CoA synthesis is approximately 0.82 mumol min-1 mg-1, approximately 10-fold higher than that observed previously; however, it is still lower than the rate of in vivo acetate synthesis. It appears that at least two steps in the overall synthesis of acetyl-CoA from CH3-H4folate, CO, and CoA can be partially rate limiting. At optimal conditions of low pH (approximately 5.8) and low ionic strength, the rate-limiting step involves methylation of CODH by the methylated C/Fe-SP. At higher pH values and/or higher ionic strength, transfer of the methyl group of CH3-H4folate to the C/Fe-SP becomes rate limiting.

Controlled potential enzymology of methyl transfer reactions involved in acetyl-CoA synthesis by CO dehydrogenase and the corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein from Clostridium thermoaceticum

Many anaerobic bacteria fix CO2 via the Wood pathway of acetyl-CoA synthesis. Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), also called acetyl-CoA synthase, accepts the methyl group from the methylated corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein (C/Fe-SP), binds a carbonyl group from CO, CO2, or the carboxyl of pyruvate, and binds coenzyme A. Then CODH catalyzes the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from these enzyme-bound groups. Here, we have characterized the methyl transfer steps involved in acetyl-CoA synthesis. We have studied the reactions leading to methylation of CODH by methyl iodide and shown an absolute requirement of the C/Fe-SP in this reaction. In addition, we have discovered and partly characterized two previously unknown exchange reactions catalyzed by CODH: between the methylated C/Fe-SP and methylated CODH and between methylated CODH and the methyl moiety of acetyl-CoA. We have performed these two exchange reactions, methylation of the C/Fe-SP, and methylation of CODH at controlled potentials. The rates of all these reactions except the exchange between methylated C/Fe-SP and methylated CODH are accelerated (from 1 to 2 orders of magnitude) when run at low potentials. Our results provide strong evidence for a nucleophilic redox-active metal center on CODH as the initial acceptor of the methyl group from the methylated C/Fe-SP. This metal center also is proposed to be involved in the cleavage of acetyl-CoA in the reverse reaction.

Spectroelectrochemical studies of the corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein involved in acetyl coenzyme A synthesis by Clostridium thermoaceticum

An 88-kDa corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein (C/Fe-SP) is the methyl carrier protein in the acetyl-CoA pathway of Clostridium thermoaceticum. In previous studies, it was found that this C/Fe-SP contains (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide and a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ center, both of which undergo redox cycling during catalysis, and that the benzimidazole base is uncoordinated to the cobalt (base off) in all three redox states, 3+, 2+, and 1+ [Ragsdale, S.W., Lindahl, P.A., & Münck, E. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 14289-14297]. In this paper, we have determined the midpoint reduction potentials for the metal centers in this C/Fe-SP by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV-visible spectroelectrochemical methods. The midpoint reduction potentials for the Co3+/2+ and the Co2+/1 couples of the corrinoid were found to be 300-350 and -504 mV (+/- 3 mV) in Tris-HCl at pH 7.6, respectively. We also removed the (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide cofactor from the C/Fe-SP and determined that its Co3+/2+ reduction potential is 207 mV at pH 7.6. The midpoint potential for the [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ couple in the C/Fe-SP was determined to be -523 mV (+/- 5 mV). Removal of this cluster totally inactivates the protein; however, there is little effect of cluster removal on the midpoint potential of the Co2+/1+ couple. In addition, removal of the cobamide has an insignificant effect on the midpoint reduction potential of the [4Fe-4S] cluster. A 27-kDa corrinoid protein (CP) also was studied since it contains (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide in the base-on form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oxidation-reduction potentials and spectral properties of some cytochromes from Thiobacillus versutus (A2)

Cytochromes c-550 (acidic), c-550 (basic), c-551 and c-552.5 from Thiobacillus versutus have been highly purified and characterized. Their spectral properties at 77 K are described. Oxidation-reduction titrations of cytochromes c-550 (acidic) and c-550 (basic) showed them to exhibit Nernst values of n = 1, with single redox centres in the cytochromes, and to have midpoint redox potentials at pH 7.0 (Em,7) of 290 and 260 mV, respectively. Cytochrome c-551 contained two separately titratable redox components, each giving n = 1. The low potential centre (55% of titratable cytochrome) and the high potential centre (45%) had Em,7 values of -115 and +240 mV, respectively. Cytochrome c-552.5 also contained at least two redox centres. One (65% of titratable cytochrome) had n = 1 and Em,7 = 220 mV. The remaining 35% appeared to be a low potential component with an Em,7 possibly as low as -215 mV. the roles of these cytochromes in respiratory thiosulphate oxidation are discussed.