Nickel affects expression of the nickel-containing hydrogenase of Alcaligenes latus.

The effects of nickel on the expression of hydrogenase in the hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium Alcaligenes latus were studied. In the absence of added nickel, both hydrogenase activity, measured as O2-dependent H2 uptake, and hydrogenase protein, measured in a Western immunoblot, were very low compared with the levels in cells induced for hydrogenase in the presence of nickel. Hydrogenase activity and protein levels were dependent on the added nickel concentration and were saturated at 30 nM added Ni2+. The amount of hydrogenase protein in a culture at a given nickel concentration was calculated from the H2 uptake activity of the culture at that Ni2+ concentration. Between 0 and 30 nM added Ni2+, the amount of hydrogenase protein (in nanomoles) was stoichiometric with the amount of added Ni2+. Thus, all of the added Ni2+ could be accounted for in hydrogenase. Between 0 and 50 nM added Ni2+, all the Ni present in the cultures was associated with the cells after 12 h; above 50 nM added Ni2+, some Ni remained in the medium. No other divalent metal cations tested were able to substitute for Ni2+ in the formation of active hydrogenase. We suggest two possible mechanisms for the regulation of hydrogenase activity and protein levels by nickel.     

Investigation of the catalytic mechanism of yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase

P1,P2-Bidentate Co(NH3)4PP was found to be a competitive inhibitor of pyrophosphatase vs. MgPP (Kis = 8.7 mM, pH 7) and, in the presence of Mg2+, an active substrate as well. P1,P2-Bidentate Cr(III) complexes of pyrophosphate, imidodiphosphate, and methylenediphosphonate were also competitive inhibitors vs. MgPP (pH 5.9; Kis = 0.2, 0.2, and 0.4 mM, respectively). In the presence of Mg2+, P1,P2-bidentate Cr(H2O)4PP was found to have a Km 10-fold greater and a turnover number 36-fold smaller than MgPP at pH 5.9. Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+ activate the CrPP--pyrophosphatase reaction, while Ca2+ and Ba2+ are not activators but serve as competitive inhibitors vs. Mg2+ (Kis = 0.35 and 2.3 mM). At levels above 0.1 mM, Mn2+, Co2+, and Zn2+ show activator inhibition. Kinetic studies with CrPP and Mg2+ suggest that the kinetic mechanism is rapid equilibrium ordered, with CrPP adding before Mg2+. pH studies of the MgPP/Mg2+ reaction and the CrPP/Mg2+ reaction suggest that the active form of the substrate is (MgPP)2- and that the uncomplexed metal ion cofactor interacts with at least two active-site residues, one possibly via H bonding and the other by direct coordination. The former group (pKa = 5.6) appears on the basis of temperature and solvent perturbation studies to be a carboxylic acid. The MgPP reaction also requires that an active-site residue (pKa = 7.5) be protonated. Temperature and solvent perturbation studies suggest that this residue is an amine. A mechanism accounting for these observations is presented.     

The substrate proton of the pyruvate kinase reaction

The pyruvate kinase reaction occurs in separate phosphate- and proton-transfer stages: (formula; see text) K+, Mg2+, and Mg.ADP are known to be required for the phosphoryl transfer step, and K+ and Mg2+ with allosteric stimulation by MgATP are important for proton transfer. This paper uses the isotope trapping method with 3H-labeled water to identify the proton donor and determine when in the sequence of the catalytic cycle it is generated. When the enzyme was allowed to exchange briefly with 3H2O (pulse phase) and then diluted into a mixture containing PEP, ADP, and the cofactor K+, Mg2+, or Co2+ in D2O (chase phase), an amount of [3H]pyruvate was formed in great excess of the amount expected from steady-state catalysis in the diluted 3H-labeled water. With K+, Mg2+, and ADP at pH 6-9.5 in the pulse phase, a limit of 1.25 enzyme equiv of 3H were trapped. The concentration of PEP required for half-maximum trapping was 14-fold greater than its steady-state Km. Therefore, the rate constant for dissociation of the donor proton is estimated to be 14 times the steady-state rate of [3H]pyruvate formation, approximately 109 s-1, or 1500 s-1. At pD 6.4, Mg2+ and ADP were required in the chase, indicating that the ADP in the pulse was not bound tightly enough to be used in the chase. At pD 9.4, ADP was not required in the chase, only Mg2+ or Co2+, making it possible to limit the chase to one turnover from hybrid labeled complexes such as E.K.Mg.CoADP or E.K.Co.MgADP and PEP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Properties of Stable Hydrogenase from the Purple Sulfur Bacterium Lamprobacter modestohalophilus

Some properties of a hydrogenase from the recently isolated phototrophic sulfur bacterium Lamprobacter modestohalophilus strain Syvash and its resistance to a number of inactivating factors have been investigated. The enzyme consists of two subunits, 64 and 30 kD; pI = 4.5. The optimal pH was 8.5-9.5 for hydrogen uptake and 4.0 for H2 evolution. Hydrogenase preparations were resistant to the effects of O2, CO, and temperature, revealing high stability under storage. A considerable inactivation of the enzyme was observed at temperatures above 80 degrees C; the temperature optimum of methyl viologen reduction by H2 was 85 degrees C. Inhibitory effects of Ni2+, Cd2+, and Mg2+ on the hydrogenase activity were shown to be reversible and competitive with respect to methyl viologen in the hydrogen oxidation reaction.     

Effect of chelating agents on hydrogenase in Azotobacter chroococcum. Evidence that nickel is required for hydrogenase synthesis.

The chelating agents EDTA, o-phenanthroline, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediamine-bis(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDA) or dimethylglyoxime prevented the expression of hydrogenase activity in batch cultures of nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter chroococcum, but did not inhibit preformed enzyme. The inhibition was reversed either by adding a mixture of trace elements (Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+) or Ni2+ or, to a lesser degree, Co2+ alone. Ni2+ or Ni2+ + Fe2+ also enhanced the rate of hydrogenase derepression in A. chroococcum in the absence of any added chelator, if the medium was first extracted with 8-hydroxyquinoline. A. chroococcum accumulated 63Ni2+ by an energy-independent mechanism. Both, Ni2+ uptake and hydrogenase synthesis were equally inhibited by either NTA, EDTA, EDDA or dimethylglyoxime. The evidence suggests a role for Ni2+ in hydrogenase synthesis.     

Hydrogen-induced structural changes at the nickel site of the regulatory [NiFe] hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha detected by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

For the first time, the nickel site of the hydrogen sensor of Ralstonia eutropha, the regulatory [NiFe] hydrogenase (RH), was investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the nickel K-edge. The oxidation state and the atomic structure of the Ni site were investigated in the RH in the absence (air-oxidized, RH(ox)) and presence of hydrogen (RH(+H2)). Incubation with hydrogen is found to cause remarkable changes in the spectroscopic properties. The Ni-C EPR signal, indicative of Ni(III), is detectable only in the RH(+H2) state. XANES and EXAFS spectra indicate a coordination of the Ni in the RH(ox) and RH(+H2) that pronouncedly differs from the one in standard [NiFe] hydrogenases. Also, the changes induced by exposure to H(2) are unique. A drastic modification in the XANES spectra and an upshift of the K-edge energy from 8339.8 (RH(ox)) to 8341.1 eV (RH(+H2)) is observed. The EXAFS spectra indicate a change in the Ni coordination in the RH upon exposure to H(2). One likely interpretation of the data is the detachment of one sulfur ligand in RH(+H2) and the binding of additional (O,N) or H ligands. The following Ni oxidation states and coordinations are proposed: five-coordinated Ni(II)(O,N)(2)S(3) for RH(ox) and six-coordinated Ni((III))(O,N)(3)X(1)S(2) [X being either an (O,N) or H ligand] for RH(+H2). Implications of the structural features of the Ni site of the RH in relation to its function, hydrogen sensing, are discussed.     

Metal complexes of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). potentiometric and spectroscopic studies

The results are reported of a potentiometric and spectroscopic study of the H+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ complexes of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH, HL) at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength 0.10 mol dm-3 (KNO3), since there is much evidence that the in vivo release of LHRH is influenced by the concentration of copper ions. With Cu2+ the hormone has been shown to behave similarly to the thyrotropin releasing factor, forming a very stable [CuH-1L] complex involving coordination of three nitrogen donors: the Nim atom of the imidazole side chain and the two amido-N atoms of the pyroglutamylhistidyl unit. With Ni2+, coordination proceeds differently to give four nitrogen coordination.     

Crystal structures and spectroscopic characterization of galactitol complexes of trivalent lanthanide and divalent alkaline earth chlorides

Crystal structures and FT-IR spectra of metal ion-galactitol (C6H14O6, the ligand here abbreviated as L) complexes: 2LaCl3*C6H14O6*10H2O and SrCl2*C6H14O6 complexes are reported. Crystal data of lanthanide chlorides (La3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Tb3+)-galactitol complexes and alkaline earth chlorides (Ca2+, Sr2+)-galactitol complexes published earlier are summarized. Unlike other lanthanide ion-galactitol complexes (2MCl3*C6H14O6*14H2O), lanthanum ions give rise to two different structures: LaCl3*C6H14O6*6H2O (LaL1) and 2LaCl3*C6H14O6*10H2O (LaL2). Sr2+-galactitol complexes also crystallized with two structures: SrCl2*C6H14O6*4H2O (SrL1) and SrCl2*C6H14O6 (SrL2). These metal ions thus give different coordination structures with galactitol. The crystal structures and FT-IR spectra of lanthanide ion and alkaline earth ion-galactitol complexes were integrated to interpret the coordination modes of different metal ions. Similar IR spectra demonstrate the same coordination modes of the complexes.     

Formation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide peroxide

Incubation of NADH at neutral and slightly alkaline pH leads to the gradual absorption of 1 mol of H+. This uptake of acid requires oxygen and mainly yields anomerized NAD+ (NAD+), with only minimal formation od acid-modified NADH. The overall stoichiometry of the reaction is: NADH + H+ + 1/2O2 leads to H2O + NAD+, with NADH peroxide (HO2-NADH+) serving as the intermediate that anomerizes and breaks down to give NAD+ and H2O2. The final reaction reaction mixture contains less than 0.1% of the generated H2O2, which is nonenzymically reduced by NADH. The latter reaction is inhibited by catalase, leading to a decrease in the overall rate of acid absorption, and stimulated by peroxidase, leading to an increase in the overall rate of acid absorption. Although oxygen can attack NADH at either N-1 or C-5 of the dihydropyridine ring, the attack appears to occur primarily at N-1. This assignment is based on the inability of the C-5 peroxide to anomerize, whereas the N-1 peroxide, being a quaternary pyridinium compound, can anomerize via reversible dissociation of H2O2. The peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of NADH by H2O2 does not lead to anomerization, indicating that anomerization occurs prior to the release of H2O2. Chromatography of reaction mixtures on Dowex 1 formate shows the presence of two major and several minor neutral and cationic degradation products. One of the major products is nicotinamide, which possibly arises from breakdown of nicotinamide-1-peroxide. The other products have not been identified, but may be derived from other isomeric nicotinamide peroxides.     

Metal-ion environment in solid Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) hyaluronates

Amorphous powders and films of some metal hyaluronate complexes of general composition (C14H20O11N)2 x xH2O (M = Mn2+, Ni2+ and Co2+) have been prepared at pH 5.5-6.0. The coordination geometry around the metal ions has been analyzed by EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and FTIR spectroscopy. Mn2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ ions are coordinated to carboxylate oxygen atoms and water molecules. The process of local geometry formation round the metal ions is sensitive to sample preparation.     

Hydrogenase I of Clostridium pasteurianum functions as a novel selenite reductase

Clostridium pasteurianum's hydrogenase I, an important constitutive metabolic enzyme, has been shown to function as a 'novel selenite reductase'. Selenite reductase activity was found to co-purify with hydrogenase I activity; the fold purification and specific activities for these two activities paralleled each other throughout the purification steps. The highly purified hydrogenase I apparent K(m) for the selenite substrate was 0.2 mM. The stoichiometry for the enzymatic reduction of SeO3(2-) to Se(0) via H2 oxidation, was determined to be 2.3:1 (H2:Se(0)), very close to the theoretical ratio of 2:1 for this reduction reaction. Known electron carriers required for hydrogenase I activity were also found to couple its selenite reductase activity, the most efficient one being ferredoxin. The purified hydrogenase I not only reduced selenite but also tellurite, and its selenite activity was completely inhibited by O2 and CuSO4, potent inhibitors of hydrogenase I activity.     

Characteristics of a pure endogenous activator of the gastric H+,K+-ATPase system. Evaluation of the role as a possible intracellular regulator

An endogenous activator capable of stimulating the gastric H+,K+-ATPase activity has been purified to homogeneity from dog and pig gastric cells and found to be a dimer of two identical 40-kDa subunits in the active state. Identical nature of the activator monomers was revealed by the detection of lysine as the sole N-terminal amino acid. The activator from one species can stimulate the H+,K+-ATPase from another species and vice versa. Such cross-activation is consistent with the striking similarities in the amino acid composition between the two species, suggesting considerable homology in the activator molecules from different species. The activator exhibited several unique features during modulation of the H+,K+-ATPase reaction. It appreciably enhances affinity of the H+,K+-ATPase for K+, known to increase turnover of the enzyme. To complement this K+ affinity, the activator also enhances ability of the H+,K+-ATPase to generate more transition state (E*.ATP) complex by increasing the entropy of activation (delta S++) of the system as revealed from an Arrhenius plot of the data on temperature activation. In addition, the activator shows both positive cooperativity and strong inhibition, depending on its concentration. Thus, up to the ratio of the H+,K+-ATPase and activator of about 1:2 (on the protein basis), the activator shows sigmoidal activation (Hill coefficient = 4.5), but beyond such concentration a strong inhibition was observed. Finally, Ca2+ at low (2-4 microM) concentration strongly inhibits the activator-stimulated H+,K+-ATPase. It is proposed that the activator may be acting as a link in the signal transducing cascade system between the intracellular second messenger (Ca2+) and the physiological response (gastric H+ transport).     

Evaluation of the metal-ion-coordinating differences between the 2'-, 3'- and 5'-monophosphates of adenosine

The stability constants of the 1:1 complexes formed between Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ or Cd2+ and 2'AMP2-, 3'AMP2- or 5'AMP2- were determined by potentiometric pH titration in aqueous solution (I = 0.1 M, NaNO3; 25 degrees C). The experimental conditions were carefully selected such that self-association of the nucleotides and their complexes is negligibly small; i.e. it was made certain that the properties of the monomeric divalent-metal-ion--AMP [M(AMP)] complexes were studied. Based on recent measurements with simple phosphate monoesters, R-MP2- where R is a non-coordinating residue [Massoud, S. S. & Sigel, H. (1988) Inorg. Chem. 27, 1447-1453], it is shown that all the M(AMP) complexes of the alkaline earth ions, with the possible exception of Mg(5'AMP), have exactly the stability expected for a sole-phosphate coordination of the metal ion. The same property is revealed for the complexes with Mn2+, Co2+, Zn2+ or Cd2+ and 3'AMP2-; in case of Ni(3'AMP) and Cu(3'AMP) a slight stability increase just at the edge of the experimental-error limits is indicated. This slight stability increase is attributed to the formation of a macrochelate (possibly with N-3); in fact, additional information confirms macrochelation for Cu(3'AMP). About 45% of Cu(2'AMP) exists in aqueous solution as a macrochelate (probably involving N-3); the other M(2'AMP) complexes (M2+ = Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+) form (if at all) only traces of a base-backbound species. Most pronounced is macrochelate formation with 5'AMP2-: all mentioned 3d ions and Zn2+ or Cd2+ form to some extent macrochelates via N-7 (the structures of these closed species are indicated). In case of M(5'AMP) the base-binding site is certain: replacement of N-7 by a CH unit (tubercidin 5'-monophosphate) eliminates any increased complex stability, whereas formation of the 1,N6-etheno bridge to form 1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-monophosphate results in the phenanthroline-like N-6,N-7 site which facilitates macrochelation significantly.     

On the mechanism of the Mn3(+)-induced neurotoxicity of dopamine:prevention of quinone-derived oxygen toxicity by DT diaphorase and superoxide dismutase

Dopamine (DA) is rapidly oxidized by Mn3(+)-pyrophosphate to its cyclized o-quinone (cDAoQ), a reaction which can be prevented by NADH, reduced glutathione (GSH) or ascorbic acid. The oxidation of DA by Mn3+, which appears to be irreversible, results in a decrease in the level of DA, but not in a formation of reactive oxygen species, since oxygen is neither consumed nor required in this reaction. The formation of cDAoQ can initiate the generation of superoxide radicals (O2-.) by reduction-oxidation cycling, i.e. one-electron reduction of the quinone by various NADH- or NADPH-dependent flavoproteins to the semiquinone (QH.), which is readily reoxidized by O2 with the concomitant formation of O2-.. This mechanism is believed to underly the cytotoxicity of many quinones. Two-electron reduction of cDAoQ to the hydroquinone can be catalyzed by the flavoprotein DT diaphorase (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase). This enzyme efficiently maintains DA quinone in its fully reduced state, although some reoxidation of the hydroquinone (QH2) is observed (QH2 + O2----QH. + O2-. + H+; QH. + O2----Q + O2-.). In the presence of Mn3+, generated from Mn2+ by O2-. (Mn2+ + 2H+ + O2-.----Mn3+ + H2O2) formed during the autoxidation of DA hydroquinone, the rate of autoxidation is increased dramatically as is the formation of H2O2. Furthermore, cDAoQ is no longer fully reduced and the steady-state ratio between the hydroquinone and the quinone is dependent on the amount of DT diaphorase present. The generation of Mn3+ is inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD), which catalyzes the disproportionation of O2-. to H2O2 and O2. It is noteworthy that addition of SOD does not only result in a decrease in the amount of H2O2 formed during the regeneration of Mn3+, but, in fact, prevents H2O2 formation. Furthermore, in the presence of this enzyme the consumption of O2 is low, as is the oxidation of NADH, due to autoxidation of the hydroquinone, and the cyclized DA o-quinone is found to be fully reduced. These observations can be explained by the newly-discovered role of SOD as a superoxide:semiquinone (QH.) oxidoreductase catalyzing the following reaction: O2-. + QH. + 2H+----QH2 + O2. Thus, the combination of DT diaphorase and SOD is an efficient system for maintaining cDAoQ in its fully reduced state, a prerequisite for detoxication of the quinone by conjugation with sulfate or glucuronic acid. In addition, only minute amounts of reactive oxygen species will be formed, i.e. by the generation of O2-., which through disproportionation to H2O2 and further reduction by ferrous ions can be converted to the hydroxyl radical (OH.). Absence or low levels of these enzymes may create an oxidative stress on the cell and thereby initiate events leading to cell death.     

Characterization of the low-temperature intermediates of the reaction of fully reduced soluble cytochrome oxidase with oxygen by electron-paramagnetic-resonance and optical spectroscopy.

The reaction of fully reduced soluble bovine heart cytochrome oxidase with O2 at 173K was investigated by low-temperature optical and e.p.r. spectroscopy, and the kinetics of the reaction were analysed by non-linear optimization techniques. The only e.p.r. signals seen during the course of the reaction are those attributable to low-spin cytochrome a3+ and CuA2+. Quantitative analysis of e.p.r. signals shows that, at the end point of the reaction at 173K, nearly 100% of CuA is in the cupric state but only about 40% of cytochrome a is in the ferric low-spin state. The optical spectra recorded at this stage of the reaction show incomplete oxidation of haem and the absence of a 655 nm absorption band. The only reaction scheme that accounts for both the e.p.r. and optical data is a four-intermediate mechanism involving a branching pathway. The reaction is initiated when fully reduced cytochrome oxidase reacts with O2 to form intermediate I. This is then converted into either intermediate IIA or intermediate IIB. Of these, intermediate IIB is a stable end product at 173 K, but intermediate IIA is converted into intermediate III, which is the stable state at 173 K in this branch of the mechanism. The kinetic analysis of the e.p.r. data allows the unambiguous assignments of the valence states of cytochrome a and CuA in the intermediates. Intermediate I contains cytochrome a2+ and CuA+, intermediate IIA contains low-spin cytochroma a3+ and CuA+, intermediate IIB contains cytochrome a2+ and CuA2+, and intermediate III contains low-spin cytochrome a3+ and CuA2+. The electronic state of the O2-binding CuBa3 couple during the reoxidation of cytochrome oxidase is discussed in terms of an integrated structure containing CuB, cytochrome a3 and O2.     

Bias from H2 cleavage to production and coordination changes at the Ni-Fe active site in the NAD+-reducing hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha

The soluble NAD+-reducing Ni-Fe hydrogenase (SH) from Ralstonia eutropha H16 is remarkable because it cleaves hydrogen in the presence of dioxygen at a unique Ni-Fe active site (Burgdorf et al. (2005) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 576). By X-ray absorption (XAS), FTIR, and EPR spectroscopy, we monitored the structure and oxidation state of its metal centers during H2 turnover. In NADH-activated protein, a change occurred from the (CN)O2Ni(II)(mu-S)2Fe(II)(CN)3(CO) site dominant in the wild-type SH to a standard-like S2Ni(II)(mu-S)2Fe(II)(CN)2(CO) site as the prevailing species in a specific mutant protein, HoxH-H16L. The wild-type SH primarily was active in H2 cleavage. The nonstandard reaction mechanism does not involve stable EPR-detectable trivalent Ni oxidation states, namely, the Ni-A,B,C states as observed in standard hydrogenases. In the HoxH-mutant protein H16L, H2 oxidation was impaired, but H2 production occurred via a stable Ni-C state (Ni(III)-H(-)-Fe(II)), suggesting a reaction sequence similar to that of standard hydrogenases. It is proposed that reductive activation by NADH of both wild-type and H16L proteins causes the release of an oxygen species from Ni and is initiated by electron transfer from a [2Fe-2S] cluster in the HoxU subunit that at first becomes reduced by electrons from NADH. Electrons derived from H2 cleavage, on the other hand, are transferred to NAD+ via a different pathway involving a [4Fe-4S] cluster in HoxY, which is reducible only in wild-type SH but not in the H16L variant.     

Substitution of Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase small-subunit cysteines by serines can create insensitivity to inhibition by O2 and preferentially damages H2 oxidation over H2 evolution.

Mutants in which conserved cysteines 294, 297 or 64 and 65 of the Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase small subunit were replaced by serines were studied. Cysteines 294 and 297 are homologous to cysteines 246 and 249 of the Desulfovibrio gigas hydrogenase, and these cysteines are ligands to the [3Fe-4S] clusters (A. Volbeda, M.-H. Charon, C. Piras, E. C. Hatchikian, M. Frey, and J. C. Fontecilla-Camps, Nature (London) 373:580-587, 1995). Cysteine 65 is homologous to cysteine 20 of the D. gigas hydrogenase, and this cysteine is a ligand to the proximal [4Fe-4S] cluster. All three mutants retained some hydrogenase activity. All three mutants studied had H2 oxidation-to-H2 evolution activity ratios with whole cells of approximately 1.5, compared with 46 for the wild type. The changes preferentially deplete H2 oxidation activity, while having less effect on evolution. The K64,65C-->S hydrogenase was partially purified and had a specific activity for the evolution reaction that was 22% that of the wild type, while the oxidation-specific activity was 2% that of the wild type. Because cysteine 65 provides a ligand to the proximal [4Fe-4S] cluster, this cluster can be altered without entirely eliminating enzyme activity. Likewise, the detection of H2 evolution and H2 oxidation activities with whole cells and membranes of the K294C-->S and K297C-->S mutants indicates that the [3Fe-4S] cluster can also be altered or possibly eliminated without entirely eliminating enzyme activity. Membranes with K294C-->S or K297C-->S hydrogenase were uninhibited by O2 in H2 oxidation and uninhibited by H2 in H2 evolution. Wild-type membranes and membranes with K64,65C-->S hydrogenase were both sensitive to these inhibitors. These data indicate that the [3Fe-4S] cluster controls the reversible inhibition of hydrogenase activity by O2 or H2.     

Radical-induced inactivation of kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase: sensitivity to membrane lipid peroxidation and the protective effect of vitamin E

The Na+,K(+)-ATPase is a membrane-bound, sulfhydryl-containing protein whose activity is critical to maintenance of cell viability. The susceptibility of the enzyme to radical-induced membrane lipid peroxidation was determined following incorporation of a purified Na+,K(+)-ATPase into soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Treatment of liposomes with Fenton's reagent (Fe2+/H2O2) resulted in malondialdehyde formation and total loss of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. At 150 microM Fe2+/75 microM H2O2, vitamin E (5 mol%) totally prevented lipid peroxidation but not the loss of enzyme activity. Lipid peroxidation initiated by 25 microM Fe2+/12.5 microM H2O2 led to a loss of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity, however, vitamin E (1.2 mol%) prevented both malondialdehyde formation and loss of enzyme activity. In the absence of liposomes, there was complete loss of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in the presence of 150 microM Fe2+/75 microM H2O2, but little effect by 25 microM Fe2+/12.5 microM H2O2. The activity of the enzyme was also highly sensitive to radicals generated by the reaction of Fe2+ with cumene hydroperoxide, t-butylhydroperoxide, and linoleic acid hydroperoxide. Lipid peroxidation initiated by 150 microM Fe2+/150 microM Fe3+, an oxidant which may be generated by the Fenton's reaction, inactivated the enzyme. In this system, inhibition of malondialdehyde formation by vitamin E prevented loss of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. These data demonstrate the susceptibility of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase to radicals produced during lipid peroxidation and indicate that the ability of vitamin E to prevent loss of enzyme activity is highly dependent upon both the nature and the concentration of the initiating and propagating radical species.     

Thermodynamics of Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ binding to the urease metallochaperone UreE

The two Ni2+ ions in the urease active site are delivered by the metallochaperone UreE, whose metal binding properties are central to the assembly of this metallocenter. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has been used to quantify the stoichiometry, affinity, and thermodynamics of Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ binding to the well-studied C-terminal truncated H144*UreE from Klebsiella aerogenes, Ni2+ binding to the wild-type K. aerogenes UreE protein, and Ni2+ and Zn2+ binding to the wild-type UreE protein from Bacillus pasteurii. The stoichiometries and affinities obtained by ITC are in good agreement with previous equilibrium dialysis results, after differences in pH and buffer competition are considered, but the concentration of H144*UreE was found to have a significant effect on metal binding stoichiometry. While two metal ions bind to the H144*UreE dimer at concentrations <10 microM, three Ni2+ or Cu2+ ions bind to 25 microM dimeric protein with ITC data indicating sequential formation of Ni/Cu(H144*UreE)4 and then (Ni/Cu)2(H144*UreE)4, or Ni/Cu(H144*UreE)2, followed by the binding of four additional metal ions per tetramer, or two per dimer. The thermodynamics indicate that the latter two metal ions bind at sites corresponding to the two binding sites observed at lower protein concentrations. Ni2+ binding to UreE from K. aerogenes is an enthalpically favored process but an entropically driven process for the B. pasteurii protein, indicating chemically different Ni2+ coordination to the two proteins. A relatively small negative value of DeltaCp is associated with Ni2+ and Cu2+ binding to H144*UreE at low protein concentrations, consistent with binding to surface sites and small changes in the protein structure.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the recombination of Zn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ with the metal-depleted catalytic site of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase

The kinetics of the recombination of the metal-depleted active site of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH) with metal ions have been studied over a range of pH and temperature. The formation rates were determined optically, by activity measurements, or by using the pH change during metal incorporation with a pH-indicator as monitor. The binding of Zn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ ions occurs in a two-step process. The first step is a fast equilibrium reaction, characterized by an equilibrium constant K1. The spectroscopic and catalytic properties of the native or metal-substituted protein are recovered in a slow, monomolecular process with the rate constant k2. The rate constants k2 5.2 X 10(-2) sec-1 (Zn2+), 1.1 X 10(-3) sec-1 (Co2+), and 2 X 10(-4) sec-1 (Ni2+). The rate constants increase with increasing pH. Using temperature dependence, the activation parameters for the reaction with Co2+ and Ni2+ were determined. Activation energies of 51 +/- 2.5 kJ/mol (0.033 M N-Tris-(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminomethane sulfonic acid (TES), pH 6, 9) for Co2+ and 48.5 +/- 4 kJ/mol (0.033 M TES, pH 7, 2) for Ni2+ at 23 degrees C were found. The correspondent activation entropies are - 146 +/- 10 kJ/mol K for Co2+ and - 163 +/- 9 kJ/mol K for Ni2+. Two protons are released during the binding of Zn2+ to H4Zn(n)2 LADH in the pH range 6.8-8.1. The binding of coenzyme, either reduced or oxidized, prevents completely the incorporation of metal ions, suggesting that the metal ions enter the catalytic site via the coenzyme binding domain and not through the hydrophobic substrate channel.