Electrochemical and ligand binding studies of a de novo heme protein

Heme proteins can perform a variety of electrochemical functions. While natural heme proteins carry out particular functions selected by biological evolution, artificial heme proteins, in principle, can be tailored to suit specified technological applications. Here we describe initial characterization of the electrochemical properties of a de novo heme protein, S824C. Protein S824C is a four-helix bundle derived from a library of sequences that was designed by binary patterning of polar and nonpolar amino acids. Protein S824C was immobilized on a gold electrode and the formal potential of heme-protein complex was studied as a function of pH and ionic strength. The binding of exogenous N-donor ligands to heme/S824C was monitored by measuring shifts in the potential that occurred upon addition of various concentrations of imidazole or pyridine derivatives. The response of heme/S824C to these ligands was then compared to the response of isolated heme (without protein) to the same ligands. The observed shifts in potential depended on both the concentration and the structure of the added ligand. Small changes in structure of the ligand (e.g. pyridine versus 2-amino pyridine) produced significant shifts in the potential of the heme-protein. The observed shifts correlate to the differential binding of the N-donor molecules to the oxidized and reduced states of the heme. Further, it was observed that the electrochemical response of the buried heme in heme/S824C differed significantly from that of isolated heme. These studies demonstrate that the structure of the de novo protein modulates the binding of N-donor ligands to heme.     

Direct electron transfer of hemoglobin in layered alpha-zirconium phosphate with a high thermal stability

A heme protein hemoglobin (Hb) was reacted with preexfoliated layered alpha-zirconium phosphate (alpha-ZrP) platelets. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of small range showed that the exfoliated alpha-ZrP platelets reassembled after the addition of Hb molecules, with the protein intercalated between the layers. UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis displayed that no significant denaturation occurred to the intercalated protein. The bioactivity of Hb was also investigated by testing the electrochemical properties of the Hb/alpha-ZrP composite. Results showed that the intercalation of Hb into the layered material not only improved the thermal stability of Hb but also enhanced the direct electron transfer ability between protein molecules and electrode. The protein still showed bioactivity after treatment at a temperature as high as 85 degrees C. A pair of well-defined redox peaks at approximately -0.37 and -0.32V was observed on the cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of the Hb/alpha-ZrP composite modified electrode, and the electrode reactions showed a surface-controlled process with a single proton transfer. The resultant biosensor constructed by the Hb/alpha-ZrP composite displayed an excellent response to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) with good reproducibility.     

Cytochrome c3 from the sulfate-reducing anaerobe Desulfovibrio africanus Benghazi: purification and properties.

Cytochrome c3 was purified from Desulfovibrio africanus Benghazi by extraction with alkaline deoxyribonuclease, fractionation with ammonium sulfate, batch elution from carboxymethyl Sephadex followed by chromatography on the same resin, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. The preparation was judge homogeneous by a variety of criteria. The molecular weight was determined in an analytical ultracentrifuge, and values between 14,400 and 15,490 were obtained, depending upon the presumed value of partial specific volume. Gel filtration on a calibrated column of Sephadex G-75 gave a value of 14,900 daltons. The amino acid composition was very similar to that observed for the cytochrome from other species of Desulfovibrio, with the exception of increased levels of ThR and PhE. S-Carboxymethylation of the protein before and after heme removal by HgCl2 demonstrated eight Cys molecules involved in heme binding or four heme sites per molecule. Titration with sodium dithionite under N2 gave an electrochemical potential (E' 0) of -276 mV relative to the normal hydrogen electrode. Electrochemical titration of the cytochrome gave a Nernst plot with two linear regions with E' 0 values of -0.376 and -0.534 V. The spectra produced at various potentials exhibited shifts in isosbestic points upon reduction, suggesting changes in conformation during the reaction.     

Factors that determine the unusually low reduction potential of cytochrome c 550 in cyanobacterial photosystem II

A new purification protocol for cytochrome c550 (cyt c550) from His-tagged SYnechocYstis PCC 6803 photosystem II (PSII) was developed which allows the protein to be isolated in high yield and purity. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of cyt c550, both free in solution and in intact PSII preparations, yields identical spectra with g values at 1.50, 2.23, and 2.87, which are characteristic for a ferric low-spin bis-histidine coordinated heme. The resonance Raman spectrum of the isolated protein exhibits features characteristic of bis-histidine axial ligation of the iron and a slight ruffling of the heme macrocycle. Together, these results indicate that the heme structure is not very different from most c-type cytochromes, and thus the structure of the heme does not account for its unusually low reduction potential. A direct electrochemical measurement of the reduction potential was performed using square wave voltammetry on a pyrolytic graphite edge electrode, yielding E1.2=-108 mV (vs. NHE) with a peak separation of 5 mV. This value is 150 mV more positive than that previously measured by redox titrations. Because the behavior of the protein in the electrochemistry experiments is indicative of adsorption to the electrode surface, we surmise that binding of the protein to the electrode excludes solvent water from the heme-binding site. We conclude that the degree of solvent exposure makes a significant contribution to the heme reduction potential. Similarly, the binding of cyt c550 to PSII may also reduce the solvent exposure of the heme, and so the direct electrochemical value of the reduction potential may be relevant to the protein in its native state.     

Facile synthesis of Fe(3)O(4)@Al(2)O(3) core-shell nanoparticles and their application to the highly specific capture of heme proteins for direct electrochemistry

In this study, magnetic core-shell Fe(3)O(4)@Al(2)O(3) nanoparticles (NPs) attached to the surface of a magnetic glassy carbon electrode (MGCE) were used as a functional interface to immobilize several heme proteins including hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for fabricating protein/Fe(3)O(4)@Al(2)O(3) film. Transmission electron microscope, UV-vis spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the films. With the advantages of the magnetism and the excellent biocompatibility of the Fe(3)O(4)@Al(2)O(3) NPs, the protein/Fe(3)O(4)@Al(2)O(3) film could be easily fabricated in the present of external magnetic field, and well retained the bioactivity of the immobilized proteins, hence dramatically facilitated direct electron transfer of heme proteins and excellent electrocatalytic behaviors towards H(2)O(2) were demonstrated. The presented system avoids the complex synthesis for protecting Fe(3)O(4) NPs, supplies a facile, low cost and universal way to immobilize proteins, and is promising for construction of third-generation biosensors and other bio-magnetic induction devices.     

Fundamental studies of the cytochrome c immobilization by the potential cycling method on nanometer-scale nickel oxide surfaces

This work describes the performance of cytochrome c/nickel oxide nanoparticles/glassy carbon electrode, prepared by the electrochemical deposition of the nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) on the glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface and the cytochrome c immobilization on the nickel oxide nanoparticle surfaces. An extensive sample examination with the help of the SEM and AFM presented the existence of different geometrical shapes of the nickel oxide particles. These geometrical structures could lead to the better immobilization of proteins on their surfaces. The resulting electrode displayed an excellent behavior for the redox of the cytochrome c. Also, the resulting heme protein exhibited a direct electrical contact with the electrode because of the structural alignment of the heme protein on the nanometer-scale nickel oxide surfaces. This method could be suitable for applications to nanofabricated devices. In the end, it was concluded that the cytochrome c could be tethered to the nanometer-scale nickel oxide surfaces.     

MgFe-layered double hydroxide modified electrodes for direct electron transfer of heme proteins

In this study, the Fe-based layered double hydroxides (Mg(3)Fe LDH) were used to immobilize heme proteins including hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for fabrication of heme/Mg(3)Fe LDH film on glassy carbon electrode (Mg(3)Fe-heme/GCE). The possible role of iron in framework of LDH to promote direct electron transfer (DET) of heme proteins was investigated using an LDH containing non-iron as a reference. Hb was selected as a model protein for studying the electrocatalytic activity of immobilized heme in LDH film. The Mg(3)Fe-Hb/GCE displayed an enhanced electrocatalytic reduction towards H(2)O(2). The biosensor showed a very low detection limit (0.036μM) and apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (7.98μM). This work outlines that Fe-based LDH modified electrode provides a promising platform for immobilization of heme proteins and development of sensitive biosensors.     

Redox-induced conformational changes in myoglobin and hemoglobin: electrochemistry and ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy at surface-modified gold electrodes in an ultra-thin-layer spectroelectrochemical cell.

Using suitable surface-modified electrodes, we have developed an electrochemical system which allows a reversible heterogeneous electron transfer at high (approximately 5 mM) protein concentrations between the electrode and myoglobin or hemoglobin in an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell. With this cell, which is transparent from 190 to 10,000 nm, we have been able to obtain electrochemically-induced Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectra of both proteins. Clean protein difference spectra between the redox states were obtained because of the absence of redox mediators in the protein solution. The reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectra are characteristic for each protein and arise from redox-sensitive heme modes as well as from polypeptide backbone and amino acid side chain conformational changes concomitant with the redox transition. The amplitudes of the difference bands, however, are small as compared to the total amide I absorbance, and correspond to approximately 1% (4%) of the reduced-minus-oxidized difference absorbance in the Soret region of myoglobin (hemoglobin) and to less than 0.1% of the total amide I absorbance. Some of the bands in the 1560-1490-cm-1 spectral regions could be assigned to side-chain vibrational modes of aromatic amino acids. In the conformationally sensitive spectral region between 1680 and 1630 cm-1, bands could be attributed to peptide C = O modes because of their small (2-5 cm-1) shift in 2H2O. A similar assignment could be achieved for amide II modes because of their strong shift in 2H2O.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An electrochemical investigation of hemoglobin and catalase incorporated in collagen films

Collagen, an electrochemically inert protein, formed films on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes, which provided a suitable microenvironment for heme proteins to transfer electron directly with the underlying electrodes. Hemoglobin (Hb) and catalase (Cat) incorporated in collagen films exhibited a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks at around -0.35 V and -0.47 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 buffers, respectively, characteristic of the protein heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. UV-vis spectra showed that the heme proteins in collagen films retained their near-native conformations in the medium pH range. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the interaction between heme proteins and collagen made the morphology of dry protein-collagen films different from the collagen films alone. The electrochemical parameters such as apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) and formal potential (E degrees ') of the films were estimated by using square wave voltammograms (SWV) and nonlinear regression analysis. The heme protein-collagen film electrodes were also used to catalyze the reduction of nitrite, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, indicating potential applications of the films for the fabrication of a new type of biosensor that does not use mediators.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin immobilized on carbon paste electrode by silica sol-gel film

Direct electrochemical and electrocatalytic behaviors of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized on carbon paste electrode (CPE) by a silica sol-gel film derived from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) were investigated for the first time. Hb/sol-gel film modified electrodes showed a pair of well-defined and nearly reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks for Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple at about -0.312 V (versus Ag/AgCl) in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. The formal potential of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple varied linearly with the increase of pH in the range of 5.0-10.0 with a slope of 49.44 mV pH(-1), which suggests that a proton transfer is accompanied with each electron transfer (ET) in the electrochemical reaction. The immobilized Hb displayed the features of peroxidase and gave excellent electrocatalytic performance to the reduction of O2, NO2(-) and H2O2. The calculated apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was 8.98 x 10(-4)M, which indicated that there was a large catalytic activity of Hb immobilized on CPE by sol-gel film toward H2O2. In comparison with other electrodes, the chemically modified electrodes, used in this direct electrochemical study of Hb, are easy to be fabricated and rather inexpensive. Consequently, the Hb/sol-gel film modified electrode provides a convenient approach to perform electrochemical research on this kind of proteins. It also has potential use in the fabrication of the third generation biosensors and bioreactors.