Further characterisation of the FAD and Fe2S2 redox centres of component C, the NADH:acceptor reductase of the soluble methane monooxygenase of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

The absorbance contributions of the FAD and Fe2S2 redox centres of component C of the soluble methane monooxygenase complex have been resolved, using mersalyl to destroy the Fe2S2 centre. The Fe2S2 seems to be very similar to that of spinach ferredoxin, by its absorbance and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, and the FAD semiquinone is a neutral semiquinone. Spectrophotometry near room temperature and EPR spectroscopy near liquid-helium temperature allow the three redox couples of component C to be ordered. Component C can exist in Oe-1 (oxidised), 1e-1 (semiquinone), 2e-1 (mostly semiquinone and reduced Fe2S2), and 3e-1 forms (dihydroquinone and reduced Fe2S2), under equilibrium conditions. The ability of component C to support odd-electron forms is consistent with its proposed role as a 2e-1/1e-1 transformase, splitting electron pairs from NADH for passage to component A in one-electron steps. (The FAD appears to interact with NADH, and transfers single electrons to the Fe2S2, for donation to component A at a constant redox potential.) The mid-point potentials of component C were found using redox dyes and EPR spectroscopy and were: FAD/FAD., Em = -150 mV; Fe2S2/Fe2.S2,Em = -220 mV; FAD./FAD..,Em = -260 mV. the presence of NADH did not alter these mid-point potentials. These mid-point potentials are consistent with the role of component C as the NADH:component A reductase, passing electrons from NADH (Em = -320 mV) onto component A (Em = +150 mV and Em = -150 mV). The reducing power from NADH appears to be required by component A to activate one atom of oxygen, to insert into methane, and the reducing equivalents derived from NADH end up with the other oxygen atom, as water.     

甲基单胞菌Methylomonas sp.GYJ3中甲烷单加氧酶还原酶组分的纯化和性质

Ｍｅｔｙｌｏｍｏｎａｓｓｐ．ＧＹＪ３菌的甲烷单加氧酶（ＭＭＯ）粗酶提取液经ＤＥＡＥ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＣＬ－６Ｂ阴离子交换层析、ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００凝胶过滤层析和ＤＥＡＥ－ＴＳＫｇｅｌＨＰＬＣ分离纯化出ＭＭＯ还原酶组分．经ＨＰＬＣ分析,纯度大于９５％,纯化倍数为４．４,加入至ＭＭＯ羟基化酶和调节蛋白Ｂ的体系中表现比活为２２８ｎｍｏｌ环氧丙烷每分钟毫克蛋白．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ电泳表明还原酶由一种亚基组成,分子量４２ｋＤ．ＩＣＰ－ＡＥＳ测定还原酶的Ｆｅ含量为１．８３ｍｏｌＦｅ每ｍｏｌ蛋白．ＵＶ－Ｖｉｓ光谱表明还原酶除２８０ｎｍ蛋白质特征峰外在４６０ｎｍ有最大吸收峰,且Ａ２８０ｎｍ／Ａ４６０ｎｍ为２．５０,与其它黄素一铁硫蛋白相似,推测还原酶可能含一个ＦＡＤ辅基和Ｆｅ２Ｓ２中心．在厌氧条件下,还原酶能够和ＮＡＤＨ作用,ＵＶ－Ｖｉｓ光谱分析表明还原酶４６０ｎｍ处特征吸收峰消失,说明在ＭＭＯ催化过程中还原酶接受ＮＡＤＨ的电子．ＤＥＡＥ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＣＬ－６Ｂ阴离子交换层析分离出调节蛋白Ｂ,部分纯化的调节蛋白Ｂ的分子量大约在２０ｋＤ,它能够提高ＭＭＯ比活性４０倍,ＭＭＯ还原酶和调节蛋白Ｂ单独存在时不具有ＭＭＯ     

Expression and characterization of ferredoxin and flavin adenine dinucleotide binding domains of the reductase component of soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) catalyzes the selective oxidation of methane to methanol, the first step in the primary catabolic pathway of methanotrophic bacteria. A reductase (MMOR) mediates electron transfer from NADH through its FAD and [2Fe-2S] cofactors to the dinuclear non-heme iron sites housed in a hydroxylase (MMOH). The structurally distinct [2Fe-2S], FAD, and NADH binding domains of MMOR facilitated division of the protein into its functional ferredoxin (MMOR-Fd) and FAD/NADH (MMOR-FAD) component domains. The 10.9 kDa MMOR-Fd (MMOR residues 1-98) and 27.6 kDa MMOR-FAD (MMOR residues 99-348) were expressed and purified from recombinant Escherichia coli systems. The Fd and FAD domains have absorbance spectral features identical to those of the [2Fe-2S] and flavin components, respectively, of MMOR. Redox potentials, determined by reductive titrations that included indicator dyes, for the [2Fe-2S] and FAD cofactors in the domains are as follows: -205.2 +/- 1.3 mV for [2Fe-2S](ox/red), -172.4 +/- 2.0 mV for FAD(ox/sq), and -266.4 +/- 3.5 mV for FAD(sq/hq). Kinetic and spectral properties of intermediates observed in the reaction of oxidized MMOR-FAD (FAD(ox)) with NADH at 4 degrees C were established with stopped-flow UV-visible spectroscopy. Analysis of the influence of pH on MMOR-FAD optical spectra, redox potentials, and NADH reaction kinetics afforded pK(a) values for the semiquinone (FAD(sq)) and hydroquinone (FAD(hq)) MMOR-FAD species and two protonatable groups near the flavin cofactor. Electron transfer from MMOR-FAD(hq) to oxidized MMOR-Fd is extremely slow (k = 1500 M(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C, compared to 90 s(-1) at 4 degrees C for internal electron transfer between cofactors in MMOR), indicating that cofactor proximity is essential for efficient interdomain electron transfer.     

Domain engineering of the reductase component of soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) is a three-component enzyme system that catalyzes the conversion of methane to methanol. A reductase (MMOR), which contains [2Fe-2S] and FAD cofactors, facilitates electron transfer from NADH to the hydroxylase diiron active sites where dioxygen activation and substrate hydroxylation take place. By separately expressing the ferredoxin (MMORFd, MMOR residues 1-98) and FAD/NADH (MMOR-FAD, MMOR residues 99-348) domains of the reductase, nearly all biochemical properties of full-length MMOR are retained, except for interdomain electron transfer rates. To investigate the extent to which rapid electron transfer between domains might be restored and further to explore the modularity of MMOR, MMOR-Fd and MMOR-FAD were connected in a non-native fashion. Four different linker sequences were employed to create MMOR reversed-domain (MMOR-RD) constructs, MMOR(99-342)-linker-MMOR(2-98), with a domain connectivity observed in other homologous oxidoreductases. The optical, redox, and electron transfer properties of the four MMOR-RD proteins were characterized and compared with those of wild-type MMOR. The linker sequence plays a key role in controlling solvent accessibility to the FAD cofactor, as evidenced by perturbed flavin optical spectra, decreased FADox/FADsq redox potentials, and increased steady-state oxidase activities in three of the constructs. Stopped-flow optical spectroscopy revealed slow interdomain electron transfer (k < 0.04 s(-1) at 4 degrees C, compared with 90 s(-1) for wild-type MMOR) for all three MMOR-RD proteins with 7-residue linkers. A long (14-residue), flexible linker afforded much faster electron transfer between the FAD and [2Fe-2S] cofactors (k = 0.9 s(-1) at 4 degrees C).     

Protein B of soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). A novel regulatory protein of enzyme activity

An understanding of the mechanism of biological methane oxidation has been hampered by the lack of purified proteins. We describe here a purification protocol for the previously uncharacterized protein B of the soluble methane monooxygenase from the obligate methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Soluble methane monooxygenase is a multicomponent enzyme consisting of a hydroxylase component, protein A, a reductase component, protein C, and protein B. All three proteins are required for monooxygenase activity. Protein B proves to be a low molecular weight (16,000) single subunit protein devoid of prosthetic groups. The protein is a powerful regulator of soluble methane monooxygenase activity, possessing the capacity to convert the enzyme from an oxidase to an oxygenase. Proteins A and C together catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to water, a reaction prevented by protein B. The uncoupling of soluble methane monooxygenase in this manner displays a number of novel features. First, the product of the uncoupled reaction is water, and second, the uncoupling is independent of substrate. Free hydrogen peroxide is not an intermediate in the reduction of oxygen by the incomplete methane monooxygenase enzyme complex. Finally, electron transfer can occur between protein C and protein A in the absence of protein B and protein B prevents the steady-state transfer of electrons in the absence of an oxidizable substrate, such as methane. It is demonstrated that oxygen reduction occurs at the active site of the hydroxylase component, protein A. A unifying mechanism, describing the interaction of the three proteins of soluble methane monooxygenase, is proposed.     

Redox properties of the hydroxylase component of methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Effects of protein B, reductase, and substrate.

The reduction potentials of the hydroxylase component of the soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) have been investigated through potentiometric titrations. The potentials were determined by EPR spectroscopic quantitation of the mixed valent hydroxylase as a function of added sodium dithionite in the presence of appropriate mediators. The reduction of the oxidized Fe(III).Fe(III) form to the mixed valent Fe(II).Fe(III) form occurs at 48 mV versus NHE while the potential for the formation of the fully reduced Fe(II).Fe(II) species from the mixed valent form was determined to be -135 mV. Addition of the substrate propylene to the hydroxylase did not have a major effect on the reduction potentials. Introduction of the protein B and the reductase components, however, completely inhibited reduction of the hydroxylase at potentials as far negative as -200 mV. Addition of propylene to all three methane monooxygenase components greatly facilitated hydroxylase reduction. Under these conditions, the fully reduced form of the protein was obtained at potentials of greater than 150 mV. This high redox potential indicates that the oxidized form of the protein is highly reactive, as required for methane oxidation. The present results reveal aspects of how both protein B and substrate can regulate electron transfer into and out of the hydroxylase component of methane monooxygenase.     

A stopped-flow kinetic study of soluble methane mono-oxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).

1. The roles of the three protein components of soluble methane mono-oxygenase were investigated by the use of rapid-reaction techniques. The transfer of electrons through the enzyme complex from NADH to methane/O2 was also investigated. 2. Electron transfer from protein C, the reductase component, to protein A, the hydroxylase component, was demonstrated. Protein C was shown to undergo a three-electron--one-electron catalytic cycle. The interaction of protein C with NADH was investigated. Reduction of protein C was shown to be rapid, and a charge-transfer interaction between reduced FAD and NAD+ was observed; this intermediate was also found in static titration experiments. Thus the binding of NADH, the reduction of protein C and the intramolecular transfer of electrons through protein C were shown to be much more rapid than the turnover rate of methane mono-oxygenase. 3. The rate of transfer of electrons from protein C to protein A was shown to be lower than the reduction of protein C but higher than the turnover rate of methane mono-oxygenase. Association of the proteins was not rate-limiting. The amount of protein A present in the system had a small effect on the rate of reduction of protein C, indicating some co-operativity between the two proteins. 4. Protein B was shown to prevent electron transfer between protein C and protein A in the absence of methane. On addition of saturating concentrations of methane electron transfer was restored. With saturating concentrations of methane and O2 the observed rate constant for the conversion of methane into methanol was 0.26 s-1 at 18 degrees C. 5. By the use of [2H4]methane it was demonstrated that C-H-bond breakage is likely to be the rate-limiting step in the conversion of methane into methanol.     

Electron-transfer reactions of the reductase component of soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) catalyzes the hydroxylation of methane by dioxygen to afford methanol and water, the first step of carbon assimilation in methanotrophic bacteria. This enzyme comprises three protein components: a hydroxylase (MMOH) that contains a dinuclear nonheme iron active site; a reductase (MMOR) that facilitates electron transfer from NADH to the diiron site of MMOH; and a coupling protein (MMOB). MMOR uses a noncovalently bound FAD cofactor and a [2Fe-2S] cluster to mediate electron transfer. The gene encoding MMOR was cloned from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) and expressed in Escherichia coli in high yield. Purified recombinant MMOR was indistinguishable from the native protein in all aspects examined, including activity, mass, cofactor content, and EPR spectrum of the [2Fe-2S] cluster. Redox potentials for the FAD and [2Fe-2S] cofactors, determined by reductive titrations in the presence of indicator dyes, are FAD(ox/sq), -176 +/- 7 mV; FAD(sq/hq), -266 +/- 15 mV; and [2Fe-2S](ox/red), -209 +/- 14 mV. The midpoint potentials of MMOR are not altered by the addition of MMOH, MMOB, or both MMOH and MMOB. The reaction of MMOR with NADH was investigated by stopped-flow UV-visible spectroscopy, and the kinetic and spectral properties of intermediates are described. The effects of pH on the redox properties of MMOR are described and exploited in pH jump kinetic studies to measure the rate constant of 130 +/- 17 s(-)(1) for electron transfer between the FAD and [2Fe-2S] cofactors in two-electron-reduced MMOR. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters determined significantly extend our understanding of the sMMO system.     

Methane monooxygenase component B and reductase alter the regioselectivity of the hydroxylase component-catalyzed reactions. A novel role for protein-protein interactions in an oxygenase mechanism.

The soluble methane monooxygenase (MMO) system, consisting of reductase, component B, and hydroxylase (MMOH), catalyzes NADH and O2-dependent monooxygenation of many hydrocarbons. MMOH contains 2 mu-(H or R)oxo-bridged dinuclear iron clusters thought to be the sites of catalysis. Although rapid NADH-coupled turnover requires all three protein components, three less complex systems are also functional: System I, NADH, O2, reductase, and MMOH; System II, H2O2 and oxidized MMOH; System III, MMOH reduced nonenzymatically by 2e- and then exposed to O2 (single turnover). All three systems give the same products, suggesting a common reactive oxygen species. However, the distribution of products observed for most substrates that are hydroxylated in more than one position is different for each system. For several of these substrates, addition of component B to Systems I, II, or III causes the product distributions to shift dramatically. These shifts result in identical product distributions for Systems I and III in which MMOH passes through the 2e- reduced state ([Fe(II).Fe(II)]) during catalysis. In contrast, System II (in which MMOH probably does not become reduced) generally gives a unique product distribution. It is proposed that changes in MMOH structure occurring upon diiron cluster reduction and/or component complex formation cause substrates to be presented differently to the activated oxygen species. Kinetic studies show that component B strongly activates System I and, in most cases, strongly deactivates System II. The effect of component B on product distribution of System I (and III) occurs at less than 5% of the MMOH concentration, while nearly stoichiometric concentrations are required to maximize the rate of System I. This shows that component B has at least two roles in catalysis. EPR monitored titration of reduced MMOH ([Fe(II).Fe(II)]) with component B suggests that the effect of substoichiometric component B on product distribution is due to hysteresis in the MMOH conformational changes.     

Purification and characterisation of the NADH:acceptor reductase component of xylene monooxygenase encoded by the TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida mt-2.

The xylene monooxygenase system encoded by the TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida catalyses the hydroxylation of a methyl side-chain of toluene and xylenes. Genetic studies have suggested that this monooxygenase consists of two different proteins, products of the xylA and xylM genes, which function as an electron-transfer protein and a terminal hydroxylase, respectively. In this study, the electron-transfer component of xylene monooxygenase, the product of xylA, was purified to homogeneity. Fractions containing the xylA gene product were identified by its NADH:cytochrome c reductase activity. The molecular mass of the enzyme was determined to be 40 kDa by SDS/PAGE, and 42 kDa by gel filtration. The enzyme was found to contain 1 mol/mol of tightly but not covalently bound FAD, as well as 2 mol/mol of non-haem iron and 2 mol/mol of acid-labile sulfide, suggesting the presence of two redox centers, one FAD and one [2Fe-2S] cluster/protein molecule. The oxidised form of the protein had absorbance maxima at 457 nm and 390 nm, with shoulders at 350 nm and 550 nm. These absorbance maxima disappeared upon reduction of the protein by NADH or dithionite. The NADH:acceptor reductase was capable of reducing either one- or two-electron acceptors, such as horse heart cytochrome c or 2,6-dichloroindophenol, at an optimal pH of 8.5. The reductase was found to have a Km value for NADH of 22 microM. The oxidation of NADH was determined to be stereospecific; the enzyme is pro-R (class A enzyme). The titration of the reductase with NADH or dithionite yielded three distinct reduced forms of the enzyme: the reduction of the [2Fe-2S] center occurred with a midpoint redox potential of -171 mV; and the reduction of FAD to FAD. (semiquinone form), with a calculated midpoint redox potential of -244 mV. The reduction of FAD. to FAD.. (dihydroquinone form), the last stage of the titration, occurred with a midpoint redox potential of -297 mV. The [2Fe-2S] center could be removed from the protein by treatment with an excess of mersalyl acid. The [2Fe-2S]-depleted protein was still reduced by NADH, giving rise to the formation of the anionic flavin semiquinone observed in the native enzyme, thus suggesting that the electron flow was NADH --> FAD --> [2Fe-2S] in this reductase. The resulting protein could no longer reduce cytochrome c, but could reduce 2,6-dichloroindophenol at a reduced rate.     

Methane monooxygenase from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Purification and properties of a three-component system with high specific activity from a type II methanotroph

Methane monooxygenase has been purified from the Type II methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. As observed for methane monooxygenase isolated from Type I methanotrophs, three protein components are required: a 39.7-kDa NADH reductase containing 1 mol each of FAD and a [2Fe-2S] cluster, a 15.8-kDa protein factor termed component B that contains no metals or cofactors, and a 245-kDa hydroxylase which appears to contain an oxo- or hydroxo-bridged binuclear iron cluster. Through the use of stabilizing reagents, the hydroxylase is obtained in high yield and exhibits a specific activity 8-25-fold greater than reported for previous preparations. The component B and reductase exhibit 1.5- and 4-fold greater specific activity, respectively. Quantitation of the hydroxylase oxo-bridged cluster using EPR and M?ssbauer spectroscopies reveals that the highest specific activity preparations (approximately 1700 nmol/min/mg) contain approximately 2 clusters/mol. In contrast, hydroxylase preparations exhibiting a wide range of specific activities below 500 nmol/min/mg contain approximately 1 cluster/mol on average. Efficient turnover coupled to NADH oxidation requires all three protein components. However, both alkanes and alkenes are hydroxylated by the chemically reduced hydroxylase under single turnover conditions in the absence of component B and the reductase. Neither of these components catalyzes hydroxylation individually nor do they significantly affect the yield of hydroxylated product from the chemically reduced hydroxylase. Hydroxylase reduced only to the mixed valent [Fe(II).Fe(III)] state is unreactive toward O2 and yields little hydroxylated product on single turnover. This suggests that the catalytically active species is the fully reduced form. The data presented here provide the first evidence based on catalysis that the site of the monooxygenation reaction is located on the hydroxylase. It thus appears likely that the oxo-bridged iron cluster is capable of catalyzing oxygenase reactions without the intervention of other cofactors. This is a novel function for this type of cluster and implies a new mechanism for the generation of highly reactive oxygen capable of insertion into unactivated carbon-hydrogen bonds.     

Functional expression in Escherichia coli of proteins B and C from soluble methane monooxygenase of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).

Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) uses a soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) to catalyse the oxidation of methane to methanol. sMMO is comprised of three components; A, B and C. Protein C (the reductase) transfers electrons from NADH to protein A (the hydroxylase) which contains the active site, and protein B regulates this electron flow. The five genes encoding the sMMO proteins and their subunits are clustered and have been cloned in Escherichia coli. A DNA fragment containing mmoB, the gene encoding protein B, was subcloned into pT7-5, a plasmid of the T7 RNA polymerase promoter expression system. Upon induction, E. coli expressed protein B which was fully functional after purification. The gene encoding protein C, mmoC, was amplified with unique restriction sites at each end using the polymerase chain reaction and then subcloned into pT7-7 (a plasmid similar to pT7-5 but containing its own ribosome-binding site and ATG start codon). Protein C expressed in E. coli was also found to be functional. This is the first report of the functional expression of methanotroph methane monooxygenase genes in a heterologous host and represents a significant step forward in our analysis of the assembly and catalysis of sMMO.     

Structure,redox, p<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Subscript>a</Subscript>, spin. A golden tetrad for understanding metalloenzyme energetics and reaction pathways

After a review of the current status of density functional theory (DFT) for spin-polarized and spin-coupled systems, we focus on the resting states and intermediates of redox-active metalloenzymes and electron transfer proteins, showing how comparisons of DFT-calculated spectroscopic parameters with experiment and evaluation of related energies and geometries provide important information. The topics we examine include (1) models for the active-site structure of methane monooxygenase intermediate Q and ribonucleotide reductase intermediate X; (2) the coupling of electron transfer to proton transfer in manganese superoxide dismutase, with implications for reaction kinetics; (3) redox, pK(a), and electronic structure issues in the Rieske iron-sulfur protein, including their connection to coupled electron/proton transfer, and an analysis of how partial electron delocalization strongly alters the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum; (4) the connection between protein-induced structural distortion and the electronic structure of oxidized high-potential 4Fe4S proteins with implications for cluster reactivity; (5) an analysis of cluster assembly and central-atom insertion into the FeMo cofactor center of nitrogenase based on DFT structural and redox potential calculations.     

X-ray crystal structure of benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase reductase from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1

One of the major processes for aerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds is initiated by Rieske dioxygenases. Benzoate dioxygenase contains a reductase component, BenC, that is responsible for the two-electron transfer from NADH via FAD and an iron-sulfur cluster to the terminal oxygenase component. Here, we present the structure of BenC from Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 at 1.5 A resolution. BenC contains three domains, each binding a redox cofactor: iron-sulfur, FAD and NADH, respectively. The [2Fe-2S] domain is similar to that of plant ferredoxins, and the FAD and NADH domains are similar to members of the ferredoxin:NADPH reductase superfamily. In phthalate dioxygenase reductase, the only other Rieske dioxygenase reductase for which a crystal structure is available, the ferredoxin-like and flavin binding domains are sequentially reversed compared to BenC. The BenC structure shows significant differences in the location of the ferredoxin domain relative to the other domains, compared to phthalate dioxygenase reductase and other known systems containing these three domains. In BenC, the ferredoxin domain interacts with both the flavin and NAD(P)H domains. The iron-sulfur center and the flavin are about 9 A apart, which allows a fast electron transfer. The BenC structure is the first determined for a reductase from the class IB Rieske dioxygenases, whose reductases transfer electrons directly to their oxygenase components. Based on sequence similarities, a very similar structure was modeled for the class III naphthalene dioxygenase reductase, which transfers electrons to an intermediary ferredoxin, rather than the oxygenase component.     

NMR structure of the flavin domain from soluble methane monooxygenase reductase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) catalyzes the hydroxylation of methane by dioxygen to methanol, the first step in carbon assimilation by methanotrophs. This multicomponent system transfers electrons from NADH through a reductase component to the non-heme diiron center in the hydroxylase where O(2) is activated. The reductase component comprises three distinct domains, a [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin domain along with FAD- and NADH-binding domains. We report the solution structure of the reduced 27.6 kDa FAD- and NADH-binding domains (MMOR-FAD) of the reductase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). The FAD-binding domain consists of a six-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel and one alpha-helix, with the first 10 N-terminal residues unstructured. In the interface between the two domains, the FAD cofactor is tightly bound in an unprecedented extended conformation. The NADH-binding domain consists of a five-stranded parallel beta-sheet with four alpha-helices packing closely around this sheet. MMOR-FAD is structurally homologous to other FAD-containing oxidoreductases, and we expect similar structures for the FAD/NADH-binding domains of reductases that occur in other multicomponent monooxygenases.     

Oxidation of naphthalene by a multicomponent enzyme system from Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816.

The initial reactions in the oxidation of naphthalene by Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816 involves the enzymatic incorporation of one molecule of oxygen into the aromatic nucleus to form (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. The enzyme catalyzing this reaction, naphthalene dioxygenase, was resolved into three protein components, designated A, B, and C, by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Incubation of naphthalene with components A, B, and C in the presence of NADH resulted in the formation of (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene. The ratio of oxygen and NADH utilization to product formation was 1:1:1. NADPH also served as an electron donor for naphthalene oxygenation. However, its activity was less than 50% of that observed with NADH. Component A showed NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase activity which was stimulated by the addition of flavin adenine dinucleotide and flavin mononucleotide. A similar stimulation was observed when these flavin nucleotides were added to the naphthalene dioxygenase assay system. These preliminary observations indicate that naphthalene dioxygenase has properties in common with both monooxygenase and dioxygenase multicomponent enzyme systems.     

Methane monooxygenase: purification and properties of flavoprotein component

An anaerobic procedure was developed for the purification of the flavin:NADH oxidoreductase (flavoprotein) component of methane monooxygenase to homogeneity. The molecular weight of the flavoprotein determined by gel filtration was about 40,000, and by sedimentation equilibrium analysis, about 38,000. The purified flavoprotein is a monomeric protein with a sedimentation constant (S20,W) value of about 2.1 S. The absorption spectrum of the flavoprotein has a peak at 460 nm and shoulder at 395 nm. The fluorescent excitation and emission spectra of the fluorescent component of flavoprotein had peaks at 450, 370, and 530 nm, respectively. A FAD was identified as a prosthetic group of flavoprotein by thin-layer chromatography. The flavoprotein contained about 1 mol of FAD and 2 mol each of iron and acid-labile sulfide per mole of protein. The flavoprotein was directly reduced by NADH under anaerobic conditions. The formation of neutral flavin semiquinone was detected during anaerobic titration of flavoprotein by NADH and also as a free radical signal at a g value of 2.004 by EPR spectroscopy. The iron sulfur cluster has g values of 2.04, 1.96, and 1.87, yielding a g average of 1.96, characteristic of a Fe2S2 center. Antibody prepared against the flavoprotein reacted with flavoprotein and inhibited methane monooxygenase activity.     

Modification of the nucleotide cofactor-binding site of cytochrome P-450 reductase to enhance turnover with NADH in Vivo

NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase is the electron transfer partner for the cytochromes P-450, heme oxygenase, and squalene monooxygenase and is a component of the nitric-oxide synthases and methionine-synthase reductase. P-450 reductase shows very high selectivity for NADPH and uses NADH only poorly. Substitution of tryptophan 677 with alanine has been shown to yield a 3-fold increase in turnover with NADH, but profound inhibition by NADP(+) makes the enzyme unsuitable for in vivo applications. In the present study site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids in the 2'-phosphate-binding site of the NADPH domain, coupled with the W677A substitution, was used to generate a reductase that was able to use NADH efficiently without inhibition by NADP(+). Of 11 single, double, and triple mutant proteins, two (R597M/W677A and R597M/K602W/W677A) showed up to a 500-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) with NADH. Inhibition by NADP(+) was reduced by up to 4 orders of magnitude relative to the W677A protein and was equal to or less than that of the wild-type reductase. Both proteins were 2-3-fold more active than wild-type reductase with NADH in reconstitution assays with cytochrome P-450 1A2 and with squalene monooxygenase. In a recombinant cytochrome P-450 2E1 Ames bacterial mutagenicity assay, the R597M/W677A protein increased the sensitivity to dimethylnitrosamine by approximately 2-fold, suggesting that the ability to use NADH afforded a significant advantage in this in vivo assay.     

Expression and purification of the recombinant subunits of toluene/o-xylene monooxygenase and reconstitution of the active complex.

This paper describes the cloning of the genes coding for each component of the complex of toluene/o-xylene monooxygenase from Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1, their expression, purification and characterization. Moreover, the reconstitution of the active complex from the recombinant subunits has been obtained, and the functional role of each component in the electron transfer from the electron donor to molecular oxygen has been determined. The coexpression of subunits B, E and A leads to the formation of a subcomplex, named H, with a quaternary structure (BEA)2, endowed with hydroxylase activity. Tomo F component is an NADH oxidoreductase. The purified enzyme contains about 1 mol of FAD, 2 mol of iron, and 2 mol of acid labile sulfide per mol of protein, as expected for the presence of one [2Fe-2S] cluster, and exhibits a typical flavodoxin absorption spectrum. Interestingly, the sequence of the protein does not correspond to that previously predicted on the basis of DNA sequence. We have shown that this depends on minor errors in the gene sequence that we have corrected. C component is a Rieske-type ferredoxin, whose iron and acid labile sulfide content is in agreement with the presence of one [2Fe-2S] cluster. The cluster is very sensitive to oxygen damage. Mixtures of the subcomplex H and of the subunits F, C and D are able to oxidize p-cresol into 4-methylcathecol, thus demonstrating the full functionality of the recombinant subunits as purified. Finally, experimental evidence is reported which strongly support a model for the electron transfer. Subunit F is the first member of an electron transport chain which transfers electrons from NADH to C, which tunnels them to H subcomplex, and eventually to molecular oxygen.     

Heterologous expression and mechanistic investigation of a fungal cytochrome P450 (CYP5150A2): involvement of alternative redox partners

A fungal cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP5150A2) from the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified as an active form. The purified CYP5150A2 was capable of hydroxylating 4-propylbenzoic acid (PBA) with NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) as the single redox partner; the reaction efficiency was improved by the addition of electron transfer protein cytochrome b5 (Cyt-b5). Furthermore, CYP5150A2 exhibited substantial activity with redox partners Cyt-b5 and NADH-dependent Cyt-b5 reductase (CB5R) even in the absence of CPR. These results indicated that a combination of CB5R and Cyt-b5 may be capable of donating both the first and the second electrons required for the monooxygenation reaction. Under reaction conditions in which the redox system was associated with the CB5R-dependent Cyt-b5 reduction system, the exogenous addition of CPR and NADPH had no effect on the PBA hydroxylation rate or on coupling efficiency, indicating that the transfer of the second electron from Cyt-b5 was the rate-limiting step in the monooxygenase system. In addition, the rate of PBA hydroxylation was significantly dependent on Cyt-b5 concentration, exhibiting Michaelis-Menten kinetics. This study provides indubitable evidence that the combination of CB5R and Cyt-b5 is an alternative redox partner facilitating the monooxygenase reaction catalyzed by CYP5150A2.