Reactions of thiols and selenols with the FeMoS cluster [Fe(MoS4)2]3−

The known complex [Et₄N]₃[Fe(MoS₄)₂] has been shown by EPR and visible spectral studies to react with both thiophenol and selenophenol. The reaction results in a change in the characteristic S=3/2 EPR spectrum of this species from a complex rhombic pattern to one of a very simple axial appearance. Although this effect is similar to that observed for reaction of these species with the iron- molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase, a moiety known to consist of a FeMoS cluster species, the large excesses of reagents and the long reaction times required for complete formation of product indicate that these reactions are of questionable direct relevance to the biological system. The reaction corresponding to the EPR spectral change from rhombic to axial in the [Fe(MoS₄)₂]³⁻/PhSeH system has also been partially characterized by product isolation which indicates that attack by selenol of the two terminal MoS₂ moieties in the starting material has occurred.     

Preliminary X-ray diffraction studies on a [4Fe4S] ferredoxin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus

A [4Fe4S] ferredoxin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus has been crystallized. The space group is P1 with two molecules in the unit cell, with the dimensions $\text{a = 32.96}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 37.83}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 39.82}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, α = 118.1 °, β = 104.2 °}\text{and}\text{γ = 89.7 °}$. The Bijvoet-difference Patterson map of the native crystal shows up a prominent peak of [4Fe4S] cluster.     

Purification and characterization of a fix ABCX-linked 2[4Fe-4S] ferredoxin from Azotobacter vinelandii

 Ferredoxins that contain 2[4Fe-4S]^2+/+ clusters can be divided into two classes. The "clostridial-type" ferredoxins have two CysXXCysXXCysXXXCysPro motifs. The "photosynthetic bacterial and nif-related" ferredoxins have one motif of that type and one more unusual CysXXCysX_7–9CysXXXCysPro motif. In Azotobacter vinelandii three gene sequences have been reported that contain the latter motif, but until now none of the gene products has been purified. Here we report the purification of a small anionic [Fe-S] protein with yields of ∼3 mg per 500 g cell paste. NH₂-terminal sequence analysis shows that this protein is the product of a previously sequenced A. vinelandii gene that is found upstream of fixA and is cotranscribed with fixABCX. That gene was originally named fixP, but since that gene designation is now commonly used for a very different cb-type cytochrome oxidase we have renamed the gene fixFd and its product Fix Fd. Its sequence places Fix Fd in the class of "photosynthetic bacterial and nif-related" 2[4Fe-4S]^2+/1+ ferredoxins that includes Chromatium vinosum ferredoxin. Studies of the purified protein by Fe analysis, absorption, CD and EPR spectroscopies and electrochemistry confirm this characterization; the reduction potentials of the two clusters are –440 mV vs SHE. The fact that A. vinelandii synthesizes three different proteins with the same sequence motif, each of which is likely to have a different function, shows that although sequence motifs may be used reliably to classify ferredoxins by cluster type they cannot yet be used reliably for classifying ferredoxins by function. Received: 31 January 1997 / Accepted: 9 June 1997     

Desulfovibrio gigas ferredoxin II: redox structural modulation of the [3Fe–4S] cluster

Desulfovibrio gigas ferredoxin II (DgFdII) is a small protein with a polypeptide chain composed of 58 amino acids, containing one Fe₃S₄ cluster per monomer. Upon studying the redox cycle of this protein, we detected a stable intermediate (FdII_int) with four ¹H resonances at 24.1, 20.5, 20.8 and 13.7 ppm. The differences between FdII_ox and FdII_int were attributed to conformational changes resulting from the breaking/formation of an internal disulfide bridge. The same ¹H NMR methodology used to fully assign the three cysteinyl ligands of the [3Fe–4S] core in the oxidized state (DgFdII_ox) was used here for the assignment of the same three ligands in the intermediate state (DgFdII_int). The spin-coupling model used for the oxidized form of DgFdII where magnetic exchange coupling constants of around 300 cm⁻¹ and hyperfine coupling constants equal to 1 MHz for all the three iron centres were found, does not explain the isotropic shift temperature dependence for the three cysteinyl cluster ligands in DgFdII_int. This study, together with the spin delocalization mechanism proposed here for DgFdII_int, allows the detection of structural modifications at the [3Fe-4S] cluster in DgFdII_ox and DgFdII_int.     

Radical S-adenosylmethionine maquette chemistry: Cx3Cx2C peptide coordinated redox active [4Fe–4S] clusters

JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry - The synthesis and characterization of short peptide-based maquettes of metalloprotein active sites facilitate an inquiry into their...     

Structure of a [2Fe–2S] ferredoxin from Rhodobacter capsulatus likely involved in Fe–S cluster biogenesis and conformational changes observed upon reduction

FdVI from Rhodobacter capsulatus is structurally related to a group of [2Fe–2S] ferredoxins involved in iron–sulfur cluster biosynthesis. Comparative genomics suggested that FdVI and orthologs found in α-Proteobacteria are involved in this process. Here, the crystal structure of FdVI has been determined for both the oxidized and the reduced protein. The [2Fe–2S] cluster lies 6 Å below the protein surface in a hydrophobic pocket without access to the solvent. This particular cluster environment might explain why the FdVI midpoint redox potential (?306 mV at pH 8.0) did not show temperature or ionic strength dependence. Besides the four cysteines that bind the cluster, FdVI features an extra cysteine which is located close to the S1 atom of the cluster and is oriented in a position such that its thiol group points towards the solvent. Upon reduction, the general fold of the polypeptide chain was almost unchanged. The [2Fe–2S] cluster underwent a conformational change from a planar to a distorted lozenge. In the vicinity of the cluster, the side chain of Met24 was rotated by 180°, bringing its S atom within hydrogen-bonding distance of the S2 atom of the cluster. The reduced molecule also featured a higher content of bound water molecules, and more extensive hydrogen-bonding networks compared with the oxidized molecule. The unique conformational changes observed in FdVI upon reduction are discussed in the light of structural studies performed on related ferredoxins.     

The CCG-domain-containing subunit SdhE of succinate:quinone oxidoreductase from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 binds a [4Fe–4S] cluster

In type E succinate:quinone reductase (SQR), subunit SdhE (formerly SdhC) is thought to function as monotopic membrane anchor of the enzyme. SdhE contains two copies of a cysteine-rich sequence motif (CX _n CCGX _m CXXC), designated as the CCG domain in the Pfam database and conserved in many proteins. On the basis of the spectroscopic characterization of heterologously produced SdhE from Sulfolobus tokodaii, the protein was proposed in a previous study to contain a labile [2Fe–2S] cluster ligated by cysteine residues of the CCG domains. Using UV/vis, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), ⁵⁷Fe electron–nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and Mössbauer spectroscopies, we show that after an in vitro cluster reconstitution, SdhE from S. solfataricus P2 contains a [4Fe–4S] cluster in reduced (2+) and oxidized (3+) states. The reduced form of the [4Fe–4S]²⁺ cluster is diamagnetic. The individual iron sites of the reduced cluster are noticeably heterogeneous and show partial valence localization, which is particularly strong for one unique ferrous site. In contrast, the paramagnetic form of the cluster exhibits a characteristic rhombic EPR signal with g _zyx  = 2.015, 2.008, and 1.947. This EPR signal is reminiscent of a signal observed previously in intact SQR from S. tokodaii with g _zyx  = 2.016, 2.00, and 1.957. In addition, zinc K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated the presence of an isolated zinc site with an S₃(O/N)₁ coordination in reconstituted SdhE. Since cysteine residues in SdhE are restricted to the two CCG domains, we conclude that these domains provide the ligands to both the iron–sulfur cluster and the zinc site.     

On the reactivity of tetracyanonitrosylferrate(2−). III. Redox reactivity of [Fe(CN)4NO]2−

Redox properties of the ion [Fe(CN)₄NO]²⁻ were studied electrochemically both in non-aqueous and aqueous media in the absence of free cyanide ions. It was found that while the reduction proceeds smoothly the oxidation is not observed at the electrode in the attainable potential range, and can be achieved only by Br₂ oxidation taking place as oxidative addition. Aspects of the redox reactivity are discussed and the overall scheme of reactions of the tetracyanonitrosylferrate(2−) and derived species is given.     

The search for a coordinated dialkyl disulphide: The crystal and molecular structure of (μ-ethanedithiolato)bis(tricarbonyliron)(FeFe)

Despite considerable effort, no compounds containing an alkyl disulphide linked to a single metalion have been isolated. The complex [{fFe(SCH₂CH₂- S)₂}₂]²⁻ is a strong reducing agent. [Fe₃(CO)₁₂] with 1,2,5,6-tetrathiacyclooctane yields [(SCH₂CH₂S){Fe- (CO)₃}₂], the structure of which has been determined by X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis and structure of a novel molybdenum-iron-sulfur cluster with Mo2Fe2 core and all-disulfide chelate ligands, [Mo2Fe2(μ3-S)4(S2CNEt2)5] CH3CN

The cluster compound [Mo₂Fe₂(μ₃-S)₄- (S₂CNEt₂)₅]CH₃CN has been prepared from the reaction system containing (NH₄)₂MoS₄, FeCl₃, NaS₂CNEt₂, PhSH and NaOCH₃. The crystal and molecular structure have been determined by the low temperature X-ray diffraction technique. The compound crystallizes in space group P2₁/c of the monoclinic system with a = 19.397(7), b = 10.891(7), c = 24.302(8) Å, β = 108.95(2)° and Z = 4. With use of 2647 reflections (I)>2.5σ(I)) the structure was refined to R(R_w) = 0.045(0.036). The cluster Mo₂Fe₂S₄(S₂CNEt₂)₅ has a cubane-like skeleton [Mo₂Fe₂S₄]⁵⁺. Each metal atom is coordinated by three μ₃-S atoms and a disulfide chelate terminal ligand. The fifth S₂CNEt₂ group as a bridging ligand coordinates to two Mo atoms. In a molecule of the compound, the two Mo atoms are equivalent but the two Fe atoms are unequivalent.     

The reactivity of bromoform with [Au(CH2)2PPh2]2. The completion of the halomethane series CHyX4−y (y=3,2,1,0; X=Cl,Br, I) and reactivity with [Au(CH2)2PPh2]2

The reaction of [Au(CH₂)₂PPh₂]₂ with excess CHBr₃ in benzene initially gives [Au(CH₂)₂PPh₂]₂₋ (CHBr₂)Br. This observation establishes that halomethanes, CH_yX_4−y (y=3,2,1,0; X=Cl, Br, I), react with [Au(CH₂)₂PPh₂]₂ to initially give Au(II) adducts of the general form [Au(CH₂)₂PPh₂]₂₋(CH_yX_3−y)X (y=3,2,1,0) via oxidative addition across the carbon-halogen bond. The order of reactivity inversely follows the order of carbon-halogen bond dissociation energies of haloalkanes. Methyl chloride is the only halomethane of the series that does not give a Au(II) adduct under similar reaction conditions.     

DNA repair glycosylases with a [4Fe-4S] cluster: a redox cofactor for DNA-mediated charge transport?

The [4Fe-4S] cluster is ubiquitous to a class of base excision repair enzymes in organisms ranging from bacteria to man and was first considered as a structural element, owing to its redox stability under physiological conditions. When studied bound to DNA, two of these repair proteins (MutY and Endonuclease III from Escherichia coli) display DNA-dependent reversible electron transfer with characteristics typical of high potential iron proteins. These results have inspired a reexamination of the role of the [4Fe-4S] cluster in this class of enzymes. Might the [4Fe-4S] cluster be used as a redox cofactor to search for damaged sites using DNA-mediated charge transport, a process well known to be highly sensitive to lesions and mismatched bases? Described here are experiments demonstrating the utility of DNA-mediated charge transport in characterizing these DNA-binding metalloproteins, as well as efforts to elucidate this new function for DNA as an electronic signaling medium among the proteins.     

Optical and TDPAC spectroscopy of Hg(II)-rubredoxin: model for a mononuclear tetrahedral [Hg(CysS)4]2− center

Rubredoxins possess a well-defined mononuclear tetrahedral tetrathiolate metal binding site, a feature exploited by several investigations to study the spectroscopic characteristics and the coordination chemistry of different metal ions at this binding site. In the present work, Hg(II)-substituted rubredoxin (Rd) from Desulfovibrio gigas has been studied by electronic absorption, circular dichroism (CD), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and time differential perturbed angular correlation of γ-rays (TDPAC) spectroscopies. The TDPAC spectrum of ^199mHg-Rd at pH 8 exhibits a prevailing nuclear quadrupole interaction (NQI) with a precession frequency of ω₁=0.09 Grad/s and an asymmetry parameter η=0, features characteristic of a slightly distorted tetrahedral tetrathiolate metal coordination, i.e, a HgCysS₄ center. In addition, three minor populated NQIs have also been detected. They may represent a trigonal HgS₃ (ω₁=1.13 Grad/s, η=0.21), a digonal HgS₂ (ω₁=1.34 Grad/s, η=0.20), and a digonal Hg(II) coordination (ω₁=1.58 Grad/s, η= 0.18) with unidentified ligands. Since similar studies at pH 2.5 revealed a time-dependent increase of the HgCysS₄ population, the low populated sites may represent intermediate Hg(II) complexes formed prior to the generation of the thermodynamically stable structure. The metal-induced absorption envelope of Hg-Rd reveals three distinct transitions with Gaussian-resolved maxima located at 230, 257, and 284 nm, which are paralleled by dichroic features in the corresponding difference CD spectrum of Hg(II)-Rd versus apo-Rd. Based on the optical electronegativity theory of Jørgensen, the lowest energy transition has been attributed to a CysS-Hg(II) charge-transfer excitation. The T _d type of metal coordination in Hg-Rd is supported by the presence of an unresolved A-term with a negative lobe at 295 nm in the difference MCD spectrum. These results point to the usefulness of optical and TDPAC spectroscopies for studying Hg(II) sites in other proteins.