硫化物抑制潮土反硝化过程中氧化亚氮还原的菌群机制

【背景】土壤中的反硝化作用形成气态产物N₂O和N₂,会导致氮素的气态损失,并造成温室效应。硫化物对土壤的N₂O还原具有抑制作用,但其对菌群和功能基因的影响机制还不清楚。【目的】研究有无外加碳源情况下,硫化物对反硝化作用中间产物(NO、N₂O)的积累、反硝化功能基因(narG、nirS、nirK和nosZ)表达量以及菌群结构的影响。【方法】分别设置不同量葡萄糖(0和1000mg-C/kg干重土壤)和硫化钠(0和150mg-S/kg干重土壤)添加的交叉处理,进行室内微宇宙培养实验,利用自动化培养与实时气体检测系统检测培养过程中NO、N₂O和N₂的积累量,通过反转录定量PCR测定反硝化功能基因表达量,利用MiSeq技术平台基于16S rRNA基因序列的高通量测序分析样品的菌群结构。【结果】硫化钠的添加显著抑制N₂O还原,但是其对于N₂O积累量没有显著影响,却显著降低了NO的积累量。硫化钠的添加短时间内在转录水平上显著抑...     

Enhanced efficiency of ATP hydrolysis during nitrogenase catalysis utilizing reductants that form the all-ferrous redox state of the Fe protein

The amount of MgATP hydrolyzed per pair of electrons transferred (ATP/2e) during nitrogenase catalysis (1.0 atm N(2), 30 degrees C) using titanium(III) citrate (Ti(III)) as reductant was measured and compared to the same reaction using dithionite (DT). ATP/2e values near 2.0 for Ti(III) and 5.0 for DT indicate that nitrogenase has a much lower ATP requirement using Ti(III) as reductant. Using reduced Azotobacter vinelandii flavoprotein (AvFlpH(2)), a possible in vivo nitrogenase reductant, ATP/2e values near 2.0 were also observed. When the reaction was conducted using Ti(III) under N(2), 5% CO in N(2), Ar, 5% CO in Ar, or acetylene, ATP/2e values near 2.0 were also observed. With Ti(III) as reductant, ATP/2e values near 2.0 were measured as a function of temperature, Fe:MoFe protein ratio, and MoFe:Fe protein ratio, in contrast to measured values of 4.0-25 when DT is used under the same conditions. Both Ti(III) and AvFlpH(2) are capable of forming the [Fe(4)S(4)](0) cluster state of the Fe protein whereas DT is not, suggesting that ATP/2e values near 2.0 arise from operation of the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](0) redox couple with hydrolysis of only 2 ATPs per pair of electrons transferred. Additional experiments showed that ATP/2e values near 2. 0 correlated with slower rates of product formation and that faster rates of product formation produced ATP/2e values near 5.0. ATP/2e values of 5.0 are consistent with the operation of the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](1+) redox couple while ATP/2e values of 2.0 could arise from operation of the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](0) redox couple. These results suggest that two distinct Fe protein redox couples may be functional during nitrogenase catalysis and that the efficiency of ATP utilization depends on which of these redox couples is dominant.     

NO removal in continuous BioDeNOx reactors: Fe(II)EDTA2- regeneration, biomass growth, and EDTA degradation

BioDeNOx is a novel technique for NOx removal from industrial flue gases. In principle, BioDeNOx is based on NO absorption into an aqueous Fe(II)EDTA2- solution combined with biological regeneration of that scrubber liquor in a bioreactor. The technical and economical feasibility of the BioDeNOx concept is strongly determined by high rate biological regeneration of the aqueous Fe(II)EDTA2- scrubber liquor and by EDTA degradation. This investigation deals with the Fe(II)EDTA2- regeneration capacity and EDTA degradation in a lab-scale BioDeNOx reactor (10-20 mM Fe(II)EDTA2-, pH 7.2 +/- 0.2, 55 degrees C), treating an artificial flue gas (1.5 m3/h) containing 60-155 ppm NO and 3.5-3.9% O2. The results obtained show a contradiction between the optimal redox state of the aqueous FeEDTA solution for NO absorption and the biological regeneration. A low redox potential (below -150 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) is needed to obtain a maximal NO removal efficiency from the gas phase via Fe(II)EDTA2- absorption. Fe(III)EDTA- reduction was found to be too slow to keep all FeEDTA in the reduced state. Stimulation of Fe(III)EDTA- reduction via periodical sulfide additions (2 mM spikes twice a week for the conditions applied in this study) was found to be necessary to regenerate the Fe(II)EDTA2- scrubber liquor and to achieve stable operation at redox potentials below -150 mV (pH 7.2 +/- 0.2). However, redox potentials of below -200 mV should be avoided since sulfide accumulation is unwanted because it is toxic for NO reduction. Very low values for biomass growth rate and yield, respectively, 0.043/d and 0.009 mg protein per mg ethanol, were observed. This might be due to substrate limitations, that is the electron acceptors NO and presumably polysulfide, or to physiological stress conditions induced by the EDTA rich medium or by radicals formed in the scrubber upon the oxidation of Fe(II)EDTA2- by oxygen present in the flue gas. Radicals possibly also induce EDTA degradation, which occurs at a substantial rate: 2.1 (+/-0.1) mM/d under the conditions investigated.     

Effects of sulfide and low redox potential on the inhibition of nitrous oxide reduction by acetylene in Pseudomonas nautica

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry was used to investigate the inhibitory effect of acetylene on the nitrous oxide reductase activity of intact cells of Pseudomonas nautica. We studied the effects of the concentrations of nitrate and sulfide, and the redox potential, which have all been implicated in causing a decrease in the inhibitory effects of acetylene during measurements of denitrification in natural environments. There was no evidence that the concentration of nitrate influenced the effect of acetylene. Lowering the redox potential with the reductant Ti(III)-nitrilotriacetate caused a slight alleviation of acetylene inhibition. Much greater effects at the same redox potential were obtained with concentrations of sulfide in the range 1-10 microM.     

NOx removal from flue gas by an integrated physicochemical absorption and biological denitrification process

An integrated physicochemical and biological technique for NO(x) removal from flue gas, the so-called BioDeNO(x) process, combines the principles of wet absorption of NO in an aqueous Fe(II)EDTA(2-) solution with biological reduction of the sorbed NO in a bioreactor. The biological reduction of NO to di-nitrogen gas (N(2)) takes place under thermophilic conditions (55 degrees C). This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of this BioDeNO(x) concept in a bench-scale installation with a continuous flue gas flow of 650 l.h(-1) (70-500 ppm NO; 0.8-3.3% O(2)). Stable NO removal with an efficiency of at least 70% was obtained in case the artificial flue gas contained 300 ppm NO and 1% O(2) when the bioreactor was inoculated with a denitrifying sludge. An increase of the O(2) concentration of only 0.3% resulted in a rapid elevation of the redox potential (ORP) in the bioreactor, accompanied by a drastic decline of the NO removal efficiency. This was not due to a limitation or inhibition of the NO reduction, but to a limited biological iron reduction capacity. The latter leads to a depletion of the NO absorption capacity of the scrubber liquor, and thus to a poor NO removal efficiency. Bio-augmentation of the reactor mixed liquor with an anaerobic granular sludge with a high Fe(III) reduction capacity successfully improved the bioreactor efficiency and enabled to treat a flue gas containing at least 3.3% O(2) and 500 ppm NO with an NO removal efficiency of over 80%. The ORP in the bioreactor was found to be a proper parameter for the control of the ethanol supply, needed as electron donor for the biological regeneration process. The NO removal efficiency as well as the Fe(III)EDTA(-) reduction rate were found to decline at ORP values higher than -140 mV (pH 7.0). For stable BioDeNO(x) operation, the supply of electron donor (ethanol) can be used to control the ORP below that critical value.     

Redox titrations of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Clostridium thermoaceticum.

Redox titrations of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) from Clostridium thermoaceticum were performed using the reductant CO and the oxidant thionin. Titrations were followed at 420 nm, a wavelength sensitive to redox changes of the iron-sulfur clusters in the enzyme. When CODH was oxidized by just enough thionin to maximize A420, two molecules of CO per mole of CODH dimer (4 equiv/mol) reduced the enzyme fully. Likewise, 4 equiv/mol of thionin oxidized the fully-reduced enzyme to the point where A420 maximized. The four n = 1 redox sites which titrated in this region were designated group I sites. They include at least two iron-sulfur clusters, [Fe/S]A and [Fe/S]B, and two other sites, A' and B'. The [Fe4S4]2+/1+ cluster in CODH is included in this group. [Fe/S]B and B' have reduction potentials (at pH 8) below -480 mV vs NHE; [Fe/S]A and A' have reduction potentials above that value. The reduction potential of either [Fe/S]B or B' is near to the CO/CO2 couple at pH 8 (-622 mV). When CODH was oxidized by more than enough thionin to maximize A420, some of the excess thionin oxidized the so-called group II redox sites. These sites have reduction potentials more positive than group I and do not exhibit changes at 420 nm when titrated. Titration of group II sites required 1-2 equiv/mol. EPR of reduced group II sites exhibited the gav = 1.82 signal. When these sites were oxidized, the only signal present had g values at 2.075, 2.036, and 1.983.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Denitrification by fungi

Many fungi in the centre of the group of Fusarium and its teleomorphs were shown to be capable of reducing nitrite anaerobically to form nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and/or dinitrogen (N2). Several strains could reduce nitrate as well. Nitrous oxide was the major product of the reduction of nitrate or nitrite. Several fungi could also form N2. When [15]nitrite was used as substrate for the N2-forming denitrification, 15N2O, 15NO, and 14N15N were obtained as the products. These results demonstrated that, unexpectedly, many fungi have denitrifying abilities. It was also shown that the fungal system contains a unique reaction, formation of a hybrid dinitrogen.     

15N tracer studies on the reduction of nitrite by the purified dissimilatory nitrite reductase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Evidence for direct production of N2O without free NO as an intermediate

Nitrite reductase (cytochrome c,d1) was purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the presence of the reducing system, ascorbate-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenyl-enediamine, which alone had no ability to reduce nitrite or NO at pH 7.5, the enzyme catalyzed the reduction of nitrite to NO and N2O as major and minor products, respectively, as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The rate of reduction of NO to N2O was considerably lower than the rate of reduction of nitrite to N2O and might be zero. The N2O produced in a system containing [15N]nitrite and natural NO was more highly enriched in 15N than was the NO pool and, in this regard, closely resembled the enrichment of the nitrite pool. The amount of 14N in the NO pool changed little, if any, as the result of enzymatic processes. For the enzyme, free NO seems not to be an intermediate between nitrite and N2O, just as was found by this laboratory for certain intact denitrifying bacteria. The results are consistent with reduction of nitrite to enzyme-bound NO, which can partition between release and further reduction.     

Evidence for a two-electron transfer using the all-ferrous Fe protein during nitrogenase catalysis

The nitrogenase-catalyzed H(2) evolution and acetylene-reduction reactions using Ti(III) and dithionite (DT) as reductants were examined and compared under a variety of conditions. Ti(III) is known to make the all-ferrous Fe protein ([Fe(4)S(4)](0)) and lowers the amount of ATP hydrolyzed during nitrogenase catalysis by approximately 2-fold. Here we further investigate this behavior and present results consistent with the Fe protein in the [Fe(4)S(4)](0) redox state transferring two electrons ([Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](0)) per MoFe protein interaction using Ti(III) but transferring only one electron ([Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](1+)) using DT. MoFe protein specific activity was measured as a function of Fe:MoFe protein ratio for both a one- and a two-electron transfer reaction, and nearly identical curves were obtained. However, Fe protein specific activity curves as a function of MoFe:Fe protein ratio showed two distinct reactivity patterns. With DT as reductant, typical MoFe inhibition curves were obtained for operation of the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](1+) redox couple, but with Ti(III) as reductant the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](0) redox couple was functional and MoFe inhibition was not observed at high MoFe:Fe protein ratios. With Ti(III) as reductant, nitrogenase catalysis produced hyperbolic curves, yielding a V(max) for the Fe protein specific activity of about 3200 nmol of H(2) min(-1) mg(-1) Fe protein, significantly higher than for reactions conducted with DT as reductant. Lag phase experiments (Hageman, R. V., and Burris, R. H. (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 75, 2699-2702) were carried out at MoFe:Fe protein ratios of 100 and 300 using both DT and Ti(III). A lag phase was observed for DT but, with Ti(III) product formation, began immediately and remained linear for over 30 min. Activity measurements using Av-Cp heterologous crosses were examined using both DT and Ti(III) as reductants to compare the reactivity of the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](1+) and [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](0) redox couples and both were inactive. The results are discussed in terms of the Fe protein transferring two electrons per MoFe protein encounter using the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+)/[Fe(4)S(4)](0) redox couple with Ti(III) as reductant.     

Reactions of Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase using Ti(III) as reductant

Nitrogenase-catalyzed reactions using Ti(III) were examined under a wide variety of conditions to determine the suitability of Ti(III) to serve as a general nitrogenase reductant. Solutions prepared from H2-reduced TiCl3, aluminum-reduced TiCl3, TiCl2, evaporated TiCl3 from an HCl, solution, and TiF3 were evaluated as reductants. Three general types of reactivity were observed. The first showed that, below Ti(III) concentrations of about 0.50 mM, nitrogenase catalysis utilized Ti(III) in a first-order reaction. The second showed that, above 0.50 mM, the rate of nitrogenase catalysis was zero order in Ti(III), indicating the enzyme was saturated with this reductant. Above 2.0-5.0 mM, nitrogenase catalysis was inhibited by Ti(III) depending on the titanium source used for solution preparation. This inhibition was investigated and found to be independent of the buffer type and pH, while high salt and citrate concentrations caused moderate inhibition. [Ti(IV)] above 2.0-3.0 mM and [Ti(III)] above about 5.0 mM were inhibitory. ATP/2e values were 4-5 for [Ti(III)] at or below 1.0-2.0 mM, 2.0 from 5.0 to 7.0 mM Ti(III) where nitrogenase is not inhibited, and 2.0 above 7.0 mM Ti(III) where severe inhibition occurs. For nitrogenase-catalyzed reactions using Ti(III) as reductant, the potential of the solution changes with time as the Ti(III)/Ti(IV) ratio changes. From the change in the rate of product formation (Ti(III) disappearance) with change in solution potential, the rate of nitrogenase catalysis was determined as a function of solution potential. From such experiments, a midpoint turnover potential of -480 mV was determined for nitrogenase catalysis with an associated n = 2 value.     

Chemical and biological interactions during nitrate and goethite reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens 200

Although previous research has demonstrated that NO(3)(-) inhibits microbial Fe(III) reduction in laboratory cultures and natural sediments, the mechanisms of this inhibition have not been fully studied in an environmentally relevant medium that utilizes solid-phase, iron oxide minerals as a Fe(III) source. To study the dynamics of Fe and NO(3)(-) biogeochemistry when ferric (hydr)oxides are used as the Fe(III) source, Shewanella putrefaciens 200 was incubated under anoxic conditions in a low-ionic-strength, artificial groundwater medium with various amounts of NO(3)(-) and synthetic, high-surface-area goethite. Results showed that the presence of NO(3)(-) inhibited microbial goethite reduction more severely than it inhibited microbial reduction of the aqueous or microcrystalline sources of Fe(III) used in other studies. More interestingly, the presence of goethite also resulted in a twofold decrease in the rate of NO(3)(-) reduction, a 10-fold decrease in the rate of NO(2)(-) reduction, and a 20-fold increase in the amounts of N(2)O produced. Nitrogen stable isotope experiments that utilized delta(15)N values of N(2)O to distinguish between chemical and biological reduction of NO(2)(-) revealed that the N(2)O produced during NO(2)(-) or NO(3)(-) reduction in the presence of goethite was primarily of abiotic origin. These results indicate that concomitant microbial Fe(III) and NO(3)(-) reduction produces NO(2)(-) and Fe(II), which then abiotically react to reduce NO(2)(-) to N(2)O with the subsequent oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III).     

Biological reduction of nitric oxide in aqueous Fe(II)EDTA solutions

The reduction of nitric oxide (NO) in aqueous solutions of Fe(II)EDTA is one of the core processes in BioDeNOx, an integrated physicochemical and biological technique for NO(x)() removal from industrial flue gases. NO reduction in aqueous solutions of Fe(II)EDTA (20-25 mM, pH 7.2 +/- 0.2) was investigated in batch experiments at 55 degrees C. Reduction of NO to N(2) was found to be biologically catalyzed with nitrous oxide (N(2)O) as an intermediate. Various sludges from full-scale denitrifying and anaerobic reactors were capable to catalyze NO reduction under thermophilic conditions. The NO reduction rate was not affected by the presence of ethanol or acetate. EDTA-chelated Fe(II) was found to be a suitable electron donor for the biological reduction of nitric oxide to N(2), with the concomitant formation of Fe(III)EDTA. In the presence of ethanol, EDTA-chelated Fe(III) was reduced to Fe(II)EDTA. This study strongly indicates that redox cycling of FeEDTA plays an important role in the biological denitrification process within the BioDeNOx concept.     

Hydrogenase activity in Azospirillum brasilense is inhibited by nitrite, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and acetylene.

Nitrite, NO, CO, and C2H2 inhibited O2-dependent H2 uptake (H3H oxidation) in denitrifying Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 grown anaerobically on N2O or NO3-. The apparent Ki values for inhibition of O2-dependent H2 uptake were 20 microM for NO2-, 0.4 microM for NO, 28 microM for CO, and 88 microM for C2H2. These inhibitors also affected methylene blue-dependent H2 uptake, presumably by acting directly on the hydrogenase. Nitrite and NO inhibited H2 uptake irreversibly, whereas inhibition due to CO was easily reversed by repeatedly evacuating and backfilling with N2. The C2H2 inhibition was not readily reversed, partly due to difficulty in removing the last traces of this gas from solution. The NO2- inhibition of malate-dependent respiration was readily reversed by repeatedly washing the cells, in contrast to the effect of NO2- on H2-dependent respiration. These results suggest that the low hydrogenase activities observed in NO3(-)-grown cultures of A. brasilense may be due to the irreversible inhibition of hydrogenase by NO2- and NO produced by NO3- reduction.     

Redox potentials of the oriented film of the wild-type,the E194Q-, E204Q- and D96N-mutated bacteriorhodopsins

The redox potentials of the oriented films of the wild-type, the E194Q-, E204Q- and D96N-mutated bacteriorhodopsins (bR), prepared by adsorbing purple membrane (PM) sheets or its mutant on a Pt electrode, have been examined. The redox potentials (V) of the wild-type bR were -470 mV for the 13-cis configuration of the retinal Shiff base in bR and -757 mV for the all-trans configuration in H(2)O, and -433 mV for the 13-cis configuration and -742 mV for the all-trans configuration in D(2)O. The solvent isotope effect (DeltaV=V(D(2)O)-V(H(2)O)), which shifts the redox potential to a higher value, originates from the cooperative rearrangements of the extensively hydrogen-bonded water molecules around the protonated C=N part in the retinal Schiff base. The redox potential of bR was much higher for the 13-cis configuration than that for the all-trans configuration. The redox potentials for the E194Q mutant in the extracellular region were -507 mV for the 13-cis configuration and -788 mV for the all-trans configuration; and for the E204Q mutant they were -491 mV for the 13-cis configuration and -769 mV for the all-trans configuration. Replacement of the Glu(194) or Glu(204) residues by Gln weakened the electron withdrawing interaction to the protonated C=N bond in the retinal Schiff base. The E204 residue is less linked with the hydrogen-bonded network of the proton release pathway compared with E194. The redox potentials of the D96N mutant in the cytoplasmic region were -471 mV for the 13-cis configuration and -760 mV for the all-trans configuration which were virtually the same as those of the wild-type bR, indicating that the D to N point mutation of the 96 residue had no influence on the interaction between the D96 residue and the C=N part in the Schiff base under the light-adapted condition. The results suggest that the redox potential of bR is closely correlated to the hydrogen-bonded network spanning from the retinal Schiff base to the extracellular surface of bR in the proton transfer pathway.     

EPR and redox characterization of iron-sulfur centers in nitrate reductases A and Z from Escherichia coli. Evidence for a high-potential and a low-potential class and their relevance in the electron-transfer mechanism.

The redox properties of the iron-sulfur centers of the two nitrate reductases from Escherichia coli have been investigated by EPR spectroscopy. A detailed study of nitrate reductase A performed in the range +200 mV to -500 mV shows that the four iron-sulfur centers of the enzyme belong to two classes with markedly different redox potentials. The high-potential group comprises a [3Fe-4S] and a [4Fe-4S] cluster whose midpoint potentials are +60 mV and +80 mV, respectively. Although these centers are magnetically isolated, they are coupled by a significant anticooperative redox interaction of about 50 mV. The [4Fe-4S]1+ center occurs in two different conformations as shown by its composite EPR spectrum. The low-potential group contains two [4Fe-4S] clusters with more typical redox potentials (-200 mV and -400 mV). In the fully reduced state, the three [4Fe-4S]1+ centers are magnetically coupled, leading to a broad featureless spectrum. The redox behaviour of the high-pH EPR signal given by the molybdenum cofactor was also studied. The iron-sulfur centers of the second nitrate reductase of E. coli, nitrate reductase Z, exhibit essentially the same characteristics than those of nitrate reductase A, except that the midpoint potentials of the high-potential centers appear negatively shifted by about 100 mV. From the comparison between the redox centers of nitrate reductase and of dimethylsulfoxide reductase, a correspondence between the high-potential iron-sulfur clusters of the two enzymes can be proposed.     

Biological activity of complexes derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone. Structure of

Biological studies on [Fe(L)2](NO3).0.5H2O (1), [Fe(L)2][PF6] (2), [Co(L)2](NCS) (3), [Ni(HL)2]Cl2.3H2O (4) and Cu(L)(NO3) (5), where HL=C7H8N4S, pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, have been carried out. The crystal structure of compound 3 has been solved. It consists of discrete monomeric cationic entities containing cobalt(III) ions in a distorted octahedral environment. The metal ion is bonded to one sulfur and two nitrogen atoms of each thiosemicarbazone molecule. The thiocyanate molecules act as counterions. The copper(II) and iron(III) complexes react with reduced glutathione and 2-mercaptoethanol. The reaction of compound 1 with the above thiols causes the reduction of the metal ion and bis(thiosemicarbazonato)iron(II) species are obtained. The redox activity, and in particular the reaction with cell thiols, seems to be related to the cytotoxicity of these complexes against Friend erithroleukemia cells and melanoma B16F10 cells.     

Redox potentials of Ti(IV) and Fe(III) complexes provide insights into titanium biodistribution mechanisms

Transferrin, the human iron transport protein, binds Ti(IV) even more tightly than it binds Fe(III). However, the fate of titanium bound to transferrin is not well understood. Here we present results which address the fate of titanium once bound to transferrin. We have determined the redox potentials for a series of Ti(IV) complexes and have used these data to develop a linear free energy relationship (LFER) correlating Ti(IV) ? Ti(III) redox processes with Fe(III) ? Fe(II) redox processes. This LFER enables us to compare the redox potentials of Fe(III) complexes and Ti(IV) complexes that mimic the active site of transferrin and allows us to predict the redox potential of titanium-transferrin. Using cyclic voltammetry and discontinuous metalloprotein spectroelectrochemistry (dSEC) in conjunction with the LFER, we report that the redox potential of titanium-transferrin is lower than − 600 mV (lower than that of iron-transferrin) and is predicted to be ca. − 900 mV vs. NHE (normal hydrogen electrode). We conclude that Ti(IV)/Ti(III) reduction in titanium-transferrin is not accessible by biological reducing agents. This observation is discussed in the context of current hypotheses concerning the role of reduction in transferrin mediated iron transport.     

Determination of the redox properties of human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase

Midpoint reduction potentials for the flavin cofactors in human NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase were determined by anaerobic redox titration of the diflavin (FAD and FMN) enzyme and by separate titrations of its isolated FAD/NADPH and FMN domains. Flavin reduction potentials are similar in the isolated domains (FAD domain E(1) [oxidized/semiquinone] = -286 +/- 6 mV, E(2) [semiquinone/reduced] = -371 +/- 7 mV; FMN domain E(1) = -43 +/- 7 mV, E(2) = -280 +/- 8 mV) and the soluble diflavin reductase (E(1) [FMN] = -66 +/- 8 mV, E(2) [FMN] = -269 +/- 10 mV; E(1) [FAD] = -283 +/- 5 mV, E(2) [FAD] = -382 +/- 8 mV). The lack of perturbation of the individual flavin potentials in the FAD and FMN domains indicates that the flavins are located in discrete environments and that these environments are not significantly disrupted by genetic dissection of the domains. Each flavin titrates through a blue semiquinone state, with the FMN semiquinone being most intense due to larger separation (approximately 200 mV) of its two couples. Both the FMN domain and the soluble reductase are purified in partially reduced, colored form from the Escherichia coli expression system, either as a green reductase or a gray-blue FMN domain. In both cases, large amounts of the higher potential FMN are in the semiquinone form. The redox properties of human cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) are similar to those reported for rabbit CPR and the reductase domain of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. However, they differ markedly from those of yeast and bacterial CPRs, pointing to an important evolutionary difference in electronic regulation of these enzymes.     

Reduction of the Mn cluster of the water-oxidizing enzyme by nitric oxide: formation of an S(-2) state

The manganese cluster of the oxygen-evolving enzyme of photosystem II is chemically reduced upon interaction with nitric oxide at -30 degrees C. The state formed gives rise to an S = 1/2 multiline EPR signal [Goussias, Ch., Ioannidis, N., and Petrouleas, V. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 9261] that is attributed to a Mn(II)- Mn(III) dimer [Sarrou, J., Ioannidis, N., Deligiannakis, Y., and Petrouleas, V. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 3581]. In this work, we sought to establish whether the state could be assigned to a specific, reduced S state by using flash oxymetry, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. With the Joliot-type O(2) electrode, the first maximum of oxygen evolution was observed on the sixth or seventh flash. Three saturating pre-flashes were required to convert the flash pattern characteristic of NO-reduced samples to that of the untreated control (i.e., O(2) evolution maximum on the third flash). Measurements of the S state-dependent level of chlorophyll fluorescence in NO-treated PSII showed a three-flash downshift compared to untreated controls. In the EPR study, the maximum S(2) multi-line EPR signal was observed after the fourth flash. The results from all three methods are consistent with the Mn cluster being in a redox state corresponding to an S(-2) state in a majority of centers after treatment with NO. We were unable to generate the Mn(II)-Mn(III) multi-line signal using hydrazine as a reductant; it appears that the valence distribution and possibly the structure of the Mn cluster in the S(-2) state are dependent on the nature of the reductant that is used.     

Photochemistry of the [Fe4(mu3-S)3(NO)7]- complex in the presence of S-nucleophiles: a spectroscopic study.

Biological systems usually contain cysteine, glutathione or other sulfur-containing biomolecules. These S-nucleophiles were found to affect drastically the [Fe(4)(mu(3)-S)(3)(NO)(7)](-) photolysis pathway generating products completely different from that of the neat cluster, which produces Fe(II) and NO and S(2-). The effect is interpreted in terms of formation of a pseudo-cubane adduct, [Fe(4)(mu(3)-S)(3)(mu(3)-SR)(NO)(7)](2-), whose existence in equilibrium with the parent complex has no detectable influence on the spectral properties, whereas shifts the redox potential and induces photoconversion leading to the Fe(III) species and N(2)O. Characteristic bond lengths, bond angles and atomic Mulliken charges were calculated using semi-empirical quantum chemical methods for the RBS anion and a series of pseudo-cubane complexes with S-donor or N-donor ligands. The results justify the hypothesis of the adduct formation and show that only in case of S-ligands the higher contribution of the Fe(III)-NO(-) components in adduct than in RBS is observed, which on excitation can undergo heterolytic cleavage yielding Fe(III) and NO(-), converted rapidly into N(2)O. These results are crucial in understanding the physiological activity of RBS. Fe(III) formation can be detected only when the S-ligand enables formation of a stable Fe(III) compound; the effect was recorded in the presence of sulfide, thioglycolate, 2-mercaptopropionate, mercaptosuccinate, penicillamine, 2,3-dimercaptosuccinate, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, and thiocyanate. For all these S-ligands the Fe(III) photoproducts were identified and characterised. In the case of other thiolates, their excess results in fast reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II), whereas N(2)O can be still detected. Quantum yields of Fe(III) formation in the presence of the S-ligands are considerably higher than that of the Fe(II) photoproduction from neat [Fe(4)(mu(3)-S)(3)(NO)(7)](-).