A heme tag for in vivo synthesis of artificial cytochromes

A genetic approach is described here that enables the specific covalent attachment of heme via a short C-terminal peptide tag to an otherwise non-heme-binding protein. Covalent attachment of heme to the apo-protein is catalysed by the cytochrome c maturation system of Escherichia coli. While its original enzymatic activity is retained, the resulting heme-tagged protein is red, has peroxidase activity and is redox active. The presence or absence of a C-terminal histidine tag results in low-spin heme iron with six- or high-spin heme iron with five coordinate ligands, respectively. The heme tag can be used as a tool for the rational design of artificial c-type cytochromes and metalloenzymes, thereby overcoming previous limitations set by chemical approaches. Moreover, the tag allows direct visualisation of the red fusion protein during purification.