Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Bruschi

Publications and source records attributed to M Bruschi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Amino-acid sequence of rusticyanin from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and its comparison with other blue copper proteins.

Rusticyanin, a copper protein characterized by a high redox potential (+680 mV) and a high stability at acidic pH, is involved in iron oxidation in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. It has been characterized from a new strain and its amino-acid sequence has been determined and compared to two other rusticyanin sequences isolated from different strains. It comprises 155 amino acids and the alignment of the three rusticyanins shows a high degree of homology. Comparing the rusticyanins with six blue copper proteins which have a copper-I site in common, a consensus sequence containing Cys, His and Met in the C-terminal part of the protein and His-85 is proposed to be involved in the copper coordination. Secondary structure predictions are compared to three structures of copper proteins obtained by X-ray crystallography.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amino-acid sequence of cytochrome c-553 from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway.

The amino-acid sequence of the cytochrome c-553 from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway has been determined and compared with that of two different cytochromes c-553 from D. vulgaris already described and with that cytochrome c-551 from Pseudomonas. This low-molecular-weight monohemic cytochrome comprises 80 amino acids and has the typical characteristics of small cytochromes such as mitochondrial cytochromes. Secondary-structure predictions are deduced from sequence data and are compared with X-ray three-dimensional structures of low-molecular-weight cytochrome c. The phylogenetic situation of Desulfovibrio cytochromes c-533 in the cytochrome c superfamily is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of the gamma-subunit gene of desulfoviridin-type dissimilatory sulfite reductase and of the alpha- and beta-subunit genes is not coordinately regulated.

It has been shown [Pierik, A. J., Duyvis, M. G., van Helvoort, J. M. L. M., Wolbert, R. B. G. & Hagen, W. R. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 205, 111-115] that desulfoviridin, the dissimilatory sulfite reductase of sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genus Desulfovibrio, contains a third, gamma, subunit (11 kDa), in addition to the well-established alpha (50 kDa) and beta (40 kDa) subunits, and an alpha 2 beta 2 gamma 2 subunit structure has been proposed. Cloning and sequencing of the dsvC gene indicated it to encode a protein of 105 amino acids (11.9 kDa; gamma subunit). The finding that the dsvC gene, located on a 3.5-kb SacII fragment, is transcribed in both Escherichia coli and Desulfovibrio vulgaris as an mRNA of only 400-600 nucleotides, and that both the dsvA and dsvB genes are present on a 7.2-kb SacII fragment, indicates that dsvC forms a separate transcriptional unit. The steady-state level of alpha and beta subunits expressed in D. vulgaris Hildenborough cells is rather constant, while that of the gamma subunit increased strongly in the stationary growth phase. Biochemical analysis of the purified protein, expressed in E. coli, and library comparison of its sequence, have so far failed to establish the function of gamma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Reactivity of [Fe] and [Ni-Fe-Se] hydrogenases with their oxido-reduction partner: the tetraheme cytochrome c3.

In order to understand the electron transfer mechanisms for the [Fe] and [Ni-Fe] hydrogenases, a kinetic study of cytochrome c3 reduction has been undertaken. Cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential amperometry techniques have been used to investigate the intermolecular electron-transfer reaction between cytochrome c3 and [Fe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough. Electron-transfer cross-reactions between [Fe] or [Ni-Fe-Se] hydrogenase and cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough or Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway have been studied. Some structural implications are considered from these experimental data.

Cytochrome c Group↗

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of an octa-heme cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway.

An octa-heme cytochrome c3, isolated as a dimeric molecule of about 30 kDa from the anaerobic bacteria Desulfovibro desulfuricans Norway, has been crystallized in a form suitable for atomic resolution X-ray structural investigations. The crystals are trigonal, space group P3(1)21 (or its enantiomorph P3(2)21), with cell dimensions: a = b = 72.9 A c = 62.7 A. The asymmetric unit contains most probably one monomer and a solvent content of about 60%. Under this assumption, the crystallographic 2-fold axis relates the two subunits of the dimer. Diffraction extends to 2.0 A.

Crystallization↗

Biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of the high molecular weight cytochrome c from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough expressed in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G200.

The gene of high molecular weight, multiheme cytochrome c (Hmc) from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough has been overexpressed in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G200. The recombinant protein has been purified. Its molecular weight (65,600), amino acid composition, and NH2-terminal sequence were found to be identical to those of the wild-type protein. The recombinant protein has been spectroscopically characterized (optical spectrum, EPR, circular dichroism) and compared to the wild-type protein. We have found 16 hemes per molecule by iron analysis and the pyridine hemochrome test. Both high- and low-spin features were observed in the EPR spectrum. A detailed spin quantitation analysis indicates 1 or 2 high-spin hemes and 14 or 15 low-spin hemes per molecule. The redox potentials of the hemes determined by voltammetric techniques gave an average of three different values, 0, -100, and -250 mV (versus NHE), for the wild-type and the recombinant cytochrome. The low potential values are similar to the values observed for the bis(histidinyl) coordinated hemes of cytochrome c3. A comparison of the arrangement of heme binding sites and coordinated histidines in the amino acid sequences of cytochrome c3 and Hmc has shown that the latter contains four domains, three of which are complete c3-like domains, while the fourth represents an incomplete c3-like domain which may contain His-Met coordinated hemes. These data are in agreement with the detailed study of the number and types of hemes reported in this paper.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Kinetic studies of the electron exchange reaction between the octaheme cytochrome c3 (Mr 26000) and the hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway.

The octaheme cytochrome c3 (Mr 26000) from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway was studied using cyclic voltammetry at the pyrolytic graphite electrode. The kinetics of reduction of the octaheme cytochrome c3 (Mr 26000) from D. desulfuricans Norway by the Ni-Fe-Se hydrogenase purified from the same organism was investigated by an electrochemical method. From cyclic voltammetry experiments a value of 8.108M-1S-1 was obtained for the second order homogenous rate constant of the electron transfer between the two proteins. Results are compared with similar experiments performed on the electron exchange between the tetrahemic cytochrome c3 (Mr 13000) and hydrogenase.

Cytochrome c Group↗

Identification of the site of interaction between cytochrome c3 and ferredoxin using peptide mapping of the cross-linked complex.

Structural studies carried out on a cross-linked complex between cytochrome c3 and ferredoxin I, both isolated from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway, allowed the identification of the site of interaction between the two redox proteins. Staphylococcus aureus proteinase and chymotrypsin digestions led to characterization of peptides containing both cytochrome c3 and ferredoxin sequences. The cytochrome c3 sequences involved in the three isolated cross-linked peptides contained several lysine residues localized around the heme 4 crevice. This analysis stressed the peculiar role of lysines 100, 101, 103, 104 and 113, which could be considered as major cross-link sites, as opposed to the lysines 75, 79 and 82, which could be considered as minor cross-link sites. One cross-linked peptide, containing two ferredoxin sequences joined to one cytochrome c3 sequence, had been isolated, suggesting the possibility of more than one cross-link per covalent complex. All these results led to the identification of heme 4 of cytochrome c3 as the site of interaction for the ferredoxin I. This study confirms the proposal that could be deduced from the hypothetical structure of the complex built by computer graphics modelling (Cambillau, C., Frey, M., Mosse, J., Guerlesquin, F. and Bruschi, M. (1988) Proteins: struct., funct. genet. 4, 63-70).

Binding Sites↗

Amino acid sequence and molecular modelling of a thermostable two (4Fe-4S) ferredoxin from the archaebacterium Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus.

The amino acid sequence of a two (4Fe-4S) ferredoxin from the methanogenic bacterium Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus (FdMt) has been determined. This thermostable protein comprises 60 amino acid residues (Mr 6541) and two (4Fe-4S) clusters chelated to the protein through the eight cysteines. FdMt contains a relatively high number of lysines [5], threonines [4] and valines [10]. The three-dimensional molecular model generated from the Peptococcus aerogenes X-ray structure keeps the characteristic overall ferredoxin folding thanks to complementary substitutions of residues of the hydrophobic core. The major structural features of the model are the different environments of both clusters, and the patch of three lysines at one end of the molecule. The possible role of several structural factors in the thermostability of the protein is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ferredoxin electron transfer site on cytochrome c3. Structural hypothesis of an intramolecular electron transfer pathway within a tetra-heme cytochrome.

To specify electron exchanges involving Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway tetra-heme cytochrome c3, the chemical modification of arginine 73 residue, was performed. Biochemical and biophysical studies have shown that the modified cytochrome retains its ability to both interact and act as an electron carrier with its redox partners, ferredoxin and hydrogenase. Moreover, the chemical modification effects on the cytochrome c3 1H NMR spectrum were similar to that induced by the presence of ferredoxin. This suggests that arginine 73 is localized on the cytochrome c3 ferredoxin interacting site. The identification of heme 4, the closest heme to arginine 73, as the ferredoxin interacting heme helps us to hypothesize about the role of the three other hemes in the molecule. A structural hypothesis for an intramolecular electron transfer pathway, involving hemes 4, 3 and 1, is proposed on the basis of the crystal structures of D. vulgaris Miyazaki and D. desulfuricans Norway cytochromes c3. The unique role of some structural features (alpha helix, aromatic residues) intervening between the heme groups, is proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene encoding the high-molecular-weight cytochrome c from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough.

By using a synthetic deoxyoligonucleotide probe designed to recognize the structural gene for cytochrome cc3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, a 3.7-kb XhoI genomic DNA fragment containing the cc3 gene was isolated. The gene encodes a precursor polypeptide of 58.9 kDa, with an NH2-terminal signal sequence of 31 residues. The mature polypeptide (55.7 kDa) has 16 heme binding sites of the form C-X-X-C-H. Covalent binding of heme to these 16 sites gives a holoprotein of 65.5 kDa with properties similar to those of the high-molecular-weight cytochrome c (Hmc) isolated from the same strain by Higuchi et al. (Y. Higuchi, K. Inaka, N. Yasuoka, and T. Yagi, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 911:341-348, 1987). Since the data indicate that cytochrome cc3 and Hmc are the same protein, the gene has been named hmc. The Hmc polypeptide contains 31 histidinyl residues, 16 of which are integral to heme binding sites. Thus, only 15 of the 16 hemes can have bis-histidinyl coordination. A comparison of the arrangement of heme binding sites and coordinated histidines in the amino acid sequences of cytochrome c3 and Hmc from D. vulgaris Hildenborough suggests that the latter contains three cytochrome c3-like domains. Cloning of the D. vulgaris Hildenborough hmc gene into the broad-host-range vector pJRD215 and subsequent conjugational transfer of the recombinant plasmid into D. desulfuricans G200 led to expression of a periplasmic Hmc gene product with covalently bound hemes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Functional expression of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough cytochrome c3 in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G200 after conjugational gene transfer from Escherichia coli.

Plasmid pJRDC800-1, containing the cyc gene encoding cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Hildenborough, was transferred by conjugation from Escherichia coli DH5 alpha to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G200. The G200 strain produced an acidic cytochrome c3 (pI = 5.8), which could be readily separated from the Hildenborough cytochrome c3 (pI = 10.5). The latter was indistinguishable from cytochrome c3 produced by D. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Hildenborough with respect to a number of chemical and physical criteria.

Conjugation, Genetic↗

The nucleotide sequence of the Desulfovibrio gigas desulforedoxin gene indicates that the Desulfovibrio vulgaris rbo gene originated from a gene fusion event.

Expression of the rbo gene from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough in Escherichia coli minicells and Western blotting (immunoblotting) of Desulfovibrio cell extracts with antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide indicated the presence of a 14-kDa polypeptide product, as expected from the gene sequence. Cloning and sequencing of the gene (dsr) for desulforedoxin, a 4-kDa redox protein from Desulfovibrio gigas, showed that it is formed by expression of an autonomous gene of 111 bp, not by processing of a 14-kDa protein. The results indicate that the rbo gene product, which has a 4-kDa desulforedoxin domain as the NH2 terminus, may have arisen by gene fusion. Shuffling and fusion of genes for redox protein domains can explain the large variety of redox proteins found in sulfate-reducing bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparative studies of polyhemic cytochromes c isolated from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough) and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway).

Cytochrome c3 (Mr 26,000) has been characterized in Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough) and its properties compared with polyhemic cytochromes c isolated from the same organism and from D. desulfuricans (Norway). It can be described as an octaheme cytochrome c3 constituted of two identical subunits. Absorption spectrum is similar to cytochrome c3 (Mr 13,000) and individual redox potentials have an average value of -180 mV.3 The N terminal sequence is compared with an homologous cytochrome isolated from D. desulfuricans Norway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation, characterization, and biological activity of the Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus ferredoxin.

A ferredoxin has been isolated from the thermophilic methanogen Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus. The native protein was a monomer exhibiting a molecular weight of 7,262, calculated from the amino acid composition. Its absorption spectrum had two maxima at 390 and 283 nm, with an absorbance ratio A390/A283 of 0.79. The absorption at 390 nm (E = 29 mM-1 cm-1) and the content of iron of the protein are in agreement with the presence of two 4Fe-4S clusters in M. thermolithotrophicus ferredoxin. Its amino acid composition showed the presence of eight cysteine residues, which is the required number of cysteines for the binding of two 4Fe-4S clusters. The protein was characterized by the lack of histidine, arginine, and leucine and a high content of valine. It was unusually stable to high temperatures but not to oxygen. The ESR spectrum of the protein in the oxidized state showed a minor signal at g = 2.01, corresponding to an oxidized 3Fe-4S cluster. The protein, which was difficult to reduce with dithionite or reduced mediators, exhibited in its reduced state a spectrum typical of two interacting reduced 4Fe-4S clusters. M. thermolithotrophicus ferredoxin functioned as an electron acceptor for the CO dehydrogenase complex with an extract free of ferredoxin. No reaction was detected with F420 or hydrogenase.

Amino Acids↗

Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding cytochrome c553 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough.

The gene encoding cytochrome c553 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough was cloned by using two synthetic deoxyoligonucleotide probes. The amino acid sequence derived from the sequence of the gene differs from that reported by Bruschi and LeGall (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 271:48-60, 1972). Renewed protein sequencing confirmed the correctness of the DNA-derived sequence. The gene sequence indicates cytochrome c553 to be synthesized as a precursor protein with an NH2-terminal signal sequence of 24 residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Model of a complex between the tetrahemic cytochrome c3 and the ferredoxin I from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway strain).

A three-dimensional model of an electron-transfer complex between the tetrahemic cytochrome c3 and the ferredoxin I from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway strain) has been generated through computer graphics methods. The model is based on the known X-ray structure of the cytochrome and on a model of the ferredoxin that has been derived through computer graphics modeling and energy minimization methods, from the X-ray structure of the homologous ferredoxin from Peptococcus aerogenes. Four possible models of interaction between the two molecules were examined by bringing in close proximity each of the four hemes and the redox center (4Fe-4S) of the ferredoxin and by optimizing the ion pairs interactions. One of these models shows by far the "best" structure in terms of charges, interactions, and complementarity of the topology of the contact surfaces. In this complex, the distance between the iron atoms of the ferredoxin redox center and the hemic iron atom is 11.8 A, which compares well with those found between redox centers in other complexes. The contact surface area between the two molecules is 170 A2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗