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Dramatic modulation of electron transfer in protein complexes by crosslinking.

The transfer of electrons between proteins is an essential step in biological energy production. Two protein redox partners are often artificially crosslinked to investigate the poorly understood mechanism by which they interact. To better understand the effect of crosslinking on electron transfer rates, we have constructed dimers of azurin by crosslinking the monomers. The measured electron exchange rates, combined with crystal structures of the dimers, demonstrate that the length of the linker can have a dramatic effect on the structure of the dimer and the electron transfer rate. The presence of ordered water molecules in the protein-protein interface may considerably influence the electronic coupling between redox centers.

Azurin↗

The purification and some properties of rusticyanin, a blue copper protein involved in iron(II) oxidation from Thiobacillus ferro-oxidans.

The 'blue' copper-containing protein rusticyanin was purified to homogeneity from cells of the chemolithotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus ferro-oxidans by (NH4)SO4 fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography. The protein, which is stable at low pH, consists of a single polypeptide chain of mol. wt. 16500 and possesses 0.79 (+/- 0.28)g-atom of Cu/mol. The protein, which does not contain arginine residues, has optical absorbance maxima at 287, 450, 597 and 750 nm and is generally similar to azurin. The isolated protein is reduced directly by Fe2+ with a 1:1 stoicheiometry to Cu. On reduction by Fe2+ the absorption peaks at 450, 597 and 750 nm are abolished, with the appearance of a new absorption band at 320 nm. The results obtained are consistent with rusticyanin being the initial acceptor of electrons from Fe2+ during respiratory iron oxidation.

Amino Acids↗

The primary structures of Pseudomonas AM1 amicyanin and pseudoazurin. Two new sequence classes of blue copper proteins.

The amino acid sequences of two blue copper proteins from the pink facultative methylotroph Pseudomonas AM1 (N.C.I.B. 9133) were determined. They each consist of a single polypeptide chain and bind one copper atom. Amicyanin contains 99 and pseudoazurin 123 residues. Copper-binding sites, consisting of the side chains of two histidine, one cysteine and one methionine residues, can be recognized in each protein by analogy with azurin and plastocyanin, but the spacings of the ligand residues are different, and other sequence similarity is limited. Proteins that are in the pseudoazurin sequence class can be recognized in some strains of Alcaligenes, and probably also in Paracoccus denitrificans. Detailed evidence for the amino acid sequences of the proteins has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50130 (23 pp.) at the British Library (Lending Division), Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1985) 225, 5.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oxidation of nicotinamide coenzyme dimers by one-electron-accepting proteins.

The nicotinamide nucleotide dimers (NAD)2 and (NADP)2, obtained by electrochemical reduction of NAD+ and NADP+, are able to reduce such single-electron acceptors as the proteins cytochrome c, azurin and methaemoglobin, though at different rates. Under the same conditions the reduced nicotinamide coenzymes NADH and NADPH are not able to reduce these proteins at measurable rates unless a catalyst (phenazine methosulphate or NADH-cytochrome c reductase in the case of cytochrome) is present. The redox mechanism seems to involve the formation of an NAD(P). radical that in the presence of O2 gives rise to superoxide (O2.-), since superoxide dismutase inhibited these reactions.

Azurin↗

Cu(I) analysis of blue copper proteins.

A simple colorimetric test for the Cu(I) content in blue copper proteins is described. The procedure is based on the formation of a complex between Cu(I) and 2,2'-biquinoline in an acetic acid medium. Analyses of spinach plastocyanin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin show that the cysteine residue in the type 1 site does not induce Cu(II) reduction under our conditions. There is evidence in laccase samples for the presence of an endogenous reductant that can reduce 0.14 +/- 0.04 mol of Cu(II)/mol of protein; however, the addition of EDTA eliminates the interference. The analysis shows that 25 +/- 2% of the type 3 copper ions are in the reduced form in the resting enzyme and that 80 +/- 15% of the type 3 copper ions are reduced in preparations of type-2-depleted laccase. There is growing interest in the development of chemically modified forms of laccase, and our method should be very useful for establishing the valence state of the metal centres in the various derivatives.

Azurin↗

Membrane-entrapped microperoxidase as a 'solid-state' promoter in the electrochemistry of soluble metalloproteins.

Immobilization of biological systems in solid matrices is presently of great interest, in view of the many potential advantages associated with both the higher stability of the immobilized macromolecules and the potential utilization for biotechnology. In the present paper the electrochemical behaviour of the undecapeptide from cytochrome c (called microperoxidase) tightly entrapped in cellulose triacetate membrane is reported; its utilization as 'solid-state' promoter in the electrochemistry of soluble metalloproteins is presented. The results obtained indicate that: (i) membrane-entrapped microperoxidase undergoes rapid reversible electron transfer at a glassy carbon electrode; (ii) the electrochemical process is diffusion-controlled; (iii) entrapped microperoxidase acts as 'solid-state' promoter in the electrochemistry of soluble cytochrome c and of azurin.

Azurin↗

Expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrite reductase in Pseudomonas putida and characterization of the recombinant protein.

Nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been successfully expressed in Pseudomonas putida. The purified recombinant enzyme contains haem c but no haem d1. Nonetheless, like the holoenzyme from Ps. aeruginosa, it is a stable dimer (molecular mass 120 kDa), and electron transfer to oxidized azurin is biphasic and follows bimolecular kinetics (k1 = 1.5 x 10(5) and k2 = 2.2 x 10(4) M-1.s-1). Unlike the chemically produced apoenzyme, recombinant nitrite reductase containing only haem c is water-soluble, stable at neutral pH and can be quantitatively reconstituted with haem d1, yielding a holoenzyme with the same properties as that expressed by Ps. aeruginosa (namely optical and c.d. spectra, molecular mass, cytochrome c551 oxidase activity and CO-binding kinetics).

Azurin↗

Solid state protein monolayers: morphological, conformational, and functional properties.

We have studied the morphological, conformational, and electron-transfer (ET) function of the metalloprotein azurin in the solid state, by a combination of physical investigation methods, namely atomic force microscopy, intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. We demonstrate that a "solid state protein film" maintains its nativelike conformation and ET function, even after removal of the aqueous solvent.

Adsorption↗

Spectroscopic studies and a structural model for blue copper centers in proteins.

Low temperature absorption, circular dichroism, and magnetic circular dichroism spectral studies of the blue copper proteins Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin, bean plastocyanin, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin have been made. Low energy bands attributable to the d-d transitions 2B2 leads to 2E and 2B2 leads to 2B1 in a flattened tetrahedral (D 2d) copper-(II) center are observed in these proteins at about 5000 and 10,000 cm-1, respectively. The band positions accord well with ligand field calculations based on a tetrahedral structure that is distorted approximately 6 degrees toward a square plane. The ligands in this flattened tetrahedral coordination unit in bean plastocyanin are identified from various spectroscopic experiments as His-38, Cys-85, His-88, and a deprotonated peptide nitrogen (N) a few residues above His-38.

Azurin↗

Subnanosecond motions of tryptophan residues in proteins.

The dynamics of protein molecules in the subnanosecond and nanosecond time range were investigated by time-resolved fluorescence polarization spectroscopy. Synchrotron radiation from a storage ring was used as a pulsed light source to excite the single tryptophan residue in a series of proteins. The full width at half maximum of the detected light pulse was 0.65 nsec, making it feasible to measure emission anisotropy kinetics in the subnanosecond time range and thereby to resolve internal rotational motions. The proteins investigated exhibit different degrees of rotational freedom of their tryptophan residue, ranging from almost no mobility to nearly complete freedom in the subnanosecond time range. The tryptophan residue of Staphylococcus aureus nuclease B (20,000 daltons) has a single rotational correlation time (varphi) of 9.9 nsec at 20 degrees C, corresponding to a rotation of the whole protein molecule. By contrast, bovine basic A1 myelin protein (18,000 daltons) exhibits varphi of 0.09 and 1.26 nsec, showing that the tryptophan residue in this protein is highly flexible. The single tryptophan of human serum albumin (69,000 daltons) has almost no rotational freedom at 8 degrees C (varphi = 31.4 nsec), whereas at 43 degrees C it rotates rapidly (varphi(1) = 0.14 nsec) within a cone of semiangle 26 degrees in addition to rotating together with the whole protein (varphi(2) = 14 nsec). Of particular interest in the large angular range (semiangle, 34 degrees ) and fast rate (varphi(1) = 0.51 nsec) of the rotational motion of the tryptophan residue in Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (14,000 daltons). This residue is known to be located in the hydrophobic interior of the protein. The observed amplitudes and rates of these internal motions of tryptophan residues suggest that elementary steps in functionally significant conformational changes may take place in the subnanosecond time range.

Apoproteins↗

Redox pathways in electron-transfer proteins: correlations between reactivities, solvent exposure, and unpaired-spin-density distributions.

The relative reactivities toward reduction by free flavin semiquinones of cytochromes (c-type cytochromes, cytochrome b5, c'-type cytochromes) iron-sulfur proteins (high-redox-potential ferredoxins, rubredoxins, low-redox-potential ferredoxins), and blue copper proteins (plastocyanin, azurins) are shown to correlate with calculations of the solvent exposure of the various prosthetic groups. In the case of the c-type cytochromes, one of the major centers of exposure is the sulfur atom of the thioether bridge that covalently links heme ring C to the protein. Charge-iterative extended Hückel calculations on a heme c model indicate that both porphyrin pi and Fe(III)d pi orbitals can delocalize onto the bridging sulfur atom. Unpaired spin densities are comparable to those obtained for individual aromatic porphyrin ring carbon atoms. Thus, the exposed sulfur of ring C may act to facilitate electron transfer.

Animals↗

Isolation and partial nucleotide sequence of the laccase gene from Neurospora crassa: amino acid sequence homology of the protein to human ceruloplasmin.

The laccase (benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.10.3.2) gene from Neurospora crassa was cloned and part of its nucleotide sequence corresponding to the carboxyl-terminal region of the protein has been determined. The gene was cloned by cDNA synthesis with a laccase-specific synthetic deoxyundecanucleotide as primer and poly(A) RNA isolated from cycloheximide-treated N. crassa cultures as template. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA obtained, a unique 21-mer was synthesized and used to screen a genomic DNA library from N. crassa. Five different positive clones were isolated and shown to share an overlapping DNA region with the same pattern of restriction sites. Sequence analysis of the common 1.36-kilobase Sal I fragment revealed an open reading frame of 726 nucleotides. The amino acid sequence deduced is in complete agreement with the primary structures of several tryptic peptides isolated previously from N. crassa laccase. The analyzed carboxyl-terminal region of laccase exhibits a striking sequence homology to the carboxyl-terminal part of the third homology unit of the multicopper oxidase ceruloplasmin and to a smaller extent, to the low molecular weight blue copper proteins plastocyanin and azurin. Based on amino acid sequence comparison between these proteins, putative copper ligands of N. crassa laccase are proposed. Moreover, these data further support the hypothesis that the small blue copper proteins and the multicopper oxidases have evolved from the same ancestral gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An approach to long-range electron transfer mechanisms in metalloproteins: in situ scanning tunneling microscopy with submolecular resolution.

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of redox molecules, in aqueous solution, shows interesting analogies and differences compared with interfacial electrochemical electron transfer (ET) and ET in homogeneous solution. This is because the redox level represents a deep indentation in the tunnel barrier, with possible temporary electronic population. Particular perspectives are that both the bias voltage and the overvoltage relative to a reference electrode can be controlled, reflected in spectroscopic features when the potential variation brings the redox level to cross the Fermi levels of the substrate and tip. The blue copper protein azurin adsorbs on gold(111) via a surface disulfide group. Well resolved in situ STM images show arrays of molecules on the triangular gold(111) terraces. This points to the feasibility of in situ STM of redox metalloproteins directly in their natural aqueous medium. Each structure also shows a central brighter contrast in the constant current mode, indicative of 2- to 4-fold current enhancement compared with the peripheral parts. This supports the notion of tunneling via the redox level of the copper atom and of in situ STM as a new approach to long-range electron tunneling in metalloproteins.

Adsorption↗

Localization of the outer membrane subunit OprM of resistance-nodulation-cell division family multicomponent efflux pump in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The outer membrane subunit OprM of the multicomponent efflux pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been assumed to form a transmembrane xenobiotic exit channel across the outer membrane. We challenged this hypothesis to clarify the underlying ambiguity by manipulating the amino-terminal signal sequence of the OprM protein of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump in P. aeruginosa. [(3)H]Palmitate uptake experiments revealed that OprM is a lipoprotein. The following lines of evidence unequivocally established that the OprM protein functioned at the periplasmic space. (i) The OprM protein, in which a signal sequence including Cys-18 was replaced with that of periplasmic azurin, appeared in the periplasmic space but not in the outer membrane fraction, and the protein fully functioned as the pump subunit. (ii) The hybrid OprM containing the N-terminal transmembrane segment of the inner membrane protein, MexF, appeared exclusively in the inner membrane fraction. The hybrid protein containing 186 or 331 amino acid residues of MexF was fully active for the antibiotic extrusion, but a 42-residue protein was totally inactive. (iii) The mutant OprM, in which the N-terminal cysteine residue was replaced with another amino acid, appeared unmodified with fatty acid and was fractionated in both the periplasmic space and the inner membrane fraction but not in the outer membrane fraction. The Cys-18-modified OprM functioned for the antibiotic extrusion indistinguishably from that in the wild-type strain. We concluded, based on these results, that the OprM protein was anchored in the outer membrane via fatty acid(s) attached to the N-terminal cysteine residue and that the entire polypeptide moiety was exposed to the periplasmic space.

Azurin↗

A variable gap penalty function and feature weights for protein 3-D structure comparisons.

We have developed a variable gap penalty function for use in the comparison program COMPARER which aligns protein sequences on the basis of their 3-D structures. For deletions and insertions, components are a function of structural features of individual amino acid residues (e.g. secondary structure and accessibility). We have also obtained relative weights for different features used in the comparison by examining the equivalent residues in weight matrices and in alignments for pairs of 3-D structures where the equivalencies are relatively unambiguous. We have used the new parameters and the variable gap penalty function in COMPARER to align protein structures in the Brookhaven Data Bank. The variable gap penalty function is useful especially in avoiding gaps in secondary structure elements and the new feature weights give improved alignments. The alignments for both azurins and plastocyanins and N- and C-terminal lobes for aspartic proteinases are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of denitrification genes on the chromosomal map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Cleavage of chromosomal DNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO by Spel and Dpnl has been used together with PFGE and Southern hybridization to establish the map location of the following principal denitrification genes: narGH (encoding the large and small subunits of respiratory nitrate reductase), nirS (cytochrome-cd1 nitrite reductase), nirE (uroporphyrinogen-III methyltransferase for haem d1 biosynthesis), norCB (nitric-oxide reductase complex), nosZ (nitrous-oxide reductase) and nosA (an outer-membrane protein and OprC homologue). The study also included several genes related to anaerobic or microaerophilic metabolism: napA (encoding the catalytic subunit of the periplasmic nitrate reductase), ccoN (catalytic subunit of the cytochrome-cbb3 oxidase), hemN (oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen-III oxidase), an fnr-like regulatory gene, and azu and fdxA (electron carriers azurin and ferredoxin, respectively). Genes necessary for denitrification are concentrated at 20 to 36 min on the P. aeruginosa chromosome, where they form three separate loci, the nir-nor, nar and nos gene clusters. Genomic DNA of Pseudomonas stutzeri ZoBell was also subjected to Spel restriction and Southern analysis to assign denitrification genes to individual fragments. A homologue of nosA encoding a putative component of the Cu-processing apparatus for nitrous-oxide reductase was identified. In both P. aeruginosa and P. stutzeri there is evidence for the linkage of anr (fnrA) with hemN and ccoN; and for the presence of a napA gene.

Azurin↗

The virulence-associated gonococcal H.8 gene encodes 14 tandemly repeated pentapeptides.

H.8 is a virulence-associated, surface-exposed immunogenic macromolecule composed of lipid and protein, common to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. The H.8 DNA sequence predicted a 6.9 kD peptide comprising 14 tandemly repeated pentameric sequences. Ten were identical: Pro, Ala, Ala, Glu, Ala. Also predicted was a lipoprotein leader consensus sequence which probably specified acylation since the Escherichia coli-expressed protein was tightly associated with lipid. Lipid appeared to contribute significantly to H.8 antigen's electrophoretic mobility. This is the first description of a prokaryotic outer membrane protein composed solely of tandem repeats. Furthermore, DNA encoding this repeat appears to have been duplicated and translocated into another neisserial gene encoding an azurin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗