PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

L Que

Publications and source records attributed to L Que.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad--an emerging structural motif in mononuclear non-heme iron(II) enzymes.

A 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad is a common feature of the active sites in a number of mononuclear non-heme iron(II) enzymes. This structural motif was established crystallographically for five different classes of enzymes and inferred from sequence similarity for two other classes. The 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad anchors the iron in the active site and at the same time maintains three additional cis-oriented sites. These sites can be used to bind other endogenous ligands or exogenous ligands such as substrate and/or O2, giving the metal center great flexibility to use different mechanistic strategies to perform a variety of chemical transformations.

Binding Sites

Crystal structure and resonance Raman studies of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase complexed with 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate.

The crystal structure of the anaerobic complex of Pseudomonas putida protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (3,4-PCD) bound with the alternative substrate, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate (HPCA), is reported at 2.4 A resolution and refined to an R factor of 0.17. Formation of the active site Fe(III).HPCA chelated complex causes the endogenous axial tyrosinate, Tyr447 (147beta), to dissociate from the iron and rotate into an alternative orientation analogous to that previously observed in the anaerobic 3,4-PCD.3,4-dihydroxybenzoate complex (3, 4-PCD.PCA) [Orville, A. M., Lipscomb, J. D., & Ohlendorf, D. H. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 10052-10066]. Two orientations of the aromatic ring of HPCA related by an approximate 180 degrees rotation within the active site are consistent with the electron density. Resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopic data from Brevibacteriumfuscum 3,4-PCD.HPCA complex in solution reveals low frequency rR vibrational bands between 500 and 650 cm-1 as well as a band at approximately 1320 cm-1 which are diagnostic of a HPCA. Fe(III) chelate complex. 18O labeling of HPCA at either the C4 or C3 hydroxyl group unambiguously establishes the vibrational coupling modes associated with the five-membered chelate ring system. Analysis of these data suggests that the Fe(III)-HPCAO4 bond is shorter than the Fe(III)-HPCAO3 bond. This consequently favors the model for the crystal structure in which the C3 phenolic function occupies the Fe3+ ligand site opposite the endogenous ligand Tyr408(Oeta) (108beta). This is essentially the same binding orientation as proposed for PCA in the crystal structure of the anaerobic 3,4-PCD.PCA complex based solely on direct modeling of the 2Fo - Fc electron density and suggests that this is the conformation required for catalysis.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid

NMR studies of the paramagnetic complex Fe(II)-bleomycin.

The coordination chemistry of the iron(II) complex of the antitumor drug bleomycin has been extensively investigated with a number of spectroscopic and chemical techniques. However, the actual structure of this complex is not established. In this report, we present NMR studies of the paramagnetic Fe(II)BLM and use one- and two-dimensional methods to assign the paramagnetically shifted features to particular protons. The data analysis points toward the primary and secondary amines of the beta-aminoalanine fragment, the pyrimidine and imidazole rings, and the amide nitrogen of the beta-hydroxyhistidine fragment as ligands to the metal center. Correlation of the T1 values with the metal-proton distances derived from the NMR-generated solution structure of HOO-Co(III)BLM [Wu, W., Vanderwall, D. E., Lui, S. M., Tang, X.-J., Turner, C. J., Kozarich, J. W., & Stubbe, J. (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 1268-1280] indicates that the two metallobleomycins share similar structures. The chemical shifts as well as the T1 values of the sugar protons indicate that these fragments are close but not bound to the metal in Fe(II)BLM.

Antineoplastic Agents

Manganese(II) active site mutants of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis strain CM-2.

Whereas all other members of the extradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenase family are iron-dependent, the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-dioxygenase (MndD) from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2 is dependent on manganese for catalytic activity. Recently, the endogenous iron ligands of one family member, the 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (BphC), were identified crystallographically as two histidines and a glutamic acid [Sugiyama, K., et al. (1995) Proc. Jpn. Acad., Ser. B 71, 32-35; Han, et al. (1995) Science 270, 976-980; Senda, T., et al. (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 255, 735-752]. Though BphC and MndD have low overall sequence identity (23%), the three BphC metal ligands are all conserved in MndD (H155, H214, and E266). In order to determine whether these residues also act as ligands to manganese in MndD, site-directed mutants of each were constructed, purified, and analyzed for activity and metal content. Mutations H155A, H214A, and E266Q yielded purified enzymes with specific activities of <0.1% of that of the wild-type dioxygenase and bound 0.4, 1.8, and 33% of the wild-type level of manganese, respectively. The relatively high level of manganese [with a Mn(II) EPR signal distinctly different from that of the wild-type enzyme] observed for E266Q suggests that the glutamine may act as a weak ligand to the metal. Mutant E266D, which retains the potential metal binding capability of a carboxylate group, exhibited 12% of the wild-type activity in crude extracts, suggesting that Mn remains bound; however, this mutant protein was too unstable to be purified and analyzed for metal content. On the basis of the low activity and metal content of mutant proteins, we propose that the conserved residues H155, H214, and E266 ligate manganese in MndD. As is the case with the superoxide dismutases, the extradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases appear to utilize identical coordinating residues for their iron- and manganese-dependent enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence

An Fe2IVO2 diamond core structure for the key intermediate Q of methane monooxygenase.

A new paradigm for oxygen activation is required for enzymes such as methane monooxygenase (MMO), for which catalysis depends on a nonheme diiron center instead of the more familiar Fe-porphyrin cofactor. On the basis of precedents from synthetic diiron complexes, a high-valent Fe2(micro-O)2 diamond core has been proposed as the key oxidizing species for MMO and other nonheme diiron enzymes such as ribonucleotide reductase and fatty acid desaturase. The presence of a single short Fe-O bond (1.77 angstroms) per Fe atom and an Fe-Fe distance of 2.46 angstroms in MMO reaction intermediate Q, obtained from extended x-ray absorption fine structure and Mössbauer analysis, provides spectroscopic evidence that the diiron center in Q has an Fe2IVO2 diamond core.

Binding Sites

X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies of the FeZn derivative of uteroferrin.

The FeZn derivative of purple acid phosphatase from porcine uterus (FeZnUf) and its phosphate complex (FeZnUf.PO4) have been characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy at both the iron and zinc K-edges, to gain insight into the nature of the FeZn active site as well as the phosphate binding mode. Pre-edge data show that both FeZnUf and FeZnUf.PO4 have a 6-coordinate iron site. The iron site has an average Fe-O/N bond length of 2.01-2.02 A, which can be resolved into subshells of 1.92 and 2.11 A for FeZnUf.PO4. On the other hand, the zinc site has a shell of scatterers at 2.02-2.03 A plus one scatterer at ca. 2.4 A. These metal-ligand bond lengths are consistent with the nature of the ligands deduced from spectroscopic studies or identified in the crystal structure of the related kidney bean purple acid phosphatase (KBPAP). The outer-sphere analysis indicates an Fe-Zn separation of approximately 3.3 A in both FeZnUf and FeZnUf.PO4, consistent with the presence of an M2(mu-OR)2 diamond core as found in the crystal structures of KBPAP, calcineurin, and protein phosphatase 1. The Fe-P and Zn-P bond distances in FeZnUf.PO4 are determined to be 3.23 and 3.18 A, respectively, indicating that phosphate binds to the dinuclear center in a bidentate mode; such a mode has been observed in oxoanion complexes of KBPAP, calcineurin, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as in a number of synthetic FeFe and FeZn complexes. The implications of these structural results on the mechanism of phosphatase action are discussed.

Acid Phosphatase

Reversible cleavage and formation of the dioxygen O-O bond within a dicopper complex.

A key step in dioxygen evolution during photosynthesis is the oxidative generation of the O-O bond from water by a manganese cluster consisting of M2(mu-O)2 units (where M is manganese). The reverse reaction, reductive cleavage of the dioxygen O-O bond, is performed at a variety of dicopper and di-iron active sites in enzymes that catalyze important organic oxidations. Both processes can be envisioned to involve the interconversion of dimetal-dioxygen adducts, M2(O2), and isomers having M2(mu-O)2 cores. The viability of this notion has been demonstrated by the identification of an equilibrium between synthetic complexes having [Cu2(mu-eta2:eta2-O2)]2+ and [Cu2(mu-O)2]2+ cores through kinetic, spectroscopic, and crystallographic studies.

Chemical Phenomena

Manganese(II)-dependent extradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2.

A manganese-dependent 3,4-dihydroxyphenylactate 2,3-dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis strain CM-2 (MndD) cloned in Escherichia coli has been purified to homogeneity. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis indicates an alpha 4 homotetrameric holoenzyme structure (4 x 38,861 Da). Steady-state kinetic analysis of MndD with a variety of substrates and inhibitors yields very similar relative rates to the known Fe(II)- and Mn(II)-dependent 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-dioxygenases from Pseudomonas ovalis and Bacillus brevis, respectively. Yet, unlike the Fe(II)-dependent enzyme, MndD retains almost all activity in the presence of H2O2 and CN- and is inactivated by Fe(II). ICP emission analysis confirms the presence of 3.0 +/- 0.2 g-atoms Mn (and only 0.7 +/- 0.2 g-atoms Fe) per tetrameric holoenzyme molecule. Comparison of MndD samples with varying metal content, including an apo and partial-apo enzyme preparation, shows a strong positive correlation between specific activity and Mn content. EPR spectra of MndD as isolated exhibit a nearly isotropic g = 2.0 signal having 6-fold hyperfine splitting (A = 95 G) typical of octahedrally coordinated Mn(II) in a protein. Quantitation of the EPR spin yields 3.4 +/- 0.3 g-atoms of Mn(II) per holoenzyme. When exposed anaerobically to its natural substrate, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate (3,4-DHPA), the EPR spectrum undergoes a dramatic change characterized by the attenuation of the g = 2 signal and the appearance of new signals at g = 1.2, 2.9, 4.3, and 16. The g = 4.3 signal displays 6-fold hyperfine splitting (A = 95 G) that unambiguously assigns it to the Mn(II) center. The appearance of these new signals indicates a large increase in zero-field splitting suggestive of a change in ligand coordination to the Mn(II) center. Similarly perturbed signals are seen in the EPR spectra of MndD complexed with the comparably active substrate analog, D,L-3,4-dihydroxymandelate, or the tight-binding inhibitor, p-nitrocatechol, but not in the complexes with weaker binding substrates and inhibitors. The fact that only strong-binding substrates and inhibitors significantly perturb the Mn(II) EPR signal strongly suggests that the substrate coordinates to the Mn(II) center in the catalytic pathway.

Arthrobacter

Electron transfer properties of the R2 protein of ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli.

The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli consists of two proteins, R1 and R2. The active R2 protein contains two dinuclear iron centers and the catalytically essential tyrosyl radical. We have explored the redox properties of the tyrosyl radical and estimate an apparent redox potential of +1000 +/- 100 mV (vs SHE) on the basis of the behavior of numerous mediators. The inability of most of these mediators to equilibrate with the tyrosyl radical supports the notion that the radical exists in an extremely protected hydrophobic pocket that prevents most radical scavengers from interacting with the radical, resulting in its unusual stability. The formal midpoint potential of the diiron clusters of the R2 protein was determined to be -115 +/- 2 mV at pH 7.6 and 4 degrees C. This reduction is a two-electron transfer process, making the R2 protein the first of the nonheme diiron proteins not to stabilize a mixed valence intermediate at ambient temperature. The formal midpoint potential of the dinuclear iron centers is pH dependent, exhibiting a 30 mV/pH unit variance, which indicates that one proton is accepted from the solvent per two electrons transferred to the dinuclear iron center upon reduction. The midpoint potential of the site-directed mutant Y122F R2 protein was also investigated under the same conditions, and this midpoint potential was determined to be -178 mV, providing the first direct evidence that the presence of the Y122 residue modulates the redox properties of the diiron clusters. The redox potentials of both the wild type and Y122F proteins experience cathodic shifts when measured in the presence of azide or the R1 protein. For the latter, the midpoint potentials were determined to be -226 mV for the wild type protein and -281 mV for the Y122F mutant protein, representing a negative shift of over 100 mV for both proteins. These results indicate that the presence of the Y122 residue does not influence the effect of R1 binding, that the R1 protein preferentially binds the oxidized form of R2, and that the binding of R1 acts as a regulatory control mechanism to prevent unnecessary turnover of the dinuclear iron centers.

Azides

Reaction of NO with the reduced R2 protein of ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli.

The active R2 protein of ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli contains a catalytically essential tyrosine radical at position 122 (Tyr122.) that is formed during the reaction of dioxygen with the nearby diiron(II) center. To gain insight into the mode of dioxygen binding, the reaction of the O2 analog NO with the diiron(II) centers of R2red has been investigated by spectroscopic methods. R2red reacts with NO to form an adduct with visible absorption features at 450 and 620 nm and Mössbauer parameters (delta = 0.75 mm/s, delta EQ = -2.13 and -1.73 mm/s) typical of those observed for S = 3/2 [FeNO]7 complexes of other non-heme iron proteins. However, unlike other non-heme [FeNO]7 complexes, this adduct is EPR silent. Our Mössbauer studies show that each iron site of R2red binds one NO to form local S = 3/2 [FeNO]7 centers which then couple antiferromagnetically (J approximately 5 cm-1, H = JS1.S2) to afford an [FeNO]2 center (77% of total iron). This [FeNO]2 center decomposes with a first-order rate constant of 0.013 min-1 to form R2met, accompanied by the release of N2O. These observations suggest that both iron(II) ions of the two diiron(II) centers of R2red have available sites for NO binding, in agreement with the crystallographic results on R2red, and that the bound NO molecules are sufficiently close to each other to permit N-N bond formation to produce N2O. These observations support the proposal that dioxygen binding may also involve both metal ions of the diiron(II) center to form a (mu-1,1-, or mu-1,2-peroxo)-diiron(III) center. This observed reactivity of R2red with NO may contribute to the in vivo inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase by NO.

Binding Sites

X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies of the Fe(II) active site of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. Implications for the extradiol cleavage mechanism.

The extradiol-cleaving catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3-CTD) isolated from Pseudomonas putida mt-2 and its catechol and ternary E.S.NO complexes are characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The intensities of the 1s-->3d transitions in the pre-edge spectra of the uncomplexed enzyme and its substrate complex show that the Fe(II) center is five-coordinate in both complexes, in agreement with earlier magnetic circular dichroism studies [Mabrouk, P. A., Orville, A. M., Lipscomb, J. D., & Solomon, E. I. (1991) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113, 4053-4061]. Analysis of the EXAFS region of uncomplexed 2,3-CTD shows five N/O ligand atoms 2.09 A from the active site Fe(II). In the 2,3-CTD.catechol complex, one N/O atom is located at 1.93 A and four N/O type ligands are at 2.10 A. By comparison with [FeII-(6TLA)(DBCH)](ClO4), the first well-characterized mononuclear Fe(II).catechol model complex, the 1.93 A scatterer is proposed to be the oxygen from the deprotonated hydroxyl group of the coordinated catecholate monoanion. Nitric oxide binds to the Fe(II) center in the enzyme.catechol complex without displacing the existing ligands, resulting in the formation of a six-coordinate complex, as indicated by the addition of a new N/O type scatterer at 1.74 A. Bond valence sum (BVS) analysis of the bond lengths derived from the EXAFS fits gives values that correspond to the iron oxidation states established for these complexes, thus lending credence to the coordination environment deduced for the iron center in those complexes. The present study provides the first evidence for a monoanionic substrate binding mode in an extradiol dioxygenase, which is distinct from the dianionic binding mode proposed for intradiol dioxygenases. We speculate that this difference in binding mode may have important ramifications for the site of aromatic ring cleavage in the subsequent oxygen insertion reactions.

Binding Sites

Resonance Raman studies of catecholate and phenolate complexes of recombinant human tyrosine hydroxylase.

Human tyrosine hydroxylase isoform 1 (hTH1) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified as the apoenzyme, and reconstituted with iron. The resonance Raman spectra of hTH1 complexed with dopamine, noradrenaline, tyramine, and catechol have been studied and compared to those obtained for TH isolated from bovine adrenal glands or rat phaeochromocytoma tissue. A TH-phenolate complex is reported for the first time. Using dopamine selectively 18O-labeled in the 3-position or both 3- and 4-hydroxy positions, we have been able to assign unambiguously the origin of the low-frequency vibration bands: the band at 631 cm-1 involves the oxygen in the 4-position; the band at 592 cm-1 involves the oxygen in the 3-position, and the band around 528 cm-1 is shifted by both, suggesting a chelated mode vibration. A small shift of the 1275 cm-1 band and no shift of the 1320 cm-1 band were observed, showing that those two bands involve essentially ring vibrations of the catecholate moiety, rather than the C--O stretching vibration as previously suggested. The spectrum of the catechol-d6-hTH1 complex confirms this assignment. The resonance Raman spectra of the 54Fe, 56Fe, or 57Fe isotope-containing enzymes complexed with dopamine are virtually identical, showing that the component of the iron in the approximately 600 cm-1 vibrations is too small to be observed. These results provide a better understanding of the Raman properties of iron-catecholate complexes in this enzyme, as well as in other metalloproteins and model compounds.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Residues important for radical stability in ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli.

The R2 protein of ribonucleotide reductase contains at the side chain of tyrosine 122 a stable free radical, which is essential for enzyme catalysis. The tyrosyl radical is buried in the protein matrix close to a dinuclear iron center and a cluster of three hydrophobic residues (Phe-208, Phe-212, and Ile-234) conserved throughout the R2 family. A key step in the generation of the tyrosyl radical is the activation of molecular oxygen at the iron center. It has been suggested that the hydrophobic cluster provides an inert binding pocket for molecular oxygen bound to the iron center and that it may play a role in directing the oxidative power of a highly reactive intermediate toward tyrosine 122. We have tested these hypotheses by constructing the following mutant R2 proteins:F208Y, F212Y, F212W, and I234N. The resulting mutant proteins all have the ability to form a tyrosine radical, which indicates that binding of molecular oxygen can occur. In the case of F208Y, the yield of tyrosyl radical is substantially lower than in the wild-type case. A competing reaction resulting in hydroxylation of Tyr-208 implies that the phenylalanine at position 208 may influence the choice of target for electron abstraction. The most prominent result is that all mutant proteins show impaired radical half-life; in three of the four mutants, the half-lives are several orders of magnitude shorter than that of the wild-type radical. This suggests that the major role of the hydrophobic pocket is to stabilize the tyrosyl radical. This hypothesis is corroborated by comparative studies of the environment of other naturally occurring tyrosyl radicals.

Amino Acid Sequence

Assessing diffuse liver disease with the hepatic uptake rate of 99Tcm-colloids.

The hepatic uptake rate of sulphur or tin colloid was measured in the fasting state in patients who were later identified as belonging to one of three groups: normal, parenchymal liver disease or cirrhosis. Subsequent analysis showed a progressive decline in the hepatic uptake rate of tracer as the severity of hepatocellular damage increased. In particular, there was a positive correlation between the impairment of tracer uptake, and Childs' class A, B or C in the cirrhotic patients. In addition, a very low hepatic uptake rate of tracer was almost as good (80% accuracy) as Child's class C (83% accuracy) in identifying patients likely to die of hepatocellular problems within a year. When compared with needle biopsies or histology, the uptake rate usually proved equally accurate in indicating the severity of diffuse hepatocellular disease, and on occasions it was a better indicator of long-term outcome.

Biopsy

A manganese-dependent dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2 belongs to the major extradiol dioxygenase family.

Almost all bacterial ring cleavage dioxygenases contain iron as the catalytic metal center. We report here the first available sequence for a manganese-dependent 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate (3,4-DHPA) 2,3-dioxygenase and its further characterization. This manganese-dependent extradiol dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2, unlike iron-dependent extradiol dioxygenases, is not inactivated by hydrogen peroxide. Also, ferrous ions, which activate iron extradiol dioxygenases, inhibit 3,4-DHPA 2,3-dioxygenase. The gene encoding 3,4-DHPA 2,3-dioxygenase, mndD, was identified from an A. globiformis CM-2 cosmid library. mndD was subcloned as a 2.0-kb SmaI fragment in pUC18, from which manganese-dependent extradiol dioxygenase activity was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli. The mndD open reading frame was identified by comparison with the known N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified manganese-dependent 3,4-DHPA 2,3-dioxygenase. Fourteen of 18 amino acids conserved in members of the iron-dependent extradiol dioxygenase family are also conserved in the manganese-dependent 3,4-DHPA 2,3-dioxygenase (MndD). Thus, MndD belongs to the extradiol family of dioxygenases and may share a common ancestry with the iron-dependent extradiol dioxygenases. We propose the revised consensus primary sequence (G,T,N,R)X(H,A)XXXXXXX(L,I,V,M,F)YXX(D,E,T,N,A)PX(G,P) X(2,3)E for this family. (Numbers in brackets indicate a gap of two or three residues at this point in the sequence.) The suggested common ancestry is also supported by sequence obtained from genes flanking mndD, which share significant sequence identity with xylJ and xylG from Pseudomonas putida.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid

Crystallization of catechol-1,2 dioxygenase from Pseudomonas arvilla C-1.

The metalloenzyme catechol 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas arvilla C-1 consists of three isozymes formed by combinations of two non-identical subunits; alpha alpha, alpha beta and beta beta; with molecular masses of 59,000, 63,000 and 67,000 Da, respectively. The alpha alpha isozyme crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group C222(1) with unit cell dimensions a = 62.7 A, b = 71.5 A, c = 187.1 A. The rectangular plates diffract to 2.6 A resolution. This is the first dioxygenase to be crystallized that uses catechol as a substrate. Comparison of the structure of this enzyme with protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase will provide basic information about the mechanisms of subunit association, substrate selectivity, and the origins of metabolic diversity in enzymes.

Catechol 1,2-Dioxygenase

Double-stranded cleavage of pBR322 by a diiron complex via a "hydrolytic" mechanism.

Treatment of plasmid pBR322 with Fe2-(HPTB)(OH)(NO3)4(HPTB = N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopr opane) and H2O2 or O2 and a reductant (dithiothreitol or ascorbate) results in double-stranded cleavage of the plasmid. The linearization of supercoiled pBR322 by this complex is not inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers. On the other hand, the linearized pBR322 is efficiently religated by T4 DNA ligase, and the presence of 3'-OH and 5'-OPO3 ends is corroborated by 3'- and 5'-end-labeling studies. These observations indicate that cleavage results from hydrolysis of the DNA-phosphate backbone, which is proposed to occur by nucleophilic attack of the bound peroxide on the phosphodiester. Double-stranded cleavage by the Fe2(HPTB)(OH)(NO3)4/H2O2 adduct preferentially occurs between bp 3489 and 3485 of pBR322.

Base Sequence

X-ray absorption studies of the ferrous active site of isopenicillin N synthase and related model complexes.

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) from Cephalosporium acremonium (M(r) 38,400) is an iron-containing enzyme that aerobically catalyzes the four-electron oxidative ring closure reactions of delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV), forming the beta-lactam and thiazolidine rings of isopenicillin N. Here, we report Fe K-edge X-ray absorption studies that provide insight into the iron coordination environment and the effect of substrate and nitric oxide binding. Our analysis reveals an iron(II) coordination environment consisting of two N/O-containing ligands at 2.01 +/- 0.02 A, three N/O ligands at 2.15 +/- 0.02 A, and one C/O scatterer at approximately 2.6-2.7 A. Three His ligands are associated with the 2.15-A shell, while an unsymmetrically chelated carboxylate is associated with a scatterer at 2.01 and at 2.6-2.7 A, a combination which is consistent with the ligand environment deduced from 1H NMR studies [Ming, L.-J., Que, L., Jr., Kriauciunas, A., Frolik, C. A., & Chen, V. J. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 11653-11659]. The remaining scatterer at 2.01 A is assigned to a coordinated solvent molecule, most likely hydroxide, which can act as the proton acceptor for the incoming substrate. ACV binding to Fe(II)IPNS evinces an Fe-S interaction at 2.35 +/- 0.02 A, indicative of the coordination of substrate cysteine thiolate to the metal center. Analysis of the Fe(II)IPNS-ACV-NO data reveals one Fe-N at 1.71 +/- 0.02 A, three Fe-(N,O) at 2.04 +/- 0.02 A, one Fe-S at 2.32 +/- 0.02 A, and one Fe-(C,O) at 2.61 +/- 0.02 A, the short Fe-N bond being derived from the binding of NO. Our EXAFS conclusions, supported by corresponding analysis of relevant model complexes, corroborate and refine the working model for the Fe(II) coordination environment developed from previous spectroscopic studies.

Absorptiometry, Photon