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Cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is the key protein that regulates the electron transfer from NADPH to various heme-containing monooxygenases. CPR has two flavin-containing domains: one with flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), called FAD domain, and the other with flavin mononucleotide (FMN), called FMN domain. It is considered that the electron transfer occurs via FAD and FMN (NADPH → FAD → FMN → monooxygenase) and is regulated by an interdomain open-close motion. It is generally thought that the structural state is coupled with the redox state, which, however, has not yet been firmly established. In this report, we studied the coupling of the redox and the structural states by full-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of CPR (total 86.4 μs). Our MD result showed that while CPR predominantly adopts the closed state both in the oxidized and reduced states, it exhibits a tendency to open in the reduced state. We also found a correlation between the FAD-FMN distance and the predicted FMN-monooxygenase distance, which is embedded in the equilibrium thermal fluctuation of CPR. Based on these results, a physical mechanism for the electron transfer by CPR is discussed.

NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) supplies electrons to various heme proteins including heme oxygenase (HO), which is a key enzyme for heme degradation. Electrons from NADPH flow first to flavin adenine dinucleotide, then to flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and finally to heme in the redox partner. For electron transfer from CPR to its redox partner, the ‘‘closed-open transition’’ of CPR is indispensable. Here, we demonstrate that a hinge-shortened CPR variant, which favors an open conformation, makes a stable complex with heme–HO-1 and can support the HO reaction, although its efficiency is extremely limited. Furthermore, we determined the crystal structure of the CPR variant in complex with heme–HO-1 at 4.3-Å resolution. The crystal structure of a complex of CPR and its redox partner was previously unidentified. The distance between heme and FMN in this complex (6 Å) implies direct electron transfer from FMN to heme.

Biliverdin reductase catalyses the last step in haem degradation and produces the major lipophilic antioxidant bilirubin via reduction of biliverdin, using NAD(P)H as a cofactor. Despite the importance of biliverdin reductase in maintaining the redox balance, the molecular details of the reaction it catalyses remain unknown. Here we present the crystal structure of biliverdin reductase in complex with biliverdin and NADP + . Unexpectedly, two biliverdin molecules, which we designated the proximal and distal biliverdins, bind with stacked geometry in the active site. The nicotinamide ring of the NADP + is located close to the reaction site on the proximal biliverdin, supporting that the hydride directly attacks this position of the proximal biliverdin. The results of mutagenesis studies suggest that a conserved Arg185 is essential for the catalysis. The distal biliverdin probably acts as a conduit to deliver the proton from Arg185 to the proximal biliverdin, thus yielding bilirubin. Biliverdin reductase (BVR) catalyses the last step in haem degradation. Here the authors present the crystal structure of cyanobacterial BVR bound to its substrate biliverdin and oxidised cofactor NADP + , which was used to propose the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme.

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes heme degradation using electrons supplied by NADPH–cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR). Electrons from NADPH flow first to FAD, then to FMN, and finally to the heme in the redox partner. Previous biophysical analyses suggest the presence of a dynamic equilibrium between the open and the closed forms of CPR. We previously demonstrated that the open-form stabilized CPR (ΔTGEE) is tightly bound to heme–HO-1, whereas the reduction in heme–HO-1 coupled with ΔTGEE is considerably slow because the distance between FAD and FMN in ΔTGEE is inappropriate for electron transfer from FAD to FMN. Here, we characterized the enzymatic activity and the reduction kinetics of HO-1 using the closed-form stabilized CPR (147CC514). Additionally, we analyzed the interaction between 147CC514 and heme–HO-1 by analytical ultracentrifugation. The results indicate that the interaction between 147CC514 and heme–HO-1 is considerably weak, and the enzymatic activity of 147CC514 is markedly weaker than that of CPR. Further, using cryo-electron microscopy, we confirmed that the crystal structure of ΔTGEE in complex with heme–HO-1 is similar to the relatively low-resolution structure of CPR complexed with heme–HO-1 in solution. We conclude that the “open–close” transition of CPR is indispensable for electron transfer from CPR to heme–HO-1.

Phytobilins (light harvesting and photoreceptor pigments in higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria) are synthesized from biliverdin IXα (BV) by ferredoxin-dependent bilin reductases (FDBRs). Phycocyanobilin: Ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PcyA), one such FDBR, is a new class of radical enzymes that require neither cofactors nor metals and serially reduces the vinyl group of the D-ring and A-ring of BV using four electrons from ferredoxin to produce phycocyanobilin, one of the phytobilins. We have determined the crystal structure of PcyA from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in complex with BV, revealing the first tertiary structure of an FDBR family member. PcyA is folded in a three-layer α/β/α sandwich structure, in which BV in a cyclic conformation is positioned between the β-sheet and C-terminal α-helices. The basic patch on the PcyA surface near the BV molecule may provide a binding site for acidic ferredoxin, allowing direct transfer of electrons to BV. The orientation of BV is definitely fixed in PcyA by several hydrophilic interactions and the shape of the BV binding pocket of PcyA. We propose the mechanism by which the sequential reduction of the D- and A-rings is controlled, where Asp-105, located between the two reduction sites, would play the central role by changing its conformation during the reaction. Homology modeling of other FDBRs based on the PcyA structure fits well with previous genetic and biochemical data, thereby providing a structural basis for the reaction mechanism of FDBRs.

Mammalian heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes heme degradation using reducing equivalents supplied by NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). The tertiary structure of the catalytic domain of a constitutively expressed isoform of HO, HO-2, resembles that of the inductive isoform, HO-1, whereas HO-2 has two heme regulatory motifs (HRM) at the proximal portion of the C-terminus, where the disulfide linkage reflects cellular redox conditions and the second heme binding site is located. Here, we report the results of crosslinking experiments, which suggest that HRM is located near the FMN-binding domain of the CPR when it is complexed with HO-2. The enzymatic assay and reduction kinetics results suggest that heme-bound HRM negatively regulates HO-2 activity in vitro. Cellular redox conditions and free heme concentrations may regulate HO-2 activity.

In nature, heme is a prosthetic group that is universally used as a cofactor for heme proteins. It is necessary for the execution of fundamental biological processes including electron transfer, oxidation and metabolism. However, free heme is toxic to cells, because of its capability to enhance oxidative stress, hence its cellular concentration is strictly regulated through multiple mechanisms. Heme oxygenase (HO) serves as an irreplaceable member in the heme degradation system. It is a ubiquitous protein, existing in many species including mammals, higher plants, and interestingly, certain pathogenic bacteria. In the HO reaction, HO catalyzes oxidative cleavage of heme to generate biliverdin and release carbon monoxide and ferrous iron. Because of the beneficial effects of these heme catabolism products, HO plays a key role in iron homeostasis and in defense mechanism against oxidative stress. HO is composed of an N-terminal structured region and a C-terminal membrane-bound region. Furthermore, the soluble form of HO, which is obtainable by excision of the membrane-bound region, retains its catalytic activity. Here, we present the backbone resonance assignments of the soluble form (residues 1–232) of HO-1 in the free and Zn(II) protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP)-bound states, and analyzed the structural differences between the states. ZnPP is a potent enzyme inhibitor, and the ZnPP-bound structure of HO-1 mimics the heme-bound structure. These assignments provide the structural basis for a detailed investigation of the HO-1 function.

Phytobilins (light harvesting and photoreceptor pigments in higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria) are synthesized from biliverdin IXalpha (BV) by ferredoxin-dependent bilin reductases (FDBRs). Phycocyanobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PcyA), one such FDBR, is a new class of radical enzymes that require neither cofactors nor metals and serially reduces the vinyl group of the D-ring and A-ring of BV using four electrons from ferredoxin to produce phycocyanobilin, one of the phytobilins. We have determined the crystal structure of PcyA from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in complex with BV, revealing the first tertiary structure of an FDBR family member. PcyA is folded in a three-layer alpha/beta/alpha sandwich structure, in which BV in a cyclic conformation is positioned between the beta-sheet and C-terminal alpha-helices. The basic patch on the PcyA surface near the BV molecule may provide a binding site for acidic ferredoxin, allowing direct transfer of electrons to BV. The orientation of BV is definitely fixed in PcyA by several hydrophilic interactions and the shape of the BV binding pocket of PcyA. We propose the mechanism by which the sequential reduction of the D- and A-rings is controlled, where Asp-105, located between the two reduction sites, would play the central role by changing its conformation during the reaction. Homology modeling of other FDBRs based on the PcyA structure fits well with previous genetic and biochemical data, thereby providing a structural basis for the reaction mechanism of FDBRs.

Ferredoxin is a small iron-sulfur protein and acts as an electron carrier. Low-potential ferredoxins harbor [4Fe-4S] cluster(s), which play(s) a crucial role as the redox center. Low-potential ferredoxins are able to cover a wide range of redox potentials (-700 to -200 mV); however, the mechanisms underlying the factors which control the redox potential are still enigmatic. Here, we determined the neutron structure of ferredoxin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus, and experimentally revealed the exact hydrogen-bonding network involving the [4Fe-4S] cluster. The density functional theory calculations based on the hydrogen-bonding network revealed that protonation states of the sidechain of Asp64 close to the [4Fe-4S] cluster critically affected the stability of the reduced state in the cluster. These findings provide the first identification of the intrinsic control factor of redox potential for the [4Fe-4S] cluster in low-potential ferredoxins.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.Footnotes* Supplementary Figure 9S and its legend have been moved into the main text as Figure 6.