Superoxide-mediated amplification of the oxygen-induced switch from 4Fe-4S to 2Fe-2S clusters in the transcriptional regulator FNR

Crack, Jason C., Green, Jeffrey, Cheesman, Myles R., Le Brun, Nick E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9780-4061 and Thomson, Andrew J. (2007) Superoxide-mediated amplification of the oxygen-induced switch from 4Fe-4S to 2Fe-2S clusters in the transcriptional regulator FNR. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104 (7). pp. 2092-2097. ISSN 0027-8424

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Abstract

In Escherichia coli, the switch between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism is controlled primarily by FNR (regulator of fumarate and nitrate reduction), the protein that regulates the transcription of >100 genes in response to oxygen. Under oxygen-limiting conditions, FNR binds a [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster, generating a transcriptionally active dimeric form. Upon exposure to oxygen the cluster converts to a [2Fe-2S]2+ form, leading to dissociation of the protein into monomers, which are incapable of binding DNA with high affinity. The mechanism of cluster conversion together with the nature of the products of conversion is of considerable current interest. Here, we demonstrate that [4Fe-4S]2+ to [2Fe-2S]2+ cluster conversion, in both native and reconstituted [4Fe-4S] FNR, proceeds via a one electron oxidation of the cluster, to give a [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster intermediate, with the release of one Fe2+ ion and a superoxide ion. The cluster intermediate subsequently rearranges spontaneously to form the [2Fe-2S]2+ cluster, with the release of a Fe3+ ion and, as previously shown, two sulfide ions. Superoxide ion undergoes dismutation to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. This mechanism, a one electron activation of the cluster, coupled to catalytic recycling of the resulting superoxide ion back to oxygen, provides a means of amplifying the sensitivity of [4Fe-4S] FNR to its signal molecule.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Light and Energy Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Life Processes Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Biophysical Chemistry (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Depositing User:	Rachel Smith
Date Deposited:	10 May 2011 10:04
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 09:39
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/30106
DOI:	10.1073/pnas.0609514104

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