Which multi-heme protein complex transfers electrons more efficiently? Comparing MtrCAB from Shewanella with OmcS from Geobacter

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Jiang, Xiuyun, Van Wonderen, Jessica, Butt, Julea ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9624-5226, Edwards, Marcus J., Clarke, Tom ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6234-1914 and Blumberger, Jochen (2020) Which multi-heme protein complex transfers electrons more efficiently? Comparing MtrCAB from Shewanella with OmcS from Geobacter. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 11 (21). 9421–9425. ISSN 1948-7185

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Abstract

Microbial nanowires are fascinating biological structures that allow bacteria to transport electrons over micrometers for reduction of extracellular substrates. It was recently established that the nanowires of both Shewanella and Geobacter are made of multi-heme proteins; but, while Shewanella employs the 20-heme protein complex MtrCAB, Geobacter uses a redox polymer made of the hexa-heme protein OmcS, begging the question as to which protein architecture is more efficient in terms of long-range electron transfer. Using a multiscale computational approach we find that OmcS supports electron flows about an order of magnitude higher than MtrCAB due to larger heme-heme electronic couplings and better insulation of hemes from the solvent. We show that heme side chains are an essential structural element in both protein complexes, accelerating rate-limiting electron tunnelling steps up to 1000-fold. Our results imply that the alternating stacked/T-shaped heme arrangement present in both protein complexes may be an evolutionarily convergent design principle permitting efficient electron transfer over very long distances.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Molecular Microbiology Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Life Processes Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Light and Energy Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Energy Materials Laboratory
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2020 23:58
Last Modified:	21 Dec 2022 02:36
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/77373
DOI:	10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02842

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