- Iron-sulfur protein
Iron-sulfur proteins are
protein s characterized by the presence of iron-sulfur clusters containingsulfide -linked di-, tri-, and tetrairon centers in variableoxidation state s. Iron-sulfur clusters are found in a variety ofmetalloprotein s, such as theferredoxin s, as well asNADH dehydrogenase ,hydrogenase s,Coenzyme Q - cytochrome c reductase ,Succinate - coenzyme Q reductase andnitrogenase . [S. J. Lippard, J. M. Berg “Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry” University Science Books: Mill Valley, CA; 1994. ISBN 0-935702-73-3.] Iron-sulfur clusters are best known for their role in theoxidation-reduction reaction s of mitochondrial electron transport. Both Complex I and Complex II ofoxidative phosphorylation have multiple Fe-S clusters. They have many other functions including catalysis as illustrated byaconitase , generation of radicals as illustrated by SAM-dependent enzymes, and as sulfur donors in the biosynthesis oflipoic acid andbiotin . Additionally some Fe-S proteins regulate gene expression. Fe-S proteins are vulnerable to attack by biogenicnitric oxide .tructural motifs
In almost all Fe-S proteins, the Fe centers is tetrahedral and the thiolato sulfur centers, from cysteinyl residues, are terminal ligands. The sulfide groups are either two- or three-coordinated. Three distinct kinds Fe-S clusters with these features are most common.
2Fe-2S clusters
s). The oxidized proteins contain two Fe3+ ions, whereas the reduced proteins contain one Fe3+ and one Fe2+ ion. These species exist in two oxidation states, (FeIII)2 and FeIIIFeII.
4Fe-4S clusters
A common motif features a four iron ions and four sulfide ions placed at the vertices of a
cubane -type structure. The Fe centers are typically further coordinated by cysteinyl ligands. The [Fe4S4] electron-transfer proteins ( [Fe4S4]ferredoxin s) may be further subdivided into low-potential (bacterial-type) and high-potential (HiPIP) ferredoxins. Low- and high-potential ferredoxins are related by the following redox scheme:In HiPIP, the cluster shuttles between [2Fe3+, 2Fe2+] (Fe4S42+) and [3Fe3+, Fe2+] (Fe4S43+). The potentiasl for this redox couple range from 0.4 to 0.1 V. In the bacterial Fd's, the pair of oxidation states are [Fe3+, 3Fe2+] (Fe4S4+) and [2Fe3+, 2Fe2+] (Fe4S42+). The potentials for this redox couple range from -0.3 to -0.7 V. The two families of 4Fe-4S clusters share the Fe4S42+ oxidation state. The difference in the redox couples is attributed to the degree of hydrogen bonding, which strongly modified the basicity of the cysteinyl thiolate ligands. A further redox couple, which is still more reducing than the bacterial Fd's is implicated in the
nitrogenase .Some 4Fe-4S clusters bind substrates and are thus classified as enzymes. In
aconitase , the Fe-S cluster bindsaconitate at the one Fe centre that lacks a thiolate ligand. The cluster does not undergo redox, but serves as aLewis acid catalyst to convert aconitate toisocitrate . In the radical-SAM enzymes, the cluster binds and reducesS-adenosylmethionine to generate a radical, which is involved in many biosyntheses. [cite journal | author = Susan C. Wang and Perry A. Frey | title = S-adenosylmethionine as an oxidant: the radical SAM superfamily | journal = Trends in Biochemical Sciences | year = 2007 | volume = 32 | pages = 101 | doi = 10.1016/j.tibs.2007.01.002]3Fe-4S clusters
Proteins are also known to contain [Fe3S4] centres, which feature one iron less than the more common [Fe4S4] cores. Three sulfide ions bridge two iron ions each, while the fourth sulfide bridges three iron ions. Their formal oxidation states may vary from [Fe3S4] + (all-Fe3+ form) to [Fe3S4] 2- (all-Fe2+ form). In a number of iron-sulfur proteins, the [Fe4S4] cluster can be reversibly converted by oxidation and loss of one iron ion to a [Fe3S4] cluster. E.g., the inactive form of
aconitase possesses an [Fe3S4] and is activated by addition of Fe2+ and reductant.Other Fe-S clusters
More complex polymetallic systems are common. Examples include both the 8Fe and the 7Fe clusters in
nitrogenase . Carbon monooxide dehydrogenase and theFeFe -hydrogenase also feature unusual Fe-S clusters.Biosynthesis
The biosynthesis of the Fe-S clusters has been well studied. [cite journal | author = Johnson D, Dean DR, Smith AD, Johnson MK | title = Structure, function and formation of biological iron–sulfur clusters | journal =
Annual Review of Biochemistry | year = 2005 | volume = 74 | pages = 247–281 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.biochem.74.082803.133518] [Johnson, M.K. and Smith, A.D. (2005) Iron–sulfur proteins in: Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry (King, R.B., Ed.), 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.] [cite journal | author = Lill R, Mühlenho U | title = Iron–sulfur-protein biogenesis in eukaryotes | journal =Trends in Biochemical Sciences | year = 2005 | volume = 30 | pages = 133–141 | doi = 10.1016/j.tibs.2005.01.006] The biogenesis of iron sulfur clusters has been studied most extensively in the bacteria "E. coli" and "A. vinelandii" and yeast "S. cerevisiae". At least three different biosynthetic systems so far identified, namely nif, suf, and isc systems, which were first identified in bacteria. The nif system is responsible the clusters in the enzyme nitrogenase. The suf and isc systems are more general with the isc-related proteins being the only present in the animal kingdom. The yeast isc system is the best described. Several proteins constitute the biosynthetic machinery via the isc pathway. The process occurs in two major steps:1)the Fe/S cluster is assembled on a scaffold protein followed by transfer of the preformed cluster to the recipient proteins.The first step of this process occurs in thecytoplasm of procaryotic organisms or in the mitochondria of eucaryotic organisms. In the higher organisms the clusters are therefore transported out of the mitochondrion to be incorporated into the extramitochondrial enzymes. These organisms also possess a set of proteins involved in the Fe/S clusters transport and incorporation processes that are not homologous to proteins found in procaryotic systems.ynthetic analogues
Synthetic analogues of the naturally occurring Fe-S clusters were first reported by Holm and coworkers. [cite journal | author = T. Herskovitz, B. A. Averill, R. H. Holm, J. A. Ibers, W. D. Phillips and J. F. Weiher | title = Structure and Properties of a Synthetic Analogue of Bacterial Iron-Sulfur Proteins | year = 1972 | journal =
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | volume = 69 | issue = 9 | pages = 2437–2441 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.69.9.2437 | pmid = 4506765] Treatment of iron salts with a mixture of thiolates and sulfide affords derivatives such as (Et4N)2Fe4S4(SCH2Ph)4] .References
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Bioinorganic chemistry External links
* [http://metallo.scripps.edu/PROMISE/2FE2S.html Examples of iron-sulfur clusters]
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