Proton magnetic resonance studies of 7Fe ferredoxins. Three redox states of the [4Fe-4S] cluster in a Pseudomonas ovalis ferredoxin

Spectroscopic investigation of selective cluster conversion of archaeal zinc-containing ferredoxin from Sulfolobus sp. strain 7

Archaeal zinc-containing ferredoxin from Sulfolobus sp. strain 7 contains one [3Fe-4S] cluster (cluster I), one [4Fe-4S] cluster (cluster II), and one isolated zinc center. Oxidative degradation of this ferredoxin led to the formation of a stable intermediate with 1 zinc and approximately 6 iron atoms. The metal centers of this intermediate were analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), low temperature resonance Raman, x-ray absorption, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. The spectroscopic data suggest that (i) cluster II was selectively converted to a cubane [3Fe-4S](1+) cluster in the intermediate, without forming a stable radical species, and that (ii) the local metric environments of cluster I and the isolated zinc site did not change significantly in the intermediate. It is concluded that the initial step of oxidative degradation of the archaeal zinc-containing ferredoxin is selective conversion of cluster II, generating a novel intermediate containing two [3Fe-4S] clusters and an isolated zinc center. At this stage, significant structural rearrangement of the protein does not occur. We propose a new scheme for oxidative degradation of dicluster ferredoxins in which each cluster converts in a stepwise manner, prior to apoprotein formation, and discuss its structural and evolutionary implications.

An NMR study of the 7Fe-8S ferredoxin from Rhodopseudomonas palustris and reinterpretation of data on similar systems

The oxidized 7Fe-8S ferredoxin from Rhodopseudomonas palustris is shown to possess a unique 1H NMR spectrum displaying at least one hyperfine-shifted beta-CH2 signal for each cysteine bound to the [3Fe-4S] cluster. COSY and TOCSY spectra and 1- and 2-dimensional NOE experiments, in conjunction with a thorough reexamination of the 1H NMR data on similar systems, permitted the sequential assignment of all of the cysteine beta-CH2 protons even in the absence of the amino acid sequence. The sequential assignment stems on the homology of the hyperfine shift pattern with those of other sequenced 7Fe-8S ferredoxins, which points to a substantial homology in tertiary structure. From the assignment, an analysis of the antiferromagnetic coupling in the [3Fe-4S] system was performed on the basis of a general model of exchange coupling. The NMR signal patterns of [3Fe-4S] clusters in both 3Fe-4S and 7Fe-8S ferredoxins have been discussed, and some correlations are proposed between signal patterns and the primary sequence.