Comparison of native and recombinant chlorite dismutase from Ideonella dechloratans

Arresting the Catalytic Arginine in Chlorite Dismutases: Impact on Heme Coordination, Thermal Stability, and Catalysis

Chlorite dismutases (Clds) are heme b-containing oxidoreductases that can decompose chlorite to chloride and molecular oxygen. They are divided in two clades that differ in oligomerization, subunit architecture, and the hydrogen-bonding network of the distal catalytic arginine, which is proposed to switch between two conformations during turnover. To understand the impact of the conformational dynamics of this basic amino acid on heme coordination, structure, and catalysis, Cld from Cyanothece sp. PCC7425 was used as a model enzyme. As typical for a clade 2 Cld, its distal arginine 127 is hydrogen-bonded to glutamine 74. The latter has been exchanged with either glutamate (Q74E) to arrest R127 in a salt bridge or valine (Q74V) that mirrors the setting in clade 1 Clds. We present the X-ray crystal structures of Q74V and Q74E and demonstrate the pH-induced changes in the environment and coordination of the heme iron by ultraviolet–visible, circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies as well as differential scanning calorimetry. The conformational dynamics of R127 is shown to have a significant role in heme coordination during the alkaline transition and in the thermal stability of the heme cavity, whereas its impact on the catalytic efficiency of chlorite degradation is relatively small. The findings are discussed with respect to (i) the flexible loop connecting the N-terminal and C-terminal ferredoxin-like domains, which differs in clade 1 and clade 2 Clds and carries Q74 in clade 2 proteins, and (ii) the proposed role(s) of the arginine in catalysis.

Characterizing Isozymes of Chlorite Dismutase for Water Treatment

This work investigated the potential for biocatalytic degradation of micropollutants, focusing on chlorine oxyanions as model contaminants, by mining biology to identify promising biocatalysts. Existing isozymes of chlorite dismutase (Cld) were characterized with respect to parameters relevant to this high volume, low-value product application: kinetic parameters, resistance to catalytic inactivation, and stability. Maximum reaction velocities (V_max) were typically on the order of 10⁴ μmol min^-1 (μmol heme)^-1. Substrate affinity (K_m) values were on the order of 100 μM, except for the Cld from Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii (NdCld), which showed a significantly lower affinity for chlorite. NdCld also had the highest susceptibility to catalytic inactivation. In contrast, the Cld from Ideonella dechloratans was least susceptible to catalytic inactivation, with a maximum turnover number of approximately 150,000, more than sevenfold higher than other tested isozymes. Under non-reactive conditions, Cld was quite stable, retaining over 50% of activity after 30 days, and most samples retained activity even after 90–100 days. Overall, Cld from I. dechloratans was the most promising candidate for environmental applications, having high affinity and activity, a relatively low propensity for catalytic inactivation, and excellent stability.

From chlorite dismutase towards HemQ - the role of the proximal H-bonding network in haeme binding

Chlorite dismutase (Cld) and HemQ are structurally and phylogenetically closely related haeme enzymes differing fundamentally in their enzymatic properties. Clds are able to convert chlorite into chloride and dioxygen, whereas HemQ is proposed to be involved in the haeme b synthesis of Gram-positive bacteria. A striking difference between these protein families concerns the proximal haeme cavity architecture. The pronounced H-bonding network in Cld, which includes the proximal ligand histidine and fully conserved glutamate and lysine residues, is missing in HemQ. In order to understand the functional consequences of this clearly evident difference, specific hydrogen bonds in Cld from 'Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii' (NdCld) were disrupted by mutagenesis. The resulting variants (E210A and K141E) were analysed by a broad set of spectroscopic (UV-vis, EPR and resonance Raman), calorimetric and kinetic methods. It is demonstrated that the haeme cavity architecture in these protein families is very susceptible to modification at the proximal site. The observed consequences of such structural variations include a significant decrease in thermal stability and also affinity between haeme b and the protein, a partial collapse of the distal cavity accompanied by an increased percentage of low-spin state for the E210A variant, lowered enzymatic activity concomitant with higher susceptibility to self-inactivation. The high-spin (HS) ligand fluoride is shown to exhibit a stabilizing effect and partially restore wild-type Cld structure and function. The data are discussed with respect to known structure-function relationships of Clds and the proposed function of HemQ as a coprohaeme decarboxylase in the last step of haeme biosynthesis in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria.

Ligand Binding to Chlorite Dismutase from Magnetospirillum sp

Chlorite dismutase (Cld) catalyzes the reduction of chlorite to chloride and dioxygen. Here, the ligand binding to Cld of Magnetospirillum sp. (MaCld) is investigated with X-ray crystallography and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). EPR reveals a large heterogeneity in the structure of wild-type MaCld, showing a variety of low- and high-spin ferric heme forms. Addition of an axial ligand, such as azide or imidazole, removes this heterogeneity almost entirely. This is in line with the two high resolution crystal structures of MaCld obtained in the presence of azide and thiocyanate that show the coordination of the ligands to the heme iron. The crystal structure of the MaCld-azide complex reveals a single well-defined orientation of the azide molecule in the heme pocket. EPR shows, however, a pH-dependent heme structure, probably due to acid-base transitions of the surrounding amino-acid residues stabilizing azide. For the azide and imidazole complex of MaCld, the hyperfine and nuclear quadrupole interactions with the close-by (14)N and (1)H nuclei are determined using pulsed EPR. These values are compared to the corresponding data for the low-spin forms observed in the ferric wild-type MaCld and to existing EPR data on azide and imidazole complexes of other heme proteins.

The homopentameric chlorite dismutase from Magnetospirillum sp

Chlorite dismutase (Cld) is a b-type heme containing enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of chlorite into chloride plus dioxygen. This enzyme has gained attention because it can be used in the development of bioremediation processes, biosensors, and controlled dioxygen production. In the present work, Cld was purified from Magnetospirillum sp. cells cultured anaerobically with acetate/perchlorate until stationary phase. Biochemical, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallography methods showed that Cld from Magnetospirillum sp. is a ~140 kDa homopentamer comprising ~27.8 kDa monomers. Preliminary X-ray crystallography studies confirmed the quaternary structure and the presence of one b-type heme per monomer. The EPR spectroscopic signature of the as-purified Cld samples is affected by the buffer composition used during the purification. Potassium phosphate buffer is the only buffer that affected neither the spectral nor the kinetic properties of Cld. Kinetic studies in solution revealed that Cld from Magnetospirillum sp. decomposes chlorite at high turnover rates with optimal pH6.0. A temperature below 10 °C is required to avoid enzyme inactivation due to cofactor bleaching during turnover, and to achieve full substrate consumption. Cld kinetic parameters were not affected when kinetic assays were performed in the presence of air or under argon atmosphere, but chloride is a weak mixed inhibitor that modifies the EPR signal of as-prepared samples.

Mechanistic study of a manganese porphyrin catalyst for on-demand production of chlorine dioxide in water

A water-soluble manganese porphyrin complex was examined for the catalytic formation of chlorine dioxide from chlorite under ambient temperature at pH 5.00 and 6.90. Quantitative kinetic modeling allowed for the deduction of a mechanism that accounts for all experimental observations. Catalysis is initiated via an OAT (Oxygen Atom Transfer) reaction resulting in formation of a putative manganese(V) oxo species, which undergoes ET (Electron Transfer) with chlorite to form chlorine dioxide. As chlorine dioxide accumulates in solution, chlorite consumption slows down and ClO 2 reaches a maximum as the system reaches equilibrium. In phosphate buffer at pH 6.90, manganese(IV) oxo accumulates and its reaction with ClO 2 gives ClO 3-. However, at pH 5.00 acetate buffer proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) from chlorite to manganese(IV) oxo is fast and irreversible leading to chlorate formation only via the putative manganese(V) oxo species. These differences underscore how PCET rates affect reaction pathways and mechanism. The ClO 2 product can be collected from the aqueous reaction mixture via purging with an inert gas, allowing for the preparation of chlorine dioxide on-demand.

Production of dioxygen in the dark: dismutases of oxyanions

O₂-generating reactions are exceedingly rare in biology and difficult to mimic synthetically. Perchlorate-respiring bacteria enzymatically detoxify chlorite (ClO₂(-) ), the end product of the perchlorate (ClO(4)(-) ) respiratory pathway, by rapidly converting it to dioxygen (O₂) and chloride (Cl(-)). This reaction is catalyzed by a heme-containing protein, called chlorite dismutase (Cld), which bears no structural or sequence relationships with known peroxidases or other heme proteins and is part of a large family of proteins with more than one biochemical function. The original assumptions from the 1990s that perchlorate is not a natural product and that perchlorate respiration might be confined to a taxonomically narrow group of species have been called into question, as have the roles of perchlorate respiration and Cld-mediated reactions in the global biogeochemical cycle of chlorine. In this chapter, the chemistry and biochemistry of Cld-mediated O₂generation, as well as the biological and geochemical context of this extraordinary reaction, are described.

Non-heme manganese catalysts for on-demand production of chlorine dioxide in water and under mild conditions

Two non-heme manganese complexes are used in the catalytic formation of chlorine dioxide from chlorite under ambient temperature at pH 5.00. The catalysts afford up to 1000 turnovers per hour and remain highly active in subsequent additions of chlorite. Kinetic and spectroscopic studies revealed a Mn(III)(OH) species as the dominant form under catalytic conditions. A Mn(III)(μ-O)Mn(IV) dinuclear species was observed by EPR spectroscopy, supporting the involvement of a putative Mn(IV)(O) species. First-order kinetic dependence on the manganese catalyst precludes the dinuclear species as the active form of the catalyst. Quantitative kinetic modeling enabled the deduction of a mechanism that accounts for all experimental observations. The chlorine dioxide producing cycle involves formation of a putative Mn(IV)(O), which undergoes PCET (proton coupled electron-transfer) reaction with chlorite to afford chlorine dioxide. The ClO2 product can be efficiently removed from the aqueous reaction mixture via purging with an inert gas, allowing for the preparation of pure chlorine dioxide for on-site use and further production of chlorine dioxide.

Chlorite dismutases - a heme enzyme family for use in bioremediation and generation of molecular oxygen

Chlorite is a serious environmental concern, as rising concentrations of this harmful anthropogenic compound have been detected in groundwater, drinking water, and soil. Chlorite dismutases (Clds) are therefore important molecules in bioremediation as Clds catalyze the degradation of chlorite to chloride and molecular oxygen. Clds are heme b-containing oxidoreductases present in numerous bacterial and archaeal phyla. This review presents the phylogeny of functional Clds and Cld-like proteins, and demonstrates the close relationship of this novel enzyme family to the recently discovered dye-decolorizing peroxidases. The available X-ray structures, biophysical and enzymatic properties, as well as a proposed reaction mechanism, are presented and critically discussed. Open questions about structure-function relationships are addressed, including the nature of the catalytically relevant redox and reaction intermediates and the mechanism of inactivation of Clds during turnover. Based on analysis of currently available data, chlorite dismutase from "Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii" is suggested as a model Cld for future application in biotechnology and bioremediation. Additionally, Clds can be used in various applications as local generators of molecular oxygen, a reactivity already exploited by microbes that must perform aerobic metabolic pathways in the absence of molecular oxygen. For biotechnologists in the field of chemical engineering and bioremediation, this review provides the biochemical and biophysical background of the Cld enzyme family as well as critically assesses Cld's technological potential.

Crystal structure of chlorite dismutase, a detoxifying enzyme producing molecular oxygen

Chlorite dismutase (Cld) is a key enzyme of perchlorate and chlorate respiration. This heme-based protein reduces the toxic compound chlorite into the innocuous chloride anion in a very efficient way while producing molecular oxygen. A sequence comparison between Cld homologues shows a highly conserved family. The crystal structure of Azospira oryzae strain GR-1 Cld is reported to 2.1 A resolution. The structure reveals a hexameric organization of the Cld, while each monomer exhibits a ferredoxin-like fold. The six subunits are organized in a ring structure with a maximal diameter of 9 nm and an inner diameter of 2 nm. The heme active-site pocket is solvent accessible both from the inside and the outside of the ring. Moreover, a second anion binding site that could accommodate the assumed reaction intermediate ClO(-) for further transformation has been identified near the active site. The environment of the heme cofactor was investigated with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Apart from the high-spin ferric signal of the five-coordinate resting-state enzyme, two low-spin signals were found corresponding to six-coordinate species. The current crystal structure confirms and complements a recently proposed catalytic mechanism that proceeds via a ferryl species and a ClO(-) anion. Our structural data exclude cooperativity between the iron centers.

Chemical and steady-state kinetic analyses of a heterologously expressed heme dependent chlorite dismutase

Chlorite dismutase carries out the heme-catalyzed decomposition of ClO2- to Cl- and O2, an unusual transformation with biotechnological and bioremediative applications. The enzyme has been successfully overexpressed for the first time in highly functional form in Escherichia coli and its steady state kinetics studied. The purified enzyme is abundant (55 mg/L cell culture), highly active (approximately 4.7 x 10(3) micromol of ClO2- min(-1) mg(-1) subunit) and nearly stoichiometric in heme; further, it shares spectroscopic and physicochemical features with chlorite dismutases previously isolated from three organisms. A careful study of the enzyme's steady state kinetics has been carried out. ClO2- consumption and O2 release rates were measured, yielding comparable values of kcat (4.5 x 10(5) min(-1)), K(m) (approximately 215 microM), and kcat/Km (3.5 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) via either method (4 degrees C, pH 6.8; all values referenced per heme-containing subunit). ClO2-:O2 stoichiometry exhibited a 1:1 relationship under all conditions measured. Though the value of kcat/Km indicates near diffusion control of the reaction, viscosogens had no effect on k(cat)/K(m) or V(max). The product O2 did not inhibit the reaction at saturating [O2], but Cl- is a mixed inhibitor with relatively high values of KI (225 mM for enzyme and 95.6 mM for the enzyme-substrate complex), indicating a relatively low affinity of the heme iron for halogen ions. Chlorite irreversibly inactivates the enzyme after approximately 1.7 x 10(4) turnovers (per heme) and with a half-life of 0.39 min, resulting in bleaching of the heme chromophore. The inactivation K(I) (K(inact)) of 166 microM is similar in magnitude to Km, consistent with a common Michaelis complex on the pathway to both reaction and inactivation. The one-electron peroxidase substrate guaiacol offers incomplete protection of the enzyme from inactivation. Mechanisms in keeping with the available data and the properties of other well-described heme enzymes are proposed.