Analysis of the Effect of Network Structure and Disulfide Concentration on Vitrimer Properties

A set of five vitrimers with glass transition temperatures in the range of 80-90 °C were designed to assess the effect of the network structure and disulfide concentration on their dynamic and mechanical properties, and to find the best performing system overall compared to the commercial Araldite LY1564/Aradur 3486 commercial thermoset system. Vitrimer networks were prepared by incorporating mono- and bifunctional epoxy reactive diluents and an amine chain extender into the Araldite LY1564/4-aminophenyldisulfide system.

Enhanced Biodegradability in Soil of Chicken Feather by Steam Explosion for Potential Application in Agricultural Biodegradable Plastics

Feather waste is a major issue from an economic and environmental point of view. Even though there are already routes for the valorisation of feathers into fertilisers and feather meal, these are considered to have low added value. For more attractive applications, for example in agricultural biodegradable plastics, higher and faster degradability in soil is required. To face this challenge alternative approaches to accelerate biodegradation and disintegration processes are needed. In this context, steam explosion appears as an effective technology to modify the structure of feather and improve its soil degradability. In this work, chicken feathers were treated by steam explosion and the effect of treatment on their structure and physico-chemical and thermal properties were evaluated. Finally, the effect of the process conditions on the disintegration and biodegradation in soil of feathers was also investigated, finding an increased degradation in soil of steam explosion treated feathers. These results open up the possibilities of using feather waste as a component for environmentally friendly agricultural bioplastics that can be degraded in-situ in soil.

3D Printable Dynamic Hydrogel: As Simple as it Gets!

3D Printing technology offers a vast range of applications for tissue engineering applications. Over the past decade a vast range of new equipment has been developed; while, 3D printable biomaterials, especially hydrogels, are investigated to fit the printability requirements. The current candidates for bioprinting often requires post-printing cross-linking to maintain their shape. On the other hand, dynamic hydrogels are considered as the most promising candidate for this application with their extrudability and self-healing properties. However, it proves to be very difficult to match the required rheological in a simple material. Here, we present for the first time the simplest formulation of a dynamic hydrogel based on thiol-functionalized hyaluronic acid formulated with gold ions that fulfill all the requirements to be printed without the use of external stimuli, as judged by the rheological studies. The printability was also demonstrated with a 3D printer allowing to print the dynamic hydrogel as it is, achieving 3D construct with a relatively good precision and up to 24 layers, corresponding to 10 mm high. This material is the simplest 3D printable hydrogel and its mixture with cells and biological compounds is expected to open a new era in 3D bioprinting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Assessing the Effect of CeO2 Nanoparticles as Corrosion Inhibitor in Hybrid Biobased Waterborne Acrylic Direct to Metal Coating Binders

CeO₂ nanoparticles were incorporated in waterborne binders containing high biobased content (up to 70%) in order to analyze the anticorrosion performance for direct to metal coatings. Biobased binders were synthesized by batch miniemulsion polymerization of 2-octyl acrylate and isobornyl methacrylate monomers using a phosphate polymerizable surfactant (Sipomer PAM200) that lead to the formation of phosphate functionalized latexes. Upon the direct application of such binders on steel, the functionalized polymer particles were able to interact with steel, creating a thin phosphatization layer between the metal and the polymer and avoiding flash rust. The in situ incorporation of the CeO₂ nanoparticles during the polymerization process led to their homogeneous distribution in the final polymer film, which produced outstanding anticorrosion performance according to the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy measurements. In fact, steel substrates coated with the hybrid polymer film (30-40 µm thick) showed high barrier corrosion resistance after 41 days (~1000 h) of immersion in NaCl water solution and active inhibition capabilities thanks to the presence of the CeO₂ nanoparticles. This work opens the door to the fabrication of sustainable hybrid anticorrosion waterborne coatings.

COSAN-stabilised omega-3 oil-in-water nanoemulsions to prolong lung residence time for poorly water soluble drugs

Herein, we report on the capacity of the amphiphilic inorganic anion cobalt bis(dicarbollide) to stabilise oil-in-water nanoemulsions (NEs). The resulting NEs show long term stability in water and high drug-loading capacity, and can prolong the residence time of hydrophobic drugs in the lungs as determined by in vivo positron emission tomography imaging.

Improved Thermal Insulating Properties of Renewable Polyol Based Polyurethane Foams Reinforced with Chicken Feathers

In the present work, sustainable rigid polyurethane foams (RPUF) reinforced with chicken feathers (CF) were prepared and characterized. The bio-based polyol used to formulate the foams was obtained from castor oil. This investigation reports the influence of the chicken feathers fibers as reinforcement of RPUF, on water absorption, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties (field-emission scanning electron microscope-FESEM) and thermal conductivity on water-blown biofoams. It was found that the biofoams improved thermal insulating properties when CF was added. The addition of CF to foams provided lower heat flux density to the biofoams obtaining bio-based materials with better insulation properties. The results obtained in this study proved that the incorporation of CF to RPUF modified the cell structure of the foams affecting their physical and mechanical properties, as well as functional properties such as the heat transmission factor. These biofoams containing up to 45% of bio-based materials have shown the potential to replace fully petroleum-based foams in thermal insulation applications.

Robust Aluminum Electrodeposition from Iionic Liquid Electrolytes Containing Light Aromatic Naphta as Additive

Aluminum electrodeposition can be carried out from several ionic liquid electrolyte formulations. Nevertheless, this plating process has not been industrialized so far because of the durability of the electrolytes and because the Al coatings obtained are non-fully homogeneous in terms of coating morphology and thickness distribution. In this work we electrodeposited Al coatings from a 3-butyl-1-ethylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate electrolyte additivated with increasing concentrations of a new cost-effective additive: light aromatic naphtha solvent. Firstly, electrolytes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, where changes in the electrochemistry of the process were identified. Then, surface characterization showed that Al coatings morphology turned out to be smoother, more homogeneous and more compact with increasing additive concentration. Furthermore, the process was scaled up to flat plates of 18 cm² area and also on 25 cm² parts designed with straight corners to demonstrate both the optimization of the electrolytic bath performance and its throwing power enhancement.

Flexible Biocomposites with Enhanced Interfacial Compatibility Based on Keratin Fibers and Sulfur-Containing Poly(urea-urethane)s

Feathers are made of keratin, a fibrous protein with high content of disulfide-crosslinks and hydrogen-bonds. Feathers have been mainly used as reinforcing fiber in the preparation of biocomposites with a wide variety of polymers, also poly(urea-urethane)s. Surface compatibility between the keratin fiber and the matrix is crucial for having homogenous, high quality composites with superior mechanical properties. Poly(urea-urethane) type polymers are convenient for this purpose due to the presence of polar functionalities capable of forming hydrogen-bonds with keratin. Here, we demonstrate that the interfacial compatibility can be further enhanced by incorporating sulfur moieties in the polymer backbone that lead to new fiber-matrix interactions. We comparatively studied two analogous thermoplastic poly(urea-urethane) elastomers prepared starting from the same isocyanate-functionalized polyurethane prepolymer and two aromatic diamine chain extenders, bis(4-aminophenyl) disulfide (TPUU-SS) and the sulfur-free counterpart bis(4-aminophenyl) methane (TPUU). Then, biocomposites with high feather loadings (40, 50, 60 and 75 wt %) were prepared in a torque rheometer and hot-compressed into flexible sheets. Mechanical characterization showed that TPUU-SS based materials underwent higher improvement in mechanical properties than biocomposites made of the reference TPUU (up to 7.5-fold higher tensile strength compared to neat polymer versus 2.3-fold). Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images also provided evidence that fibers were completely embedded in the TPUU-SS matrix. Additionally, density, thermal stability, and water absorption of the biocomposites were thoroughly characterized.

Sulfur Polymers Meet Poly(ionic liquid)s: Bringing New Properties to Both Polymer Families

Sulfur-containing polymers and poly(ionic liquid)s are emerging macromolecules with unique properties and applications. This article shows the first integration of these two polymer families, leading to materials with a unique combination of properties. The synthetic strategy toward sulfur-containing poly(ionic liquid)s involves first the copolymerization of elemental sulfur with 4-vinylbenzyl chloride and subsequent quaternization of the alkyl chloride group using N-methyl imidazole. The synthetic pathway is completed by the anion exchange reaction of the poly(sulfur-co-4-vinylbenzyl imidazolium chloride) by a sulphonamide anion. The obtained polymers are fully characterized by NMR, FTIR, SEC, DSC, and TGA. The sulfur poly(ionic liquid)s combine some properties related to its poly(ionic liquid) nature, such as anion-dependent solubility (water vs organic solvents) and high ionic conductivity as well as properties related to its sulfur content, such as redox activity.

Poly(anthraquinonyl sulfides): High Capacity Redox Polymers for Energy Storage

Redox polymers with high energy storage capacity are searched in order to diminish the weight to the actual batteries. Poly(anthraquinonyl sulfide) PAQS is a popular redox polymer which has shown a high performance cathode for lithium, sodium and magnesium batteries. Although PAQS cathodes show high cycling stability it has a relatively low theoretical specific capacity of 225 mAh/g. In this paper we show the synthesis and characterization of new poly(anthraquinonyl sulfides) PAQxS in an attempt to improve the specific capacity of PAQS. Thus, a series of PAQxS polymers with different polysulfide segment lengths (x between 2 and 9 sulfur atoms) have been synthesized in high yields by reacting in situ formed sodium polysulfides with 1,5-dicholoroanthraquinone. The poly(anthraquinonyl sulfides) powders were characterized by ATR-FTIR, solid state ¹³C NMR for the organic part and Raman spectroscopy for the chalcogenide part. This characterization confirmed the chemical structure of the PAQxS based on an anthraquinone moiety bind together by polysulfide segments. The electrochemical characterization showed a dual reversible redox mechanism associated with both the anthraquinone and polysulfide electrochemistry. Finally, lithium coin cell battery test of the PAQxS redox polymers as cathodes indicated that the capacity of poly(anthraquinonyl sulfides) showed very high experimental initial capacity values above 600 mAh/g, less capacity loss than sulfur cathodes, and higher steady state capacity than PAQS.

Fully Biodegradable Biocomposites with High Chicken Feather Content

The aim of this work was to develop new biodegradable polymeric materials with high loadings of chicken feather (CF). In this study, the effect of CF concentration and the type of biodegradable matrix on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the biocomposites was investigated. The selected biopolymers were polylactic acid (PLA), polybutyrate adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and a PLA/thermoplastic copolyester blend. The studied biocomposites were manufactured with a torque rheometer having a CF content of 50 and 60 wt %. Due to the low tensile strength of CFs, the resulting materials were penalized in terms of mechanical properties. However, high-loading CF biocomposites resulted in lightweight and thermal-insulating materials when compared with neat bioplastics. Additionally, the adhesion between CFs and the PLA matrix was also investigated and a significant improvement of the wettability of the feathers was obtained with the alkali treatment of the CFs and the addition of a plasticizer like polyethylene glycol (PEG). Considering all the properties, these 100% fully biodegradable biocomposites could be adequate for panel components, flooring or building materials as an alternative to wood⁻plastic composites, contributing to the valorisation of chicken feather waste as a renewable material.

Injectable and Self-Healing Dynamic Hydrogels Based on Metal(I)-Thiolate/Disulfide Exchange as Biomaterials with Tunable Mechanical Properties

Despite numerous strategies involving dynamic covalent bonds to produce self-healing hydrogels with similar frequency-dependent stiffness to native tissues, it remains challenging to use biologically relevant thiol/disulfide exchange to confer such properties to polymeric networks. Herein, we report a new method based on Metal(I) [Au(I) or Ag(I)] capping to protect thiolates from aerial oxidation without preventing thiolate/disulfide exchange. Dynamic hydrogels were readily prepared by injecting simultaneously aqueous solutions of commercially available HAuCl4 and 4-arm thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol [(PEGSH)4], resulting in a network containing a mixture of Au(I)-thiolate (Au-S) and disulfide bonds (SS). While the dynamic properties of the hydrogel were closely dependent on the pH, the mechanical properties could be easily tuned by adjusting (PEGSH)4 concentration and amount of Au-S, as judged by dynamic rheology studies. Permanent Au-S/SS exchange at physiological pH conferred self-healing behavior and frequency-dependent stiffness to the hydrogel. In addition, in vitro studies confirmed that Au-based dynamic material was not cytotoxic to human dermal fibroblasts, demonstrating its potential use as a medical device. Dynamic hydrogels obtained using Ag(I) ions demonstrated that the exchange reaction was not affected by the nature of the Metal(I) capping. Finally, this efficient thiolate capping strategy offers a simple way to produce injectable and self-healing dynamic hydrogels from virtually any thiol-containing polymers.

Redox properties of the iron-sulfur clusters in activated Fe-hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough)

The periplasmic Fe-hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough) contains three iron-sulfur prosthetic groups: two putative electron transferring [4Fe-4S] ferredoxin-like cubanes (two F-clusters), and one putative Fe/S supercluster redox catalyst (one H-cluster). Combined elemental analysis by proton-induced X-ray emission, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, instrumental neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy and colorimetry establishes that elements with Z > 21 (except for 12-15 Fe) are present in 0.001-0.1 mol/mol quantities, not correlating with activity. Isoelectric focussing reveals the existence of multiple charge conformers with pI in the range 5.7-6.4. Repeated re-chromatography results in small amounts of enzyme of very high H2-production activity determined under standardized conditions (approximately 7000 U/mg). The enzyme exists in two different catalytic forms: as isolated the protein is 'resting' and O2-insensitive; upon reduction the protein becomes active and O2-sensitive. EPR-monitored redox titrations have been carried out of both the resting and the activated enzyme. In the course of a reductive titration, the resting protein becomes activated and begins to produce molecular hydrogen at the expense of reduced titrant. Therefore, equilibrium potentials are undefined, and previously reported apparent Em and n values [Patil, D. S., Moura, J. J. G., He, S. H., Teixeira, M, Prickril, B. C., DerVartanian, D. V., Peck, H. D. Jr, LeGall, J. & Huynh, B.-H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 18,732-18,738] are not thermodynamic quantities. In the activated enzyme an S = 1/2 signal (g = 2.11, 2.05, 2.00; 0.4 spin/protein molecule), attributed to the oxidized H cluster, exhibits a single reduction potential, Em,7 = -307 mV, just above the onset potential of H2 production. The midpoint potential of the two F clusters (2.0 spins/protein molecule) has been determined either by titrating active enzyme with the H2/H+ couple (E,m = -330 mV) or by dithionite-titrating a recombinant protein that lacks the H-cluster active site (Em,7.5 = -340 mV). There is no significant redox interaction between the two F clusters (n approximately 1).

Application of hydrogenase in biotechnological conversions

Evidence will be presented in this review article that the application of hydrogenase has large biotechnological possibilities. Our investigations show: Fast reaction of hydrogenase at an electrode surface to reduce H+; Photochemical production of H2 by hydrogenase by photosensitized Ru-complexes dissolved in reversed micellar membranes and vectorial H+ transport through the membrane to the water phase; The production of fine chemicals in reversed micelles by a system containing specific enzymes, hydrogenase and H2. The rules to obtain maximal conversion rates with this system will be presented.

The importance of quantitative Mössbauer spectroscopy of MoFe-protein from Azotobacter vinelandii

The Mössbauer spectra of MoFe-protein of Azotobacter vinelandii, as isolated under dithionite and taken at temperatures from 125 K to 175 K, are the sums of four resolved quadrupole doublets. Our results indicate that the currently accepted interpretation of these doublets can be questioned. Our data reduction method converts the Mössbauer transmission spectra to source lineshape deconvolved absorption spectra linear in iron. We used these absorption spectra to determine the stoichiometry of the Fe clusters in MoFe-protein and we obtained much better fits if we assumed that there are four iron atoms in the 'Fe2+, doublet, two iron atoms in the 'S' doublet, twelve iron atoms in the 'D' doublet and sixteen iron atoms in the 'M' doublet. Therefore we propose that the MoFe-cofactor contains one molybdenum and eight iron atoms ('M'). We also argue that none of the previous Mössbauer spectroscopic studies have been performed on the highest-activity preparation now obtainable, nor has there been any study to prove that the Mössbauer spectra are independent of activity. We consider that the Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of the MoFe-protein of nitrogenase are a re-opened and unsolved problem.

Electron paramagnetic resonance and other properties of hydrogenases isolated from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (strain Hildenborough) and Megasphaera elsdenii

The hydrogenases of Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Megasphaera elsdenii are compared with respect to some of their physical properties. In addition to Fe the only metal ions that are present in significant amounts are Ni and Cu. From cluster extrusion experiments it follows that the D. vulgaris enzyme contains three 4 Fe-4S clusters, while M. elsdenii hydrogenase only releases part of its Fe-S clusters. The resting D. vulgaris enzyme shows only a small 3 Fe-xS type of EPR signal (maximum 5% electron equivalent). This amount can be increased to approximately 25% by treatment with ferricyanide, with a concomitant large decrease in activity. The M. elsdenii enzyme shows in its oxidized state a normal Hipip (high-potential iron-sulphur protein) type of EPR spectrum. After a reduction/oxidation cycle the D. vulgaris enzyme also shows a weak Hipip type of EPR spectrum. In the reduced state both enzymes show complex spectra. By integration of those spectra it is shown that 1.5 electron equivalents are present. The complex spectra do not arise from nuclear hyperfine interactions but are partially due to electron spin interactions. It is proposed that the spectrum of reduced D. vulgaris hydrogenase consists of a sum of three different ferredoxin-like spectra.

Kinetic properties of hydrogenase isolated from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough)

Hydrogenase of Desulfovibrio vulgaris shows nonlinear kinetics in hydrogen production with both the natural electron carrier, cytochrome c3, and the artificial donor, methyl viologen semiquinone. Increasing concentrations of salt progressively inhibit the hydrogen production, as do increasing amounts of dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO). Hydrogen consumption activity does not change up to 30% (v/v) of Me2SO. Preincubation in Me2SO up to 55% (v/v) does not affect the hydrogen uptake or production. The production activity of the enzyme shows an optimum around pH 6. When plotted as a function of redox potential the activity can be fitted to a Nernst equation with n = 1. Midpoint potentials calculated at various values follow approximately the hydrogen electrode to pH 6. Thereafter, there is a shift of about 40 mV to higher redox potentials.

A pulse-radiolysis study of cytochrome c3. Kinetics of the reduction of cytochrome c3 by methyl viologen radicals and the characterisation of the redox properties of cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough)

1. Pulse-radiolysis experiments were performed in the presence of methyl viologen and cytochrome c3. After the pulse, methyl viologen radicals are formed and the kinetics of these radicals with cytochrome c3 are studied, The reaction between cytochrome c3 and methyl viologen radicals (MV+) is diffusion controlled. The ionic strength dependence and the pH-dependence of this reaction were studied. From the ionic strength dependence (at pH 7.8) we found that the net charge of the fully oxidized cytochrome c3 molecule was Z = + 4.7 +/- 0.7. 2. After the pulse an equilibrium is reached for the reaction of MV+ with cytochrome c3. From this equilibrium an apparent midpoint potential can be obtained. The apparent midpoint potential of this multihaem molecule was found to depend on the degree of reduction, alpha. With the help of the Nernst equation an empirical equation is obtained to describe this dependence of the midpoint potential: E0 = - 0.250 - 0.088 alpha (in V). 3. An estimation is made of the energy of interaction between the haems due to electrostatic interactions (delta epsilon less than 32 mV) and due to ionic strength effects (- 12 mV less than delta epsilon less than 26 mV). The results suggest that the redox properties of the individual haems in the cytochrome c3 molecule are dependent on the degree of reduction of the other haems in the molecule. 4. The reaction of cytochrome c3 with MV+ or with ethanol radicals (EtOH) has been compared with the reactions of horse-heart cytochrome c and of metmyoglobin with the same radicals. The reaction of MV+ or EtOH with horse-heart cytochrome c is found to be diffusion controlled; the reactions with metmyoglobin on the other hand are most probably controlled by an activation energy.

On the molecular and submolecular structure of the semiquinone cations of alloxazines and isoalloxazines as revealed by electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy

The thermodynamically stable and, therefore, analytically most important alloxazine and isoalloxazine radical cations have been studied in detail by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Isotopic and chemical substitutions have been made as in earlier studies with the less stable neutral and anionic species. The experimental spectra have been calculated with the aid of a more sophisticated computer-simulation program than previously used. Excellent fits were obtained only when all of the following atoms were taken into account in the hyperfine coupling scheme: N-5 H, N-10 H or CH3, C-6 H, C-7 H, C-8 H or CH3 and C-9 H. An additional but small coupling constant was required for the fit. This latter coupling constant is assigned to the nitrogen atom(s) of the pyrimidine subnucleus of (iso)alloxazine radical cations. The EPR-active proton is attached to N-5 as we also found for the neutral flavosemiquinone. The alloxazine and isoalloxazine radical cations exhibit an identical hyperfine coupling scheme but differ especially in the pyrazine nucleus with respect to the spin density distribution. This suggests that the geometrical structure of the two kinds of radicals is somewhat different. The highest spin density is, however, located at N-5 of (iso)alloxazine as has been found for the other flavosemiquinone species. The hyperfine coupling constants are interpreted in terms of spin densities and comparison is made with the most recently available quantum chemical calculations. All monomeric flavosemiquinone species are compared with each other and their differences in the submolecular structure are discussed briefly.

Fluorescence polarization and energy-transfer studies on the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli

We have attached eosin maleimide specifically to the lipoyl group of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex isolated from Escherichia coli. Using this as the fluorescence acceptor and the intrinsic FAD of the lipoamide dehydrogenase subunit as the fluorescence donor, we confirmed previous measurements with other probes, in which it was suggested that the flavin moiety is at a substantial distance (over 4.5 nm) from the labeled lipoyl group. Since the lipoyl group must apply electrons to the FAD during the catalytic decarboxylation of pyruvate, we have investigated several potential mechanisms whereby this could happen. Movement within the complex, possibly triggered by the presence of substrate, seemed to be a strong possibility. Complex labeled with fluorophores on the accessible sulfhydryls, or on the lipoyl functions, did not give evidence of such triggering upon addition of substrate as judged by both static and dynamic fluorescence depolarization. The mobility of the subunits of labeled lipoamide dehydrogenase exceeded that expected for the total complex. Pyrene maleimide bound to the lipoyl functions also exhibited considerably faster rotations than the predicted one of the whole complex (tau c > 3 micros). This suggests that a constant movement within the complex, coupled with the rotation of the lipoyl group, may bring the active sites of the complex transiently close enough together to interact on a time scale much faster than enzyme turnover. At the same time, the lipoyl group and the active sites of the complex can spend most of their time at points which are rather distant from each other.

Properties of the hydrogenase of Megasphaera elsdenii

The catalytic activities of Megasphaera elsdenii hydrogenase are stimulated by salts. The stimulation is due to the anion: the more chaotropic the anion, the greater the effect. Dithionite-reduced and dye-oxidised preparations of hydrogenase are inactivated by reaction with oxygen. The inactivation of the reduced enzyme by excess oxygen follows pseudo-first-order kinetics; the reaction order for the oxidised enzyme has not been established. The rate of oxygen-inactivation is decreased by bovine serum albumin. The hydrogen production activity decreases in the presence of dimethylsulphoxide and ethylene glycol. The hydrogen oxidation activity is stimulated by dimethylsulphoxide, and the activity remains linear with time at concentrations up to 50% (v/v). Above 70% dimethylsulphoxide the steady-state activity of hydrogenase is abolished for both types of activity. The enzyme is more stable in a hydrogen atmosphere than in an argon atmosphere, and the oxidized enzyme is more stable than the reduced enzyme. The enzyme is isolated in the presence of dithionite and it is therefore reduced. When the enzyme is oxidized by treatment with 2,6-dichloroindophenol or with (bi)sulphite, its activity increases by up to 65%; this activation is not reversed when the enzyme is re-reduced. The increase in activity is associated with a change of the redox potential of the incubation medium to a less negative value; half of the maximum activation occurs at -0.41 V. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the dithionite-reduced hydrogenase resembles that of a reduced ferredoxin-type of spectrum with two 4Fe-4S clusters. The spectrum of the oxidized enzyme is similar to that of Chromatium high-potential iron-sulphur protein. No redox potentials can be ascribed to these spectra since the redox system changes upon freezing to liquid helium temperatures.

Protein mobility inside pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes as reflected by laser-pulse fluorometry. A new approach to multi-enzyme catalysis

The fluorescence decay curves of the flavin in all pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes studied here are consistent with a two-exponential fit. One of the lifetimes calculated is very short, as demonstrated by experiments in which a mode-locked argon-ion laser was used for excitation. In three complexes out of the four which were investigated, about equal weights for the amplitudes of the two lifetimes are found. In the three-component complex from Azotobacter vinelandii this is not the case. No effects of the protein concentration on the lifetimes of the fluorophore were found in the concentration range studied. A small but significant difference in lifetime is observed for the A. vinelandii complexes when coenzyme-free complex is compared with complex to which Mg2+ and thiamin diphosphate are added. The correlation time calculated from the polarized decay of the flavin fluorescence at 11 degrees C is around 40 ns and 50 ns for A. vinelandii complexes and Escherichia coli complexes respectively. This correlation time is of the same order as the rotational correlation time of free lipo-amide dehydrogenase itself, but much shorter than would be expected from the molecular weights of the complexes. Models explaining the two lifetimes are discussed. A catalytic mechanism based on the internal mobility of the lipoamide dehydrogenase inside the multi-enzyme complex is proposed.

Purification and properties of hydrogenase from Megasphaera elsdenii

A hydrogenase has been purified to homogeneity from the soluble fraction of the rumen bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii, the overall purification is 200 times with a yield of 14%. The pure enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain with Mr approximately 50 000 which contains 12 atoms of non-haem iron and 12 atoms of acid-labile sulphide. The enzyme is rapidly inactivated by O2 and it is therefore purified under nitrogen and in the presence of sodium dithionite. The optical spectrum of the enzyme, after removal of the dithionite with air, shows a peak at 275 nm (epsilon 275 nm = 143 mM-1 cm-1) and a shoulder between 350 nm and 400 nm (epsilon 400 nm = 46 mM-1 cm-1). The enzyme catalyses hydrogen production from sodium dithionite at a low rate. The rate is greatly enhanced by addition of the electron donors flavodoxin, ferredoxin and methyl viologen. The kinetic data with these three electron donors suggest co-operativity, but no indication of self-association of the enzyme was obtained. Sodium chloride enhances the rate of hydrogen production with methyl viologen semiquinone and changes the kinetic behaviour of the enzyme with this electron donor, but causes inhibition of the reactions mediated by ferredoxin and flavodoxin. Two kinetic models were developed which are consistent with the kinetic data of the three electron donors tested. The apparent co-operativity for the hydrogen production can be fitted with the mathematical form of those models. The identical kinetic behaviour of the hydrogenase with the one-electron donors flavodoxin and methyl viologen semiquinone monomer and the two-electron donor ferredoxin indicates that the hydrogenase accepts two electrons in two separate, independent steps and further indicates that the two (4Fe-4S) clusters of the donor ferredoxin are independent. The interpretation of the kinetic data with methyl viologen semiquinone is complicated by the fact that the semiquinone dimerises, and that the formation of the dimer is enhanced by salt. Taking into account the association of this donor, the activity of the enzyme with methyl viologen semiquinone can be described by the sum of the activities of the enzyme with methyl viologen monomer and methyl viologen dimer. The enzyme catalyses the oxidation of hydrogen gas with methyl and benzyl viologen as electron acceptors to their semiquinone forms; both electron acceptors show Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The hydrogen oxidation activity with both electron acceptors is stimulated by addition of sodium chloride. The kinetic data of the oxidation of hydrogen with the two-electron acceptors used are consistent with the porposed models, if it is assumed that the pathway followed is compulsory. At this moment no choice can be made between the models proposed.

Fluorescence energy-transfer studies on the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex isolated from Azotobacter vinelandii

Fluorescence energy transfer has been employed to estimate the minimum distance between each of the active sites of the 4 component enzymes of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. No energy transfer was seen between thiochrome diphosphate, bound to the pyruvate decarboxylase active site, and the FAD of the lipoamide dehydrogenase active site. Likewise, several fluorescent sulfhydryl labels, which were specifically bound to the lipoyl moiety of lipoyl transacetylase, showed no energy transfer to either the flavin or thiochrome diphosphate. These observations suggest that all the active centers of the complex are quite far apart (greater than or equal to 40 nm), at least during some stages of catalysis. These results do not preclude the possibility that the distances change during catalysis. Several of the fluorescent probes used possessed multiple fluorescent lifetimes, as shown by determination of lifetime averages by both phase and modulation measurements on a phase fluorimeter. These lifetimes are shown to result from multiple factors, not necessarily related to multiple protein conformations.

Symmetry and asymmetry of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes from Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli as reflected by fluorescence and spin-label studies

Fluorescence-lifetime measurements of FAD bound to lipoamide dehydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli were performed. It is shown from these results that the two FAD groups in the isolated dimeric enzyme, as well as in the enzyme in the intact complex of E. coli, are in non-equivalent surroundings. This contrasts with the near equivalence of the FAD groups of both the enzyme and complex isolated from A. vinelandii. Reduction of the complex with Mg2+, thiamine pyrophosphate and pyruvate or with NADH enables the attachment of a maleimide analogue specifically to the lipoyl moieties of the transacetylase(s). Spin label [N-(1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrrolidinyl)maleimide] introduced in such a way proves the existence of at least two different micro-environments around the lipoyl moieties in complex isolated from A. vinelandii. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the specifically spin-labelled complexes from E. coli and A. vinelandii, when dissolved in tricine [N-tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylglycine] buffer, show interactions of at least two electron spins with each other, which indicate that the lipoyl moieties are rather close together. Fluorescent label [N-(1-anilinonaphthyl-4)maleimide] is specifically attached to the lipoyl moiety of the high-Mr transacetylase of the freshly isolated complex from A. vinelandii. From the large differences in the apparent lifetimes tau p and tau m, as detected by phase fluorimetry, it is shown that this fluorscent label is distributed in different micro-environments. The differences observed in energy transfer between fluorescent label, attached to the lipoyl moiety of the high-Mr transacetylase, indicate different conformations of the complex from A. vinelandii. Upon introduction of the label after reduction with NADH a much larger energy transfer, thus a shorter distance, is observed between the label and FAD than when reduction is performed with Mg2+, thiamine pyrophosphate and pyruvate. A similar conformation dependence upon reduction is found for the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from E. coli. It is thus proposed that the transacetylase of E. coli and the high-Mr transacetylase of A. vinelandii are both non-symmetrically distributed within the complex.

The pyruvate-dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. 3. Stoichiometry and function of the individual components

Labelling studies with N-ETHYLMALEIMIDE SHOW THAT EITHER IN THE PRESENCE OF Mg2+, thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) and pyruvate or in the presence of NADH the overall activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii is inhibited without much inhibition of the partial reactions. The complex undergoes a conformational change upon incubation with NADH. The inhibition by bromopyruvate is less specific. Specific incorporation of a fluorescent maleimide derivative was observed on the two transacetylase isoenzymes. Binding studies with a similar spin label analogue show that 3 molecules/FAD are incorporated by incubation of pyruvate, Mg2+ and TPP, whereas 2 molecules/FAD are incorporated via incubation with NADH. The spin label spectra support the idea that in the complex the active centres of the component enzymes are connected by rapid rotation of the lipoyl moiety. Three acetyl groups are incorporated in the complex by incubation with [2-14C]pyruvate. Time-dependent incorporation supports the view that the two transacetylase isoenzymes react in non-identical ways with the pyruvate dehydrogenase components of the complex. The results show that the complex contains 2 low-molecular-weight transacetylase molecules and 4 molecules of the high-molecular-weight isoenzyme. Mn2+-binding studies show that the complex binds 10 ions, with different affinities. 2 Mn2+ ions are bound with a 20-fold higher affinity than the remaining 8 Mn2+ ions. The latter 8 ions bind with equal affinities and are thought to reflect binding to the pyruvate dehydrogenase components of the complex. It is concluded that the complex contains 8 pyruvate dehydrogenase molecules, 4 high-molecular-weight transacetylase molecules, 2 low-molecular-weight transacetylase molecules and 1 dimeric (2-FAD-containing) symmetric molecule of lipoamide dehydrogenase. Evidence comes from pyruvate-dependent inactivation and labelling studies that the pyruvate dehydrogenase components contain either an - SH group or an S-S bridge which participates in the hydroxyethyl transfer to the transacetylase components.

Spin label studies on the flavoproteins lipoamide dehydrogenase and D-amino acid oxidase

Maleimide spin label was covalently bound to sulfhydryl residues of ᴅ-amino acid oxidase and lipoamide dehydrogenase. Labeling of native ᴅ-amino acid oxidase resulted in a non-homogeneous EPR-spectrum, which consisted of 4 moles of spin label bound immobile to the enzyme (mol.-weight 90.000). A detailed analysis of the spectrum, the kinetics of the reaction of the spin label with the protein and the temperature dependence of the spectrum showed that the spectrum originates from two different pairs of sulfhydryl groups. The spin labeled lipoamide dehydrogenase yielded also a mixed EPR-spectrum of two different bound spin labels, i.e. an immobile and a semimobile species. The temperature dependence gave for both types of spectra a transition point at 10°C. Titration with urea gave only for the immobile species a transition at 1.5 M. Part of the semimobile species seems to be bound near the active site.

ᴅ-amino acid oxidase was also specifically labeled, near the active site, with a substrate analogue. From its EPR-spectrum it appeared that the analogue was bound very mobile (τc=0.3 nsec) with respect to the protein. Removal of FAD had a drastic reversible effect on the spectrum.