Project description:Movement of the Rieske domain of the iron-sulfur protein is essential for intramolecular electron transfer within complex III2 (CIII2) of the respiratory chain as it bridges a gap in the cofactor chain towards the electron acceptor cytochrome c. We present cryo-EM structures of CIII2 from Yarrowia lipolytica at resolutions up to 2.0 Å under different conditions, with different redox states of the cofactors of the high-potential chain. All possible permutations of three primary positions were observed, indicating that the two halves of the dimeric complex act independently. Addition of the substrate analogue decylubiquinone to CIII2 with a reduced high-potential chain increased the occupancy of the Qo site. The extent of Rieske domain interactions through hydrogen bonds to the cytochrome b and cytochrome c1 subunits varied depending on the redox state and substrate. In the absence of quinols, the reduced Rieske domain interacted more closely with cytochrome b and cytochrome c1 than in the oxidized state. Upon addition of the inhibitor antimycin A, the heterogeneity of the cd1-helix and ef-loop increased, which may be indicative of a long-range effect on the Rieske domain.
Project description:Complex III or the cytochrome (cyt) bc1 complex constitutes an integral part of the respiratory chain of most aerobic organisms and of the photosynthetic apparatus of anoxygenic purple bacteria. The function of cyt bc1 is to couple the reaction of electron transfer from ubiquinol to cytochrome c to proton pumping across the membrane. Mechanistically, the electron transfer reaction requires docking of its Rieske iron-sulfur protein (ISP) subunit to the quinol oxidation site (QP) of the complex. Formation of an H-bond between the ISP and the bound substrate was proposed to mediate the docking. Here we show that the binding of oxazolidinedione-type inhibitors famoxadone, jg144, and fenamidone induces docking of the ISP to the QP site in the absence of the H-bond formation both in mitochondrial and bacterial cyt bc1 complexes, demonstrating that ISP docking is independent of the proposed direct ISP-inhibitor interaction. The binding of oxazolidinedione-type inhibitors to cyt bc1 of different species reveals a toxophore that appears to interact optimally with residues in the QP site. The effect of modifications or additions to the toxophore on the binding to cyt bc1 from different species could not be predicted from structure-based sequence alignments, as demonstrated by the altered binding mode of famoxadone to bacterial cyt bc1.
Project description:Cytochrome bc 1 complexes (cyt bc 1), also known as complex III in mitochondria, are components of the cellular respiratory chain and of the photosynthetic apparatus of non-oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. They catalyze electron transfer (ET) from ubiquinol to cytochrome c and concomitantly translocate protons across the membrane, contributing to the cross-membrane potential essential for a myriad of cellular activities. This ET-coupled proton translocation reaction requires a gating mechanism that ensures bifurcated electron flow. Here, we report the observation of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein (ISP) in a mobile state, as revealed by the crystal structure of cyt bc 1 from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides in complex with the fungicide azoxystrobin. Unlike cyt bc 1 inhibitors stigmatellin and famoxadone that immobilize the ISP, azoxystrobin causes the ISP-ED to separate from the cyt b subunit and to remain in a mobile state. Analysis of anomalous scattering signals from the iron-sulfur cluster of the ISP suggests the existence of a trajectory for electron delivery. This work supports and solidifies the hypothesis that the bimodal conformation switch of the ISP provides a gating mechanism for bifurcated ET, which is essential to the Q-cycle mechanism of cyt bc 1 function.
Project description:Iron-sulfur clusters are prosthetic groups of proteins involved in various biological processes. However, details of the immature state of the iron-sulfur cluster into proteins have not yet been elucidated. We report here the first structural analysis of the Zn-containing form of a Rieske-type iron-sulfur protein, PetA, from Thermochromatium tepidum (TtPetA) by X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering analysis. The Zn-containing form of TtPetA was indicated to be a dimer in solution. The zinc ion adopts a regular tetra-coordination with two chloride ions and two cysteine residues. Only a histidine residue in the cluster-binding site exhibited a conformational difference from the [2Fe-2S] containing form. The Zn-containing structure indicates that the conformation of the cluster binding site is already constructed and stabilized before insertion of [2Fe-2S]. The binding mode of ZnCl2, similar to the [2Fe-2S] cluster, suggests that the zinc ions might be involved in the insertion of the [2Fe-2S] cluster.
Project description:cDNA clones coding for the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial Rieske iron-sulfur protein (RISP) have been isolated from maize and tobacco. Complementation analysis of hybrid proteins consisting of different domains of plant and yeast RISPs showed that the carboxyl two-thirds of the plant protein is functionally equivalent to that of the yeast protein. The amino terminus of the RISP, however, seems to be species specific because this region is not interchangeable between plant and yeast proteins. Complementation analysis of hybrid proteins also identified a structurally conserved domain probably essential for the function of bc1 complex RISPs. A specific domain from the plant RISP was found to cause temperature-sensitive respiratory growth in yeast. We have demonstrated that yeast can serve as a model system to study the structural and functional relationships of plant gene products that are enzymatic components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
Project description:Ca2+ signaling in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the underlying specific ion channel mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report ryanodine receptor (RyR) channel activity and Ca2+ release both are increased, and association of RyR2 by FK506 binding protein 12.6 (FKBP12.6) is decreased in PASMCs from mice with chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced PH. Smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific RyR2 knockout (KO) or Rieske iron-sulfur protein (RISP) knockdown inhibits the altered Ca2+ signaling, increased nuclear factor (NF)-κB/cyclin D1 activation and cell proliferation, and CH-induced PH in mice. FKBP12.6 KO or FK506 treatment enhances CH-induced PH, while S107 (a specific stabilizer of RyR2/FKBP12.6 complex) produces an opposite effect. In conclusion, CH causes RISP-dependent ROS generation and FKBP12.6/RyR2 dissociation, leading to PH. RISP inhibition, RyR2/FKBP12.6 complex stabilization and Ca2+ release blockade may be potentially beneficial for the treatment of PH.
Project description:The biosynthesis of Fe-S clusters is a vital process involving the delivery of elemental iron and sulfur to scaffold proteins via molecular interactions that are still poorly defined. We reconstituted a stable, functional complex consisting of the iron donor, Yfh1 (yeast frataxin homologue 1), and the Fe-S cluster scaffold, Isu1, with 1:1 stoichiometry, [Yfh1]24·[Isu1]24 Using negative staining transmission EM and single particle analysis, we obtained a three-dimensional reconstruction of this complex at a resolution of ∼17 Å. In addition, via chemical cross-linking, limited proteolysis, and mass spectrometry, we identified protein-protein interaction surfaces within the complex. The data together reveal that [Yfh1]24·[Isu1]24 is a roughly cubic macromolecule consisting of one symmetric Isu1 trimer binding on top of one symmetric Yfh1 trimer at each of its eight vertices. Furthermore, molecular modeling suggests that two subunits of the cysteine desulfurase, Nfs1, may bind symmetrically on top of two adjacent Isu1 trimers in a manner that creates two putative [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly centers. In each center, conserved amino acids known to be involved in sulfur and iron donation by Nfs1 and Yfh1, respectively, are in close proximity to the Fe-S cluster-coordinating residues of Isu1. We suggest that this architecture is suitable to ensure concerted and protected transfer of potentially toxic iron and sulfur atoms to Isu1 during Fe-S cluster assembly.
Project description:The Rieske [2Fe-2S] iron-sulfur protein of cytochrome bc(1) functions as the initial electron acceptor in the rate-limiting step of the catalytic reaction. Prior studies have established roles for a number of conserved residues that hydrogen bond to ligands of the [2Fe-2S] cluster. We have constructed site-specific variants at two of these residues, measured their thermodynamic and functional properties, and determined atomic resolution X-ray crystal structures for the native protein at 1.2 A resolution and for five variants (Ser-154-->Ala, Ser-154-->Thr, Ser-154-->Cys, Tyr-156-->Phe, and Tyr-156-->Trp) to resolutions between 1.5 A and 1.1 A. These structures and complementary biophysical data provide a molecular framework for understanding the role hydrogen bonds to the cluster play in tuning thermodynamic properties, and hence the rate of this bioenergetic reaction. These studies provide a detailed structure-function dissection of the role of hydrogen bonds in tuning the redox potentials of [2Fe-2S] clusters.
Project description:Regulation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain biogenesis is a matter of great interest because of its implications for mitochondrial disease. One of the mitochondrial disease genes recently discovered associated to encephalopathy and mitochondrial complex III (cIII) deficiency is TTC19. Our study of TTC19-deficient human and mouse models, has led us to propose a post-assembly quality control role or 'husbandry' function for this factor that is linked to Rieske Fe-S protein (UQCRFS1). UQCRFS1 is the last incorporated cIII subunit, and its presence is essential for enzymatic activity. During UQCRFS1 assembly, the precursor is cleaved and its N-terminal part remains bound to the complex, between the two core subunits (UQCRC1 and UQCRC2). In the absence of TTC19 there is a prominent accumulation of these UQCRFS1-derived N-terminal fragments that proved to be detrimental for cIII function. In this article we will discuss some ideas around the UQCRFS1 processing and assembly and its importance for the regulation of cIII activity and biogenesis.
Project description:The g-tensor orientation of the chemically reduced Rieske cluster in cytochrome bc(1) complex from Rhodovulum sulfidophilum with respect to the membrane was determined in the presence and absence of inhibitors and in the presence of oxidized and reduced quinone in the quinol-oxidizing-site (Q(o)-site) by EPR on two-dimensionally ordered samples. Almost identical orientations were observed when oxidized or reduced quinone, stigmatellin, or 5-(n-undecyl)-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole was present. Occupancy of the Q(o)-site by myxothiazole induced appearance of a minority population with a substantially differing conformation and presence of E-beta-methoxyacrylate-stilbene significantly reduced the contribution of the major conformation observed in the other cases. Furthermore, when the oxidized iron-sulfur cluster was reduced at cryogenic temperatures by the products of radiolysis, the orientation of its magnetic axes was found to differ significantly from that of the chemically reduced center. The "irradiation-induced" conformation converts to that of the chemically reduced center after thawing of the sample. These results confirm the effects of Q(o)-site inhibitors on the equilibrium conformation of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein and provide evidence for a reversible redox-influenced interconversion between conformational states. Moreover, the data obtained with the iron-sulfur protein demonstrate that the conformation of "EPR-inaccessible" reduction states of redox centers can be studied by inducing changes of redox state at cryogenic temperatures. This technique appears applicable to a wide range of comparable electron transfer systems performing redox-induced conformational changes.