title: Adrenodoxin reductase-adrenodoxin complex structure suggests electron transfer path in steroid biosynthesis.
abstract: The steroid hydroxylating system of adrenal cortex mitochondria consists of the membrane-attached NADPH-dependent adrenodoxin reductase (AR), the soluble one-electron transport protein adrenodoxin (Adx), and a membrane-integrated cytochrome P450 of the CYP11 family. In the 2.3-A resolution crystal structure of the Adx.AR complex, 580 A(2) of partly polar surface are buried. Main interaction sites are centered around Asp(79), Asp(76), Asp(72), and Asp(39) of Adx and around Arg(211), Arg(240), Arg(244), and Lys(27) of AR, respectively. In particular, the region around Asp(39) defines a new protein interaction site for Adx, similar to those found in plant and bacterial ferredoxins. Additional contacts involve the electron transfer region between the redox centers of AR and Adx and C-terminal residues of Adx. The Adx residues Asp(113) to Arg(115) adopt 3(10)-helical conformation and engage in loose intermolecular contacts within a deep cleft of AR. Complex formation is accompanied by a slight domain rearrangement in AR. The [2Fe-2S] cluster of Adx and the isoalloxazine rings of FAD of AR are 10 A apart suggesting a possible electron transfer route between these redox centers. The AR.Adx complex represents the first structure of a biologically relevant complex between a ferredoxin and its reductase.
authors.affiliation: Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, D-13125 Berlin, Germany. JJM@MDC-Berlin.de
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapko
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bourenkov
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruckpaul
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heinemann
mesh_terms: D000325:Adrenodoxin / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002417:Cattle; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004579:Electron Transport; D005287:Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / Q000737:chemistry*; D005182:Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000325:Adrenodoxin; D005182:Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; D005287:Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase