title: Structural basis of inter-protein electron transfer for nitrite reduction in denitrification.
abstract: Recent earth science studies have pointed out that massive acceleration of the global nitrogen cycle by anthropogenic addition of bio-available nitrogen has led to a host of environmental problems. Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is a greenhouse gas that is an intermediate during the biological process known as denitrification. Copper-containing nitrite reductase (CuNIR) is a key enzyme in the process; it produces a precursor for N(2)O by catalysing the one-electron reduction of nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO). The reduction step is performed by an efficient electron-transfer reaction with a redox-partner protein. However, details of the mechanism during the electron-transfer reaction are still unknown. Here we show the high-resolution crystal structure of the electron-transfer complex for CuNIR with its cognate cytochrome c as the electron donor. The hydrophobic electron-transfer path is formed at the docking interface by desolvation owing to close contact between the two proteins. Structural analysis of the interface highlights an essential role for the loop region with a hydrophobic patch for protein-protein recognition; it also shows how interface construction allows the variation in atomic components to achieve diverse biological electron transfers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan. nojiri@ch.wani.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nojiri
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koteishi
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagami
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Shinnichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D042441:Achromobacter denitrificans / Q000201:enzymology*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009572:Nitrite Reductases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D045304:Cytochromes c; D009572:Nitrite Reductases; C052695:nitrite reductase, copper-containing; D009609:Nitrous Oxide