Crystal structure of HydF scaffold protein provides insights into [FeFe]-hydrogenase maturation

J Biol Chem. 2011 Dec 23;286(51):43944-43950. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.281956. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

Abstract

[FeFe]-hydrogenases catalyze the reversible production of H2 in some bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes. These enzymes require ancillary proteins to assemble the unique active site H-cluster, a complex structure composed of a 2Fe center bridged to a [4Fe-4S] cubane. The first crystal structure of a key factor in the maturation process, HydF, has been determined at 3 Å resolution. The protein monomer present in the asymmetric unit of the crystal comprises three domains: a GTP-binding domain, a dimerization domain, and a metal cluster-binding domain, all characterized by similar folding motifs. Two monomers dimerize, giving rise to a stable dimer, held together mainly by the formation of a continuous β-sheet comprising eight β-strands from two monomers. Moreover, in the structure presented, two dimers aggregate to form a supramolecular organization that represents an inactivated form of the HydF maturase. The crystal structure of the latter furnishes several clues about the events necessary for cluster generation/transfer and provides an excellent model to begin elucidating the structure/function of HydF in [FeFe]-hydrogenase maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Binding Sites
  • Cattle
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Dimerization
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / chemistry*
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / genetics
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Hydrogenase / chemistry*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / chemistry
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / methods
  • Thermotoga neapolitana / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Iron
  • Hydrogenase
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases

Associated data

  • PDB/3QQ5