A tetranuclear Cu(I) cluster in the metallochaperone protein CopZ

Biochemistry. 2009 Oct 13;48(40):9324-6. doi: 10.1021/bi9011995.

Abstract

Copper trafficking proteins and copper-sensitive regulators are often found to be able to bind multiple Cu(I) ions in the form of Cu(I) clusters. We have determined the high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of an Atx1-like copper chaperone protein from Bacillus subtilis containing a novel tetranuclear Cu(I) cluster. The identities and oxidation states of the cluster ions were established unambiguously by refinement of X-ray energy-dependent anomalous scattering factors. The [Cu(4)(S-Cys)(4)(N-His)(2)] cluster geometry provides new structural insights into not only the binding of multiple cuprous ions by metallochaperones but also protein-associated tetranuclear Cu(I) clusters, including those found in eukaryotic copper-responsive transcription factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / chemistry
  • Bacillus subtilis / physiology
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimerization
  • Metalloproteins / chemistry*
  • Metalloproteins / physiology
  • Molecular Chaperones / chemistry*
  • Molecular Chaperones / physiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Metalloproteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Copper