X-ray-induced catalytic active-site reduction of a multicopper oxidase: structural insights into the proton-relay mechanism and O2 -reduction states
During X-ray data collection from a multicopper oxidase (MCO) crystal, electrons and protons are mainly released into the system by the radiolysis of water molecules, leading to the X-ray-induced reduction of O2 to 2H2O at the trinuclear copper cluster (TNC) of the enzyme. In this work, 12 crystallographic structures of Thermus thermophilus HB27 multicopper oxidase (Tth-MCO) in holo, apo and Hg-bound forms and with different X-ray absorbed doses have been determined. In holo Tth -MCO structures with four Cu atoms, the proton-donor residue Glu451 involved in O2 reduction was found in a double conformation: Glu451a (~7 Å from the TNC) and Glu451b (~4.5 Å from the TNC). A positive peak of electron density above 3.5σ in anFo-Fc map for Glu451a Oε2 indicates the presence of a carboxyl functional group at the side chain, while its significant absence in Glu451b strongly suggests a carboxylate functional group. In contrast, for apo Tth -MCO and in Hg-bound structures neither the positive peak nor double conformations were observed. Together, these observations provide the first structural evidence for a proton-relay mechanism in the MCO family and also support previous studies indicating that Asp106 does not provide protons for this mechanism. In addition, eight composite structures (Tth -MCO-C1–8) with different X-ray-absorbed doses allowed the observation of different O2-reduction states, and a total depletion of T2Cu at doses higher than 0.2 MGy showed the high susceptibility of this Cu atom to radiation damage, highlighting the importance of taking radiation effects into account in biochemical interpretations of an MCO structure.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC00112704
- OSTI ID:
- 1354625
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-113142-2016-JA
- Journal Information:
- Acta Crystallographica. Section D: Biological Crystallography (Online), Vol. 71, Issue 12; ISSN 1399-0047
- Publisher:
- International Union of Crystallography
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tuning the Type 1 Reduction Potential of Multicopper Oxidases: Uncoupling the Effects of Electrostatics and H-Bonding to Histidine Ligands
Crystal structures of a dodecameric multicopper oxidase from Marinithermus hydrothermalis