Christian Teutloff

A tryptophan neutral radical in the oxidized state of versatile peroxidase from Pleurotus eryngii - A combined multifrequency EPR and density functional theory study

Versatile peroxidases are heme enzymes that combine catalytic properties of lignin peroxidases and manganese peroxidases, being able to oxidize Mn2+ as well as phenolic and non-phenolic aromatic compounds in the absence of mediators. The catalytic process (initiated by hydrogen peroxide) is the same as in classical peroxidases, with the involvement of 2 oxidizing equivalents and the formation of the so-called Compound I. This latter state contains an oxoferryl center and an organic cation radical that can be located on either the porphyrin ring or a protein residue. In this study, a radical intermediate in the reaction of versatile peroxidase from the ligninolytic fungus Pleurotus eryngii with H2O2 has been characterized by multifrequency (9.4 and 94 GHz) EPR and assigned to a tryptophan residue. Comparison of experimental data and density functional theory theoretical results strongly suggests the assignment to a tryptophan neutral radical, excluding the assignment to a tryptophan cation radical or a histidine radical. Based on the experimentally determined side chain orientation and comparison with a high resolution crystal structure, the tryptophan neutral radical can be assigned to Trp164 as the site involved in long-range electron transfer for aromatic substrate oxidation.

Direct detection of photoinduced charge transfer complexes in polymer fullerene blends

We report transient electron paramagnetic resonance (trEPR) measurements with sub-microsecond time resolution performed on a P3HT:PCBM blend at low temperature. The trEPR spectrum immediately following photoexcitation reveals signatures of spin-correlated polaron pairs. The pair partners (positive polarons in P3HT and negative polarons in PCBM) can be identified by their characteristic g-values. The fact that the polaron pair states exhibit strong non-Boltzmann population unambiguously shows that the constituents of each pair are geminate, i.e. originate from one exciton. We demonstrate that coupled polaron pairs are present even several microseconds after charge transfer and suggest that they embody the intermediate charge transfer complexes which form at the donor/acceptor interface and mediate the conversion from excitons into free charge carriers.

The Impact of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Human Aldehyde Oxidase

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is a complex molybdo-flavoprotein that belongs to the xanthine oxidase family. AO is active as a homodimer, and each 150-kDa monomer binds two distinct [2Fe2S] clusters, FAD, and the molybdenum cofactor. AO has an important role in the metabolism of drugs based on its broad substrate specificity oxidizing aromatic aza-heterocycles, for example, N1-methylnicotinamide and N-methylphthalazinium, or aldehydes, such as benzaldehyde, retinal, and vanillin. Sequencing the 35 coding exons of the human AOX1 gene in a sample of 180 Italian individuals led to the identification of relatively frequent, synonymous, missense and nonsense single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Human aldehyde oxidase (hAOX1) was purified after heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was obtained with a purity of 95% and a yield of 50 μg/l E. coli culture. Site-directed mutagenesis of the hAOX1 cDNA allowed the purification of protein variants bearing the amino acid changes R802C, R921H, N1135S, and H1297R, which correspond to some of the identified SNPs. The hAOX1 variants were purified and compared with the wild-type protein relative to activity, oligomerization state, and metal content. Our data show that the mutation of each amino acid residue has a variable impact on the ability of hAOX1 to metabolize selected substrates. Thus, the human population is characterized by the presence of functionally inactive hAOX1 allelic variants as well as variants encoding enzymes with different catalytic activities. Our results indicate that the presence of these allelic variants should be considered for the design of future drugs.

Reversible [4Fe-3S] cluster morphing in an O2-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenase

Hydrogenases catalyze the reversible oxidation of H(2) into protons and electrons and are usually readily inactivated by O(2). However, a subgroup of the [NiFe] hydrogenases, including the membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha, has evolved remarkable tolerance toward O(2) that enables their host organisms to utilize H(2) as an energy source at high O(2). This feature is crucially based on a unique six cysteine-coordinated [4Fe-3S] cluster located close to the catalytic center, whose properties were investigated in this study using a multidisciplinary approach. The [4Fe-3S] cluster undergoes redox-dependent reversible transformations, namely iron swapping between a sulfide and a peptide amide N. Moreover, our investigations unraveled the redox-dependent and reversible occurence of an oxygen ligand located at a different iron. This ligand is hydrogen bonded to a conserved histidine that is essential for H(2) oxidation at high O(2). We propose that these transformations, reminiscent of those of the P-cluster of nitrogenase, enable the consecutive transfer of two electrons within a physiological potential range.

Electronic structure of the tyrosine D radical and the water-splitting complex from pulsed ENDOR spectroscopy on photosystem II single crystals

Pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy at Q- and W-band frequencies was applied to single crystals of photosystem II from Th. elongatus. W-Band (1)H-ENDOR on the dark-stable radical state Y of the redox-active tyrosine residue Y(D) yields a complete mapping of the electronic structure of this amino acid radical in terms of an assignment of all hyperfine coupling tensors of the protons covalently bound to the side chain. This study can serve as a model case for the potential of high-field/high-frequency ENDOR on protein single crystals for obtaining highly resolved electronic structure information. Q-band (55)Mn-ENDOR was applied to the S(2) oxidation state of the water-splitting complex in photosystem II single crystals. Irrespective of the difficulties arising from the extremely broad electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy ( approximately 200 mT) and ENDOR ( approximately 100 MHz) spectra a tentative assignment of the Mn ion in the formal oxidation state III to a Mn position in the structural model of PSII is possible on the basis of the ENDOR data.

Skin penetration enhancement of core–multishell nanotransporters and invasomes measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

In order to cross the skin barrier several techniques and carrier systems were developed to increase skin penetration of topical dermatics and to reduce systemic adverse effects by avoiding systemic application. Ultra-flexible vesicles, e.g. invasomes and core-multishell (CMS) nanotransporters are efficient drug delivery systems for dermatological applications. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques were used for the determination of localization and distribution of the spin label 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (PCA; logP=-1.7) within the carrier systems and the ability of the carriers to promote penetration of PCA into the skin. The results show an exclusive localization of PCA in the hydrophilic compartments of the invasome dispersion and the CMS nanotransporter solution. PCA penetration was enhanced 2.5 fold for CMS and 1.9 fold for invasomes compared to PCA solution. Investigation of penetration depth by step-wise removal of the stratum corneum by tape stripping revealed deepest PCA penetration for invasomes. UV-irradiation of PCA-exposed skin samples revealed that the spin label is still reactive. In conclusion novel polymer-based CMS nanotransporters and invasomes can favor the penetration of PCA or hydrophilic drugs. This offers possibilities for e.g. improved photodynamic therapy.

The S1YZ. metalloradical intermediate in photosystem. II: an X- and W-band EPR study

Visible light illumination at liquid He temperatures of photosystem II (PSII) membranes poised in the S1-state, results in the production of a metalloradical signal with resonances at g = 2.035 and g ∼ 2.0 at X-band (J. H. A. Nugent, I. P. Muhiuddin, and M. C. W. Evans, Biochemistry, 2002, 41, 4117–4126). A similar signal has been obtained by near IR excitation of samples poised in the S2 state (D. Koulougliotis, J.-R. Shen, N. Ioannidis, and V. Petrouleas, Biochemistry, 2003, 42, 3045–3053). The signal has been attributed to the magnetic interaction of the tyrosyl Z radical with the Mn cluster in the S1 state. In an effort to obtain further information about the interactions of tyrosine Z with the Mn cluster, and about the integer-spin S1 state we have employed EPR spectroscopy at two frequencies, X and W-band. The spectrum at W band is characterized by novel resonances at g = 2.019, g ∼ 2.00 and g = 1.987. For the analysis of the spectra at the two microwave frequency bands a spin Hamiltonian has been applied under the following basic assumptions: The S1 state of the Mn cluster is characterized by two low lying spin states Sa = 0 and 1. The major features of the spectra are attributed to the interaction of the Sa = 1 state with the spin Sb = 1/2 of the tyrosyl radical. Potential contributions from the Sa = 0 state are suppressed under the present experimental conditions. A satisfactory fit reproducing all features of the spectra is achieved with the same set of fitting parameters for the signals at both bands. An anisotropic ferromagnetic exchange interaction results from the fit with the coupling value being of the same order of magnitude with the value of the zero field splitting term of the Mn cluster (S = 1).

Stabilization of Reactive Nitroxides Using Invasomes to Allow Prolonged Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Measurements

The detection of the antioxidative capacity of the skin is of great practical relevance since free radicals are involved in many skin damaging processes, including aging and inflammation. The nitroxide TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl) in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was found suitable for measuring the antioxidative capacity since its reaction with reducing agents is considerably fast. Yet, in order to achieve longer measurement times, e.g. in inflammatory skin diseases, the stabilizing effect of an invasome (ultraflexible vesicle/liposome) suspension with TEMPO was investigated ex vivo on porcine skin and in vivo on human skin. Invasomes increased the measurement time ex vivo 2-fold and the reduction was significantly slowed down in vivo, which is due to membrane-associated and therefore protected TEMPO. Furthermore, TEMPO accumulation in the membrane phase as well as the decreasing polarity of the ultimate surroundings of TEMPO during skin penetration explains the stabilizing effect. Thus, an invasome suspension with TEMPO exhibits stabilizing effects ex vivo and in vivo.

High-frequency EPR studies on cofactor radicals in photosystem I

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at W-band (94 GHz) is used to resolve theg-tensors of the radical ions of the primary chlorophyll donor P700+⋅ and the quinone acceptor A1−⋅ in photosystem I. The obtainedg-tensor principal values are compared with those of the isolated pigment radicals in organic solvents and the shifts are related to an impact of the protein environment. P700+⋅ has been investigated in photosystem I single crystals at 94 GHz. W-band EPR applied to the photoinduced radical pair P700+⋅A1−⋅ is used to correctly assign theg-tensor axes of P700+⋅ to the molecular structure of the primary donor. Density functional theory calculations on a model of A1−⋅ in its binding pocket derived from the recent crystal structure of photosystem I were utilized to correlate experimental magnetic resonance parameters with structural elements of the protein.

Identification of Crucial Amino Acids in Mouse Aldehyde Oxidase 3 That Determine Substrate Specificity

In order to elucidate factors that determine substrate specificity and activity of mammalian molybdo-flavoproteins we performed site directed mutagenesis of mouse aldehyde oxidase 3 (mAOX3). The sequence alignment of different aldehyde oxidase (AOX) isoforms identified variations in the active site of mAOX3 in comparison to other AOX proteins and xanthine oxidoreductases (XOR). Based on the structural alignment of mAOX3 and bovine XOR, differences in amino acid residues involved in substrate binding in XORs in comparison to AOXs were identified. We exchanged several residues in the active site to the ones found in other AOX homologues in mouse or to residues present in bovine XOR in order to examine their influence on substrate selectivity and catalytic activity. Additionally we analyzed the influence of the [2Fe-2S] domains of mAOX3 on its kinetic properties and cofactor saturation. We applied UV-VIS and EPR monitored redox-titrations to determine the redox potentials of wild type mAOX3 and mAOX3 variants containing the iron-sulfur centers of mAOX1. In addition, a combination of molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations (MD) was used to investigate factors that modulate the substrate specificity and activity of wild type and AOX variants. The successful conversion of an AOX enzyme to an XOR enzyme was achieved exchanging eight residues in the active site of mAOX3. It was observed that the absence of the K889H exchange substantially decreased the activity of the enzyme towards all substrates analyzed, revealing that this residue has an important role in catalysis.