Cristina M. Cordas

Self-assembled monolayer of an iron(III) porphyrin disulphide derivative on gold

A novel iron(III) porphyrin disulphide derivative have been successfully immobilised on gold surfaces by self-assembly. The redox response of the modified electrodes was compared with the obtained for a similar iron porphyrin in solution, confirming the immobilisation of the metalloporphyrin. The gravimetric data obtained by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) during adsorption allowed an estimation of the electrode coverage, providing further evidence for the formation of the porphyrin SAM. The modified electrodes were also measured by conventional and imaging ellipsometry. The electrocatalytic activity of the two modified electrodes was tested for the reduction of the molecular oxygen.

EQCM study of polypyrrole modified electrodes doped with Keggin-type heteropolyanion for cation detection

The incorporation of a Keggin-type heteropolyanion, the phosphotungstate ([PW12O40]3−), into polypyrrole has been achieved during the electrochemical preparation of the polymer films in aqueous solution. The redox behaviour of these modified electrodes is described by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The data allowed to estimate the doping level that indicates the extent of the heteropolyanion insertion. It is found that the polymer films, in aqueous solution, exhibit sensibility to cations, namely to Na+.

Steady-state kinetics with nitric oxide reductase (NOR): new considerations on substrate inhibition profile and catalytic mechanism.

Nitric oxide reductase (NOR) from denitrifying bacteria is an integral membrane protein that catalyses the two electron reduction of NO to N2O, as part of the denitrification process, being responsible for an exclusive reaction, the NN bond formation, the key step of this metabolic pathway. Additionally, this class of enzymes also presents residual oxidoreductase activity, reducing O2 to H2O in a four electron/proton reaction. In this work we report, for the first time, steady-state kinetics with the Pseudomonas nautica NOR, either in the presence of its physiological electron donor (cyt. c552) or immobilised on a graphite electrode surface, in the presence of its known substrates, namely NO or O2. The obtained results show that the enzyme has high affinity for its natural substrate, NO, and different kinetic profiles according to the electron donor used. The kinetic data, as shown by the pH dependence, is modelled by ionisable amino acid residues nearby the di-nuclear catalytic site. The catalytic mechanism is revised and a mononitrosyl-non-heme Fe complex (FeB(II)-NO) species is favoured as the first catalytic intermediate involved on the NO reduction.

Influence of respiratory substrate in carbon steel corrosion by a Sulphate Reducing Prokaryote model organism

Sulphate Reducing Prokaryotes (SRP) are an important group of microorganisms involved in biocorrosion processes. Sulphide production is recognized as a fundamental cause of corrosion and nitrate is often used as treatment. The present work analyses the influence of respiratory substrates in the metal, from off-shore installations, SRP influenced corrosion, using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATTC 27774 as model organism, since this can switch from sulphate to nitrate. Open Circuit Potential over 6days in different conditions was measured, showing an increase around 200 and 90mV for the different media. Tafel plots were constructed allowing Ecorr and jcorr calculations. For SRP in sulphate and nitrate media Ecorr values of -824 and -728mV, and jcorr values of 2.5 and 3.7μAcm(-2), respectively, were attained indicating that in nitrate, the resultant corrosion rate is larger than in sulphate. Also, it is shown that the equilibrium of sulphide in the solution/gas phases is a key factor to the evolution of corrosion Nitrate prevents pitting but promotes general corrosion and increases the corrosion potential and iron dissolution 40 times when compared to sulphate. Our results demonstrate that nitrate injection strategy in oil fields has to be considered carefully as option to reduce souring and localized corrosion.

Electrochemical behaviour of bacterial nitric oxide reductase—Evidence of low redox potential non-heme FeB gives new perspectives on the catalytic mechanism

Nitric oxide reductase (NOR) is a membrane bound enzyme involved in the metabolic denitrification pathway, reducing nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N(2)O), subsequently promoting the formation of the NN bond. Three types of bacterial NOR are known, namely cNOR, qNOR and qCuNOR, that differ on the physiological electron donor. cNOR has been purified as a two subunit complex, the NorC, anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane, with a low-spin heme c, and the NorB subunit showing high structural homology with the HCuO subunit I, comprising a bis-histidine low-spin heme b and a binuclear iron centre. The binuclear iron centre is the catalytic site and it is formed by a heme b(3) coupled to a non-heme iron (Fe(B)) through a μ-oxo bridge. The catalytic mechanism is still under discussion and three hypotheses have been proposed: the trans-mechanism, the cis-Fe(B) and the cis-heme b(3) mechanisms. In the present work, the Pseudomonas nautica cNOR electrochemical behaviour was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), using a pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with the immobilised protein. The protein redox centres were observed and the formal redox potentials were determined. The binuclear iron centre presents the lowest redox potential value, and discrimination between the heme b(3) and Fe(B) redox processes was attained. Also, the number of electrons involved and correspondent surface electronic transfer rate constants were estimated. The pH dependence of the observed redox processes was determined and some new insights on the NOR catalytic mechanism are discussed.

Direct electrochemical study of the multiple redox centers of hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio gigas.

Direct electrochemical response was first time observed for the redox centers of Desulfovibrio gigas [NiFe]-Hase, in non-turnover conditions, by cyclic voltammetry, in solution at glassy carbon electrode. The activation of the enzyme was achieved by reduction with H(2) and by electrochemical control and electrocatalytic activity was observed. The inactivation of the [NiFe]-Hase was also attained through potential control. All electrochemical data was obtained in the absence of enzyme inhibitors. The results are discussed in the context of the proposed mechanism currently accepted for activation/inactivation of [NiFe]-Hases.

New spectroscopic and electrochemical insights on a class I superoxide reductase: evidence for an intramolecular electron-transfer pathway

SORs (superoxide reductases) are enzymes involved in bacterial resistance to reactive oxygen species, catalysing the reduction of superoxide anions to hydrogen peroxide. So far three structural classes have been identified. Class I enzymes have two iron-centre-containing domains. Most studies have focused on the catalytic iron site (centre II), yet the role of centre I is poorly understood. The possible roles of this iron site were approached by an integrated study using both classical and fast kinetic measurements, as well as direct electrochemistry. A new heterometallic form of the protein with a zinc-substituted centre I, maintaining the iron active-site centre II, was obtained, resulting in a stable derivative useful for comparison with the native all-iron from. Second-order rate constants for the electron transfer between reduced rubredoxin and the different SOR forms were determined to be 2.8 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ and 1.3 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ for SORFe(IIII)-Fe(II) and for SORFe(IIII)-Fe(III) forms respectively, and 3.2 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ for the SORZn(II)-Fe(III) form. The results obtained seem to indicate that centre I transfers electrons from the putative physiological donor rubredoxin to the catalytic active iron site (intramolecular process). In addition, electrochemical results show that conformational changes are associated with the redox state of centre I, which may enable a faster catalytic response towards superoxide anion. The apparent rate constants calculated for the SOR-mediated electron transfer also support this observation.

{Nitric oxide reductase: Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalytic activity}

Nitric-oxide reductase (NOR) is a membrane-bound enzyme that is involved in the denitrification pathway, promoting the two-electron reduction of NO to N2O, with the consequent formation of a N N bond. The protein is composed of two subunits (NorC and NorB) of 17 and 56 kDa containing, respectively, a heme c and two b-type hemes and a non-heme iron (FeB). The catalytic site is described as a spin-coupled binuclear center formed by one heme b (heme b3) and the FeB. [1, 2] The active form of the enzyme seems to require a threeelectron reduction, as well as cleavage of an oxo/hydroxo bridge between heme b3 and FeB. The catalytic mechanism is still under intense discussion, with kinetic and spectroscopic data together not able to indicate a single mechanism. Two possible mechanisms have been proposed: 1) the trans mechanism, which requires binding of one NO molecule to each of the binuclear center irons and 2) a cis mechanism, which favors coordination of both reacting NO molecules to FeB. [1, 3]

Insights into the recognition and electron transfer steps in nitric oxide reductase from Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus

Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus nitric oxide reductase, cNOR, is an integral membrane protein composed of two subunits with different roles, NorC (electron transfer) and NorB (catalytic) that receives electrons from the soluble cytochrome c552 and reduces nitric oxide to nitrous oxide in the denitrification pathway. The solvent-exposed domain of NorC, harboring a c-type heme was heterologously produced, along with its physiological electron donor, cytochrome c552. These two proteins were spectroscopically characterized and shown to be similar to the native proteins, both being low-spin and Met-His coordinated, with the soluble domain of NorC presenting some additional features of a high-spin heme, which is consistent with the higher solvent accessibility of its heme and weaker coordination of the methionine axial ligand. The electron transfer complex between the two proteins has a 1:1 stoichiometry, and an upper limit for the dissociation constant was estimated by 1H NMR titration to be 1.2±0.4μM. Electrochemical techniques were used to characterize the interaction between the proteins, and a model structure of the complex was obtained by molecular docking. The electrochemical observations point to the modulation of the NorC reduction potential by the presence of NorB, tuning its ability to receive electrons from cytochrome c552.

Thermodynamic and kinetic characterization of PccH, a key protein in microbial electrosynthesis processes in Geobacter sulfurreducens.

The monoheme c-type cytochrome PccH from Geobacter sulfurreducens, involved in the pathway of current-consumption in biofilms, was electrochemically characterized in detail. Cyclic voltammetry was used to determine the kinetics and thermodynamics properties of PccH redox behavior. Entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy changes associated with the redox center transition between the ferric and the ferrous state were determined, indicating an enhanced solvent exposure. The midpoint redox potential is considerably low for a monoheme c-type cytochrome and the heterogeneous electron transfer constant rate reflects a high efficiency of electron transfer process in PccH. The midpoint redox potential dependence on the pH (redox-Bohr effect) was investigated, over the range of 2.5 to 9.1, and is described by the protonation/deprotonation events of two distinct centers in the vicinity of the heme group with pKa values of 2.7 (pKox1); 4.1 (pKred1) and 5.9 (pKox2); 6.4 (pKred2). Based on the inspection of PccH structure, these centers were assigned to heme propionic acids P13 and P17, respectively. The observed redox-Bohr effect indicates that PccH is able to thermodynamically couple electron and proton transfer in the G. sulfurreducens physiological pH range.