Glutathione-complexed [2Fe-2S] clusters function in Fe–S cluster storage and trafficking

July 28, 2017

Title

Glutathione-complexed [2Fe-2S] clusters function in Fe–S cluster storage and trafficking

Author

Insiya Fidai, Christine Wachnowsky, J. A. Cowan

Year

2016

Journal

Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry

Abstract

Glutathione-coordinated [2Fe-2S] complex is a non-protein-bound [2Fe-2S] cluster that is capable of reconstituting the human iron-sulfur cluster scaffold protein IscU. This complex demonstrates physiologically relevant solution chemistry and is a viable substrate for iron-sulfur cluster transport by Atm1p exporter protein. Herein, we report on some of the possible functional and physiological roles for this novel [2Fe-2S](GS4) complex in iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis and quantitatively characterize its role in the broader network of Fe–S cluster transfer reactions. UV–vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy have been used in kinetic studies to determine second-order rate constants for [2Fe-2S] cluster transfer from [2Fe-2S](GS4) complex to acceptor proteins, such as human IscU, Schizosaccharomyces pombe Isa1, human and yeast glutaredoxins (human Grx2 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Grx3), and human ferredoxins. Second-order rate constants for cluster extraction from these holo proteins were also determined by varying the concentration of glutathione, and a likely common mechanism for cluster uptake was determined by kinetic analysis. The results indicate that the [2Fe-2S](GS4) complex is stable under physiological conditions, and demonstrates reversible cluster exchange with a wide range of Fe–S cluster proteins, thereby supporting a possible physiological role for such centers.

Instrument

J-815

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Coordination chemistry, Kinetics, Ligand binding, Biochemistry, Inorganic chemistry