Multiple States of the Molybdenum Centre of Dimethylsulphoxide Reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus Revealed by EPR Spectroscopy

Authors

Brian Bennett, Marquette UniversityFollow
Neil Benson, University of East Anglia
Alistair G. McEwan, University of Queensland
Robert C. Bray, University of SussexFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

11 p.

Publication Date

10-1994

Publisher

Wiley

Source Publication

European Journal of Biochemistry

Source ISSN

0014-2956

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1994.00321.x

Abstract

The dimethylsulphoxide reductase of Rhodobacter capsulatus contains a pterin molybdenum cofactor molecule as its only prosthetic group. Kinetic studies were consistent with re-oxidation of the enzyme being rate limiting in the turnover of dimethylsulphoxide in the presence of the benzyl viologen radical. EPR spectra of molybdenum(V) were generated by reducing the highly purified enzyme under a variety of conditions, and with careful control it was possible to generate at least five clearly distinct EPR signals. These could be simulated, indicating that each corresponds to a single chemical species. Structures of the signal-giving species are discussed in light of the EPR parameters and of information from the literature. Three of the signals show coupling of molybdenum to an exchangeable proton and, in the corresponding species, the metal is presumed to bear a hydroxyl ligand. One signal with g_av 1.96 shows a very strong similarity to a signal for the desulpho form of xanthine oxidase, while two others with g_av values of 1.98 show a distinct similarity to signals from nitrate reductase of Escherichia coli. These data indicate an unusual flexibility in the active site of dimethylsulphoxide reductase, as well as emphasising structural similarities between molybdenum enzymes bearing different forms of the pterin cofactor. Interchange among the different species must involve either a change of coordination geometry, a ligand exchange, or both. The latter may involve replacement of an amino acid residue co-ordinating molybdenum via O or N, for a cysteine co-ordinating via S. Since the two signals with g_av 1.96 were obtained only under specific conditions of reduction of the enzyme by dithionite, it is postulated that their generation may be triggered by reduction of the pteridine of the molybdenum cofactor from a dihydro state to the tetrahydro state.

Comments

European Journal of Biochemistry, Vol. 225, No. 1 (October 1994): 321-331. DOI.

Brian Bennett was affiliated with the University of Sussex at the time of publication.

Recommended Citation

Bennett, Brian; Benson, Neil; McEwan, Alistair G.; and Bray, Robert C., "Multiple States of the Molybdenum Centre of Dimethylsulphoxide Reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus Revealed by EPR Spectroscopy" (1994). Physics Faculty Research and Publications. 100.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/physics_fac/100