Flavin Mononucleotide Cofactor Research Articles

Conformational Dynamics of the FMN-Binding Reductase Domain of Monooxygenase P450BM-3

In the cytochrome P450BM-3, the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) binding domain is an intermediate electron donor between the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding domain and the HEME domain. Experimental evidence has shown that different redox states of FMN cofactor were found to induce conformational changes in the FMN domain. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is used to gain insight into the latter phenomenon at the atomistic level. We have studied the effect of FMN cofactor and its redox states (oxidized and reduced) on the structure and dynamics of the FMN domain. The results of our study show significant differences in the atomic fluctuation amplitude of the FMN domain in both holo- and apoprotein. The change in the protonation state of FMN cofactor mostly affects its binding in holo-protein. In particular, the loops involved in the binding of the isoalloxazine ring (Lβ4) and ribityl side chain (Lβ1) adopt different conformations in both reduced and oxidized states. In addition, the reduced FMN cofactor mainly induces a conformational change in Trp574 residue (Lβ4) that is essential for controlling electron transfer (ET) within P450BM-3 domains. The structure of the apoprotein in solution remains mostly unchanged with respect to the crystal structure of the holo-protein. However, FMN binding loops were more flexible in apoprotein that might favor the rebinding of FMN cofactor. In the holo-protein simulation, the largest conformational changes in FMN cofactor are caused by the ribityl side chain. The isoalloxazine ring of FMN cofactor remains almost planar (∼177°) in the oxidized state and bends along the N5-N10 axis at an angle of ∼160° in the reduced state. The collective modes of the isoalloxazine ring were identical in both protonation states of FMN cofactor except the first eigenvector. In the reduced state, the isoalloxazine ring attains the butterfly motion as a dominant collective motion in the first eigenvector due to the bending along the N5-N10 axis.

Crystal Structure of Reduced MsAcg, a Putative Nitroreductase from Mycobacterium smegmatis and a Close Homologue of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Acg

This paper presents the structure of MsAcg (MSMEG_5246), a Mycobacterium smegmatis homologue of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Acg (Rv2032) in its reduced form at 1.6 Å resolution using x-ray crystallography. Rv2032 is one of the most induced genes under the hypoxic model of tuberculosis dormancy. The Acg family turns out to be unusual flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-binding proteins that have probably arisen by gene duplication and fusion from a classical homodimeric nitroreductase such that the monomeric protein resembles a classical nitroreductase dimer but with one active site deleted and the other active site covered by a unique lid. The FMN cofactor is not reduced by either NADH or NADPH, but the chemically reduced enzyme is capable of reduction of nitro substrates, albeit at no kinetic advantage over free FMN. The reduced enzyme is rapidly oxidized by oxygen but without any evidence for a radical state commonly seen in oxygen-sensitive nitroreductases. The presence of the unique lid domain, the lack of reduction by NAD(P)H, and the slow rate of reaction of the chemically reduced protein raises a possible alternative function of Acg proteins in FMN storage or sequestration from other biochemical pathways as part of the bacteria's adaptation to a dormancy state.

Structural and Catalytic Characterization of Pichia stipitis OYE 2.6, a Useful Biocatalyst for Asymmetric Alkene Reductions

AbstractWe have probed Pichia stipitis CBS 6054 Old Yellow Enzyme 2.6 (OYE 2.6) by several strategies including X‐ray crystallography, ligand binding and catalytic assays using the wild‐type as well as libraries of site‐saturation mutants. The alkene reductase crystallized in space group P 63 2 2 with unit cell dimensions of 127.1×123.4 Å and its structure was solved to 1.5 Å resolution by molecular replacement. The protein environment surrounding the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor was very similar to those of other OYE superfamily members; however, differences in the putative substrate binding site were also observed. Substrate analog complexes were analyzed by both UV‐Vis titration and X‐ray crystallography to provide information on possible substrate binding interactions. In addition, four active site residues were targeted for site saturation mutagenesis (Thr 35, Ile 113, His 188, His 191) and each library was tested against three representative Baylis–Hillman adducts. Thr 35 could be replaced by Ser with no change in activity; other amino acids (Ala, Cys, Leu, Met, Gln and Val) resulted in diminished catalytic efficiency. The Ile 113 replacement library yielded a range of catalytic activities, but had very little impact on stereoselectivity. Finally, the two His residues (188 and 191) were essentially intolerant of substitutions with the exception of the His 191 Asn mutant, which did show significant catalytic ability. Structural comparisons between OYE 2.6 and Saccharomyces pastorianus OYE1 suggest that the key interactions between the substrate hydroxymethyl groups and the side‐chain of Thr 35 and/or Tyr 78 play an important role in making OYE 2.6 an (S)‐selective alkene reductase.

Structure of MMACHC Reveals an Arginine-Rich Pocket and a Domain-Swapped Dimer for Its B12 Processing Function

Defects in the MMACHC gene represent the most common disorder of cobalamin (Cbl) metabolism, affecting synthesis of the enzyme cofactors adenosyl-Cbl and methyl-Cbl. The encoded MMACHC protein binds intracellular Cbl derivatives with different upper axial ligands and exhibits flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent decyanase activity toward cyano-Cbl as well as glutathione (GSH)-dependent dealkylase activity toward alkyl-Cbls. We determined the structure of human MMACHC·adenosyl-Cbl complex, revealing a tailor-made nitroreductase scaffold which binds adenosyl-Cbl in a "base-off, five-coordinate" configuration for catalysis. We further identified an arginine-rich pocket close to the Cbl binding site responsible for GSH binding and dealkylation activity. Mutation of these highly conserved arginines, including a replication of the prevalent MMACHC missense mutation, Arg161Gln, disrupts GSH binding and dealkylation. We further showed that two Cbl-binding monomers dimerize to mediate the reciprocal exchange of a conserved "PNRRP" loop from both subunits, serving as a protein cap for the upper axial ligand in trans and required for proper dealkylation activity. Our dimeric structure is supported by solution studies, where dimerization is triggered upon binding its substrate adenosyl-Cbl or cofactor FMN. Together our data provide a structural framework to understanding catalytic function and disease mechanism for this multifunctional enzyme.

Crystal structure of ChrR--a quinone reductase with the capacity to reduce chromate.

The Escherichia coli ChrR enzyme is an obligatory two-electron quinone reductase that has many applications, such as in chromate bioremediation. Its crystal structure, solved at 2.2 Å resolution, shows that it belongs to the flavodoxin superfamily in which flavin mononucleotide (FMN) is firmly anchored to the protein. ChrR crystallized as a tetramer, and size exclusion chromatography showed that this is the oligomeric form that catalyzes chromate reduction. Within the tetramer, the dimers interact by a pair of two hydrogen bond networks, each involving Tyr128 and Glu146 of one dimer and Arg125 and Tyr85 of the other; the latter extends to one of the redox FMN cofactors. Changes in each of these amino acids enhanced chromate reductase activity of the enzyme, showing that this network is centrally involved in chromate reduction.

Covalent modification of reduced flavin mononucleotide in type-2 isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase by active-site-directed inhibitors

Evidence for an unusual catalysis of protonation/deprotonation by a reduced flavin mononucleotide cofactor is presented for type-2 isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI-2), which catalyzes isomerization of the two fundamental building blocks of isoprenoid biosynthesis, isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate. The covalent adducts formed between irreversible mechanism-based inhibitors, 3-methylene-4-penten-1-yl diphosphate or 3-oxiranyl-3-buten-1-yl diphosphate, and the flavin cofactor were investigated by X-ray crystallography and UV-visible spectroscopy. Both the crystal structures of IDI-2 binding the flavin-inhibitor adduct and the UV-visible spectra of the adducts indicate that the covalent bond is formed at C4a of flavin rather than at N5, which had been proposed previously. In addition, the high-resolution crystal structures of IDI-2-substrate complexes and the kinetic studies of new mutants confirmed that only the flavin cofactor can catalyze protonation of the substrates and suggest that N5 of flavin is most likely to be involved in proton transfer. These data provide support for a mechanism where the reduced flavin cofactor acts as a general acid/base catalyst and helps stabilize the carbocationic intermediate formed by protonation.

Infrared spectrum and absorption coefficient of the cofactor flavin in water

Flavins play a key role as redox cofactors of enzymes involved in important metabolic processes. Moreover, they undergo photochemical reactions as chromophores in sensors of blue light or magnetic field in many organisms. The reaction mechanisms of flavoproteins have been investigated by infrared spectroscopy and theoretical studies. However, basic information on flavins in the infrared spectral range has been missing, such as absorption spectra in water and absorption coefficients. Here, the cofactors flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) were investigated in aqueous medium by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Transmission and attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration were employed in direct comparison. Absorption spectra in the range of 920–1800 cm −1 were determined after accurate subtraction of the contributions from the water vibrations. The important carbonyl vibrations were resolved at 1661 and 1712 cm −1. The absorption spectra may serve as a reference for theoretical and experimental studies on the effect of the microenvironment on the flavin cofactor. Furthermore, the molar absorption coefficient of FAD at 1547 cm −1 was determined to 2200 L mol −1 cm −1 with an integral absorption coefficient of ∼50,000 L mol −1 cm −2. These values are prerequisite for the determination of reaction yields in flavoproteins from reaction-induced difference spectra.

Ferric Reductase Activity of the ArsH Protein from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

The arsH gene is one of the arsenic resistance system in bacteria and eukaryotes. The ArsH protein was annotated as a NADPH-dependent flavin mononucleotide (FMN) reductase with unknown biological function. Here we report for the first time that the ArsH protein showed high ferric reductase activity. Glu104 was an essential residue for maintaining the stability of the FMN cofactor. The ArsH protein may perform an important role for cytosolic ferric iron assimilation in vivo.

Ensemble and Single Molecule Studies on the Use of Metallic Nanostructures to Enhance the Intrinsic Emission of Enzyme Cofactors

We present a strategy for enhancing the intrinsic emission of the enzyme cofactors flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Ensemble studies show that silver island films (SIFs) are the optimal metal enhanced fluorescence (MEF) substrates for flavins and gave emission enhancements of over 10-fold for both FAD and FMN. A reduction in the lifetime of FAD and FMN on SIFs was also observed. Thermally evaporated aluminum films on quartz slides were found to be the optimal MEF substrate for NADH and gave a 5-fold increase in the emission intensity of NADH. We present finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations that compute the enhancement in the radiated power emitting from an excited state dipole emitting in the wavelength range of NADH in close proximity to an aluminum nanoparticle, and a dipole emitting in the emission wavelength of flavins next to a silver nanoparticle. These calculations confirm that aluminum serves as the optimal MEF substrate for NADH and silver was the optimal MEF substrate for flavins. This is because the plasmon resonance properties of aluminum lie in the UV-blue regime and that of silver lie in the visible region. We also present the results of single molecule studies on FMN which show SIFs can both significantly enhance the intrinsic emission from single FMN molecules, significantly reduce their lifetimes and also significantly reduce FMN blinking. This is the first report of the observation of MEF from cofactors both at the ensemble and single molecule level. We hope this study will serve as a platform to encourage the future use of metallic nanostructures to study cofactors using their intrinsic fluorescence to directly monitor enzyme binding reactions without the need of extrinsic labeling of the molecules.

The Primary Photophysics of the Avena sativa Phototropin 1 LOV2 Domain Observed with Time‐resolved Emission Spectroscopy†

The phototropins are blue-light receptors that base their light-dependent action on the reversible formation of a covalent bond between a flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor and a conserved cysteine in light, oxygen or voltage (LOV) domains. The primary reactions of the Avena sativa phototropin 1 LOV2 domain were investigated by means of time-resolved and low-temperature fluorescence spectroscopy. Synchroscan streak camera experiments revealed a fluorescence lifetime of 2.2 ns in LOV2. A weak long-lived component with emission intensity from 600 to 650 nm was assigned to phosphorescence from the reactive FMN triplet state. This observation allowed determination of the LOV2 triplet state energy level at physiological temperature at 16600 cm(-1). FMN dissolved in aqueous solution showed pH-dependent fluorescence lifetimes of 2.7 ns at pH 2 and 3.9-4.1 ns at pH 3-8. Here, too, a weak phosphorescence band was observed. The fluorescence quantum yield of LOV2 increased from 0.13 to 0.41 upon cooling the sample from 293 to 77 K. A pronounced phosphorescence emission around 600 nm was observed in the LOV2 domain between 77 and 120 K in the steady-state emission.

Energetics and Vibronics Analyses of the Enzymatic Coupled Electron–Proton Transfer From NfsA Nitroreductase to Trinitrotoluene

We analyze the coupled electron-proton transfer from the NfsA nitroreductase enzyme to the trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosive as a possible reaction mechanism for nitrocompounds sensing. Based on earlier experiments, we have chosen as active site a group of amino acids around the flavin mononucleotide cofactor. In this site, we evaluate charge transfer, leading to a first step in the enzymatic TNT degradation that is enough for its detection. Our analysis suggests that light absorption and vibrations around the active site induce charge transfer for the enzymatic reaction with TNT.

Biological and structural characterization of the Mycobacterium smegmatis nitroreductase NfnB, and its role in benzothiazinone resistance

Tuberculosis is still a leading cause of death in developing countries, for which there is an urgent need for new pharmacological agents. The synthesis of the novel antimycobacterial drug class of benzothiazinones (BTZs) and the identification of their cellular target as DprE1 (Rv3790), a component of the decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-ribose 2'-epimerase complex, have been reported recently. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of a novel resistance mechanism to BTZ in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The overexpression of the nitroreductase NfnB leads to the inactivation of the drug by reduction of a critical nitro-group to an amino-group. The direct involvement of NfnB in the inactivation of the lead compound BTZ043 was demonstrated by enzymology, microbiological assays and gene knockout experiments. We also report the crystal structure of NfnB in complex with the essential cofactor flavin mononucleotide, and show that a common amino acid stretch between NfnB and DprE1 is likely to be essential for the interaction with BTZ. We performed docking analysis of NfnB-BTZ in order to understand their interaction and the mechanism of nitroreduction. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis seems to lack nitroreductases able to inactivate these drugs, our findings are valuable for the design of new BTZ molecules, which may be more effective in vivo.

Hindered Rotation of a Cofactor Methyl Group as a Probe for Protein−Cofactor Interaction

Exploring protein-cofactor interactions on a molecular level is one of the major challenges in modern biophysics. Based on structural data alone it is rarely possible to identify how subtle interactions between a protein and its cofactor modulate the protein's reactivity. In the case of enzymatic processes in which paramagnetic molecules play a certain role, EPR and related methods such as ENDOR are suitable techniques to unravel such important details. In this contribution, we describe how cryogenic-temperature ENDOR spectroscopy can be applied to various LOV domains, the blue-light sensing domains of phototropin photoreceptors, to gain information on the direct vicinity of the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor by analyzing the temperature dependence of methyl-group rotation attached to C(8) of the FMN's isoalloxazine ring. More specifically, mutational studies of three amino acids surrounding the methyl group led to the identification of Asn425 as an important amino acid that critically influences the dark-state recovery of Avena sativa LOV2 domains. Consequently, it is possible to probe protein-cofactor interactions on a sub-angstrom level by following the temperature dependencies of hyperfine couplings.

Ectopic Expression of the Rice Lumazine Synthase Gene Contributes to Defense Responses in Transgenic Tobacco

Lumazine synthase (LS) catalyzes the penultimate reaction in the multistep riboflavin biosynthesis pathway, which is involved in plant defenses. Plant defenses are often subject to synergistic effects of jasmonic acid and ethylene whereas LS is a regulator of jasmonic acid signal transduction. However, little is known about whether the enzyme contributes to defense responses. To study the role of LS in plant pathogen defenses, we generated transgenic tobacco expressing the rice (Oryza sativa) LS gene, OsLS. OsLS was cloned and found to have strong identity with its homologues in higher plants and less homology to microbial orthologues. The OsLS protein localized to chloroplasts in three OsLS-expressing transgenic tobacco (LSETT) lines characterized as enhanced in growth and defense. Compared with control plants, LSETT had higher content of both riboflavin and the cofactors flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide. In LSETT, jasmonic acid and ethylene were elevated, the expression of defense-related genes was induced, levels of resistance to pathogens were enhanced, and resistance was effective to viral, bacterial, and oomycete pathogens. Extents of OsLS expression correlated with increases in flavin, jasmonic acid, and ethylene content, and correlated with increases in resistance levels, suggesting a role for OsLS in defense responses.

Riboflavin Biosynthetic and Regulatory Factors as Potential Novel Anti‐Infective Drug Targets

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is the direct precursor of redox enzyme cofactors flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which are essential for multiple cell physiology. The riboflavin biosynthetic pathway is regarded as a rich resource for therapeutic targets for broad spectrum antibiotics. Enzymatic pathways, regulatory factors of the riboflavin biosynthesis, and relevant drug discovery are summarized in this review. The novel riboswitch regulatory mechanism of riboflavin metabolism is also described. A compendium of chemical modulators of riboflavin biosynthesis and regulatory networks is listed and such demonstrates the promise of riboflavin biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets for novel antibiotic drug discovery.

Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide Rescues the Phenotype of Frataxin Deficiency

BackgroundFriedreich ataxia is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the lack of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein. We previously demonstrated that frataxin interacts with complex II subunits of the electronic transport chain (ETC) and putative electronic transfer flavoproteins, suggesting that frataxin could participate in the oxidative phosphorylation.Methods and FindingsHere we have investigated the effect of riboflavin and its cofactors flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans models of frataxin deficiency. We used a S. cerevisiae strain deleted for the yfh1 gene obtained by homologous recombination and we assessed growth in fermentable and non-fermentable cultures supplemented with either riboflavin or its derivates. Experiments with C. elegans were performed in transient knock-down worms (frh-1[RNAi]) generated by microinjection of dsRNA frh-1 into the gonads of young worms. We observed that FAD rescues the phenotype of both defective organisms. We show that cell growth and enzymatic activities of the ETC complexes and ATP production of yfh1Δ cells were improved by FAD supplementation. Moreover, FAD also improved lifespan and other physiological parameters in the C. elegans knock-down model for frataxin.Conclusions/SignificanceWe propose that rescue of frataxin deficiency by FAD supplementation could be explained by an improvement in mitochondrial respiration. We suggest that riboflavin may be useful in the treatment of Friedreich ataxia.

Influence of the LOV Domain on Low-Lying Excited States of Flavin: A Combined Quantum-Mechanics/Molecular-Mechanics Investigation

The ground and low-lying excited states of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in the light, oxygen, and voltage sensitive (LOV) domain of the blue-light photosensor YtvA of Bacillus subtilis were studied by means of combined quantum-mechanical/molecular-mechanical (QM/MM) methods. The FMN cofactor (without the side chain) was treated with density functional theory (DFT) for the geometry optimizations and a combination of DFT and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) for the determination of the excitation energies, while the protein environment was represented by the CHARMM force field. In addition, several important amino acid side chains, including the reactive cysteine residue, were included in the QM region in order to probe their influence on the spectral properties of the cofactor in two protein conformations. Spin-orbit coupling was taken into account employing an efficient, nonempirical spin-orbit mean-field Hamiltonian. Our results reveal that the protein environment of YtvA-LOV induces spectral shifts for the (pi pi*) states that are similar to those in aqueous solution. In contrast, the blue shifts of the (n pi*) states are smaller in the protein environment, enabling a participation of these states in the decay processes of the optically bright S(1) state. Increased spin-orbit coupling between the initially populated S(1) state and the T(1) and T(2) states is found in YtvA-LOV as compared to free lumiflavine in water. The enhanced singlet-triplet coupling is brought about partially by configuration interaction with (n pi*) states at the slightly out-of-plane distorted minimum geometry. In addition, an external heavy-atom effect is observed when the sulfur atom of the nearby cysteine residue is included in the QM region, in line with experimental findings.

Nitric Oxide Synthase: “Enzyme Zero” in Air Pollution–Induced Vascular Toxicity

Nitric Oxide Synthase: “Enzyme Zero” in Air Pollution–Induced Vascular Toxicity

The BTI1 Azoreductase Colorimetric and Fluorometric Reporter System

Reliable duplex and multiplex assays remain a challenge for current fluorescence reporter enzyme technology. To this end we have developed a system that takes advantage of pro‐fluorescent probes and a novel azoreductase.The BTI1 azoreductase gene was cloned from a soil sample, optimized and used to bacterially express the protein. Biochemical characterization of the purified enzyme in solution revealed a tetramer carrying a non‐covalently bound flavin mononucleotide cofactor. BTI1 readily reduced an array of carboxylated and sulfonated azo dyes including methyl orange (DABSYL) and the Black Hole Quencher (BHQ(tm)) dyes. Enzyme kinetic parameters of the four‐hydride transfer reaction were consistent with the bi‐bi ping‐pong mechanism of related oxidoreductases. In our optimized colorimetric assay, the detection limit of the BTI1 azoreductase was >10 fold lower than that of beta‐galactosidase.Reduction of the azo‐quenchers in pro‐fluorescent substrates containing BHQs and a range of fluorophores readily released fluorescence in an NADPH‐dependent manner with robust signal to noise ratios.In short, by matching BTI azoreductase with pro‐fluorescent substrates we have created a simple, yet adaptable, reporter system that generates diverse fluorescence signals.This research was supported in part by a grant from NIH to HEJ (R43/R44 GM076843).

Reduction of Hydrophilic Ubiquinones by the Flavin in Mitochondrial NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase (Complex I) and Production of Reactive Oxygen Species

NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) from bovine heart mitochondria is a complicated, energy-transducing, membrane-bound enzyme that contains 45 different subunits, a non-covalently bound flavin mononucleotide, and eight iron−sulfur clusters. The mechanisms of NADH oxidation and intramolecular electron transfer by complex I are gradually being defined, but the mechanism linking ubiquinone reduction to proton translocation remains unknown. Studies of ubiquinone reduction by isolated complex I are problematic because the extremely hydrophobic natural substrate, ubiquinone-10, must be substituted with a relatively hydrophilic analogue (such as ubiquinone-1). Hydrophilic ubiquinones are reduced by an additional, non-energy-transducing pathway (which is insensitive to inhibitors such as rotenone and piericidin A). Here, we show that inhibitor-insensitive ubiquinone reduction occurs by a ping-pong type mechanism, catalyzed by the flavin mononucleotide cofactor in the active site for NADH oxidation. Moreover, semiquinones produced at the flavin site initiate redox cycling reactions with molecular oxygen, producing superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide. The ubiquinone reactant is regenerated, so the NADH:Q reaction becomes superstoichiometric. Idebenone, an artificial ubiquinone showing promise in the treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia, reacts at the flavin site. The factors which determine the balance of reactivity between the two sites of ubiquinone reduction (the energy-transducing site and the flavin site) and the implications for mechanistic studies of ubiquinone reduction by complex I are discussed. Finally, the possibility that the flavin site in complex I catalyzes redox cycling reactions with a wide range of compounds, some of which are important in pharmacology and toxicology, is discussed.