Aconitase iron-sulfur protein

The iron responsive element, a critical factor in the control of proteins involved in iron utilization, has been identified as the cytoplasmic form of the iron-sulfur protein aconitase (Kennedy et al., 1992). Activated macrophages have been shown to activate this element, presumably by attack of the iron-sulfur cluster by NO (Drapier et al., 1993). It has been claimed that this attack is mediated by peroxynitrite (Castro et al., 1994 Hausladen and Fridovich, 1994, but this conclusion is not universally accepted. 

Wachtershanser has also suggested that early metabolic processes first occurred on the surface of pyrite and other related mineral materials. The iron-sulfur chemistry that prevailed on these mineral surfaces may have influenced the evolution of the iron-sulfur proteins that control and catalyze many reactions in modern pathways (including the succinate dehydrogenase and aconitase reactions of the TCA cycle). 

In this text, iron-sulfur clusters are discussed because they appear in proteins and enzymes (1) cytochrome b(6)f, Rieske [2Fe-2S] cluster (Section 7.5 and Figure 7.26) (2) cytochrome bci, Rieske [2Fe-2S] cluster (Section 7.6 and Figure 7.30) and (3) aconitase, [4Fe-4S] cluster (Section 7.9.2.1, and Figure 7.50). The iron-sulfur protein (ISP) component of the cytochrome b(6)f and cytochrome bci complexes, now called the Rieske ISP, was first discovered and isolated by John S. Rieske and co-workers in 1964 (in the cytochrome bci complex). More information about the RISP is found in Section 7.5.1. Section 7.9.2 briefly discusses other proteins with iron-sulfur clusters—rubredoxins, ferrodoxins, and the enzyme nitrogenase. The nitrogenase enzyme was the subject of Chapter 6 in the hrst edition of this text— see especially the first edition s Section 6.3 for a discussion of iron-sulfur clusters. In this second edition, information on iron-sulfur clusters in nitrogenase is found in Section 3.6.4. See Table 3.2 and the descriptive examples discussed in Section 3.6.4. 

One large class of non-heme iron-containing biomolecules involves proteins and enzymes containing iron-sulfur clusters. Iron-sulfur clusters are described in Sections 1.7 (Bioorganometallic Chemistry) and 1.8 (Electron Transfer) as well as in Section 3.6 (Mossbauer Spectroscopy). See especially Table 3.2 and the descriptive examples discussed in Section 3.6.4. Iron-sulfur proteins include rubredoxins, ferrodoxins, and the enzymes aconitase and nitrogenase. The nitrogenase enzyme was the subject of Chapter 6 in the hrst edition of this text—see especially Section 6.3 for a discussion of iron-sulfur clusters. In this... 

A newly emerging class of iron sulfur proteins are those with 3Fe-XS centers. Aerobically isolated, inactive beef heart aconitase has a 3Fe-4S center which has... 

FIGURE 16-10 Iron-sulfur center in aconitase. The iron-sulfur center is in red, the citrate molecule in blue. Three Cys residues of the enzyme bind three iron atoms the fourth iron is bound to one of the carboxyl groups of citrate and also interacts noncovalently with a hydroxyl group of citrate (dashed bond). A basic residue ( B) on the enzyme helps to position the citrate in the active site. The iron-sulfur center acts in both substrate binding and catalysis. The general properties of iron-sulfur proteins are discussed in Chapter 19 (see Fig. 19-5). 

Some linear structures are known, as in (Et4N)3[Fe3S4(SR)4], where R=Et or Ph.752,810 The iron atoms are bridged by two sulfide ions and the terminal positions are filled by the thiol groups, to give a tetrahedral environment around each iron atom. The ESR spectra of these models do not correspond to the spectra of any known iron-sulfur protein, with the exception of unfolded aconitase, which thus appears to have a linear 3Fe core.811 The model also represents isolated sections of the polymer KFeS2. 

In 1984, Hibbs, Taintor, and Vavrin reported that CAMs cause L1210 cells to lose up to 64% of their intracellular iron, and the time course of this release is similar to that of CAM-induced mitochondrial inhibition In 1986, Drapier and Hibbs " showed that aconitase (an iron-sulfur-containing enzyme (see Iron-Sulfur Proteins)) is also a target for CAM injury, and that the injured cells recover aconitase activity... 

Beinert H, Keimedy MC, Stout CD. Aconitase as iron-sulfur protein, enzyme, and iron-regulatory protein. Chem. Rev. 1996 96 2335-2374. 

Aconitase is an iron-sulfur protein, or nonheme iron protein. It contains four iron atoms that are not incorporated as part of a heme group. The four iron atoms are complexed to four inorganic sulfides and three cysteine sulfur atoms, leaving one iron atom available to bind citrate and then isocitrate through their carboxylate and hydroxyl groups (Figure 17,12). This iron center, in conjunction with other groups on the enzyme, facilitates the dehydration and rehydration reactions. We will consider the role of these iron-sulfur clusters in the electron-transfer reactions of oxidative phosphorylation subsequently (Section 18.3.1). 

Simple iron-sulfur proteins, containing these basic structures are listed in Table 1. They are generally electron-transfer proteins mediating electron exchange between enzymatic systems, with the possible exception of hydrogenase, and aconitase, which might have catalytic activity of their own, as shall be discussed later. 

Succinate dehydrogenase, like aconitase, is an iron—sulfur protein. Indeed, succinate dehydrogenase contains three different kinds of iron—sulfur clusters, 2Fe-2S (two iron atoms bonded to two inorganic sulfides), 3Fe-4S, and 4Fe-4S. Succinate dehydrogenase— which consists of two subunits, one 70 kd and the other 27 kd—differs from other enzymes in the citric acid cycle in being embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In fact, succinate dehydrogenase is directly associated with the electron-transport chain, the link between the citric acid cycle and ATP formation. FADH2 produced by the... 

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