Search

Herein, we present the development of a far-infrared spectroscopic approach for studying metalloenzyme active sites in a redox-dependent manner. An electrochemical cell with 5 mm path and based on silicon windows was found to be appropriate for the measurement of aqueous solutions down to 200 cm(-1) . The cell was probed with the infrared redox signature of the metal-ligand vibrations of different iron-sulfur proteins. Each Fe-S cluster type was found to show a specific spectral signature. As a common feature, a downshift of the frequency of the Fe-S vibrations was seen upon reduction, in line with the increase of the Fe-S bond. This downshift was found to be fully reversible. Electrochemically induced FTIR difference spectroscopy in the far infrared is now possible, opening new perspectives on the understanding of metalloproteins in function of the redox state., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The use of the far-infrared spectral range presents a novel approach for analysis of the hydrogen bonding in proteins. Here it is presented for the analysis of Fe--S vibrations (500-200 cm(-1)) and of the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding signature (300-50 cm(-1)) in the Rieske protein from Thermus thermophilus as a function of temperature and pH. Three pH values were adequately chosen in order to study all the possible protonation states of the coordinating histidines. The Fe--S vibrations showed pH-dependent shifts in the FIR spectra in line with the change of protonation state of the histidines coordinating the [2Fe--2S] cluster. Measurements of the low-frequency signals between 300 and 30 K demonstrated the presence of a distinct overall hydrogen bonding network and a more rigid structure for a pH higher than 10. To further support the analysis, the redox-dependent shifts of the secondary structure were investigated by means of an electrochemically induced FTIR difference spectroscopic approach in the mid infrared. The results confirmed a clear pH dependency and an influence of the immediate environment of the cluster on the secondary structure. The results support the hypothesis that structure-mediated changes in the environment of iron--sulfur centers play a critical role in regulating enzymatic catalysis. The data point towards the role of the overall internal hydrogen bonding organization for the geometry and the electronic properties of the cluster.