Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ralf R. Mendel, Guenter Schwarz
Summary: This review summarizes the research history and importance of sulfite oxidase, a molybdenum-containing enzyme that plays a crucial role in redox regulation, signaling, and metabolism in both plants and animals.
Review
Plant Sciences
Damien Caubriere, Anna Moseler, Nicolas Rouhier, Jeremy Couturier
Summary: This review focuses on the biochemical, structural, and physiological roles of cysteine desulfurases in sulfur-dependent biosynthetic pathways in photosynthetic organisms, with particular emphasis on Arabidopsis isoforms. Cysteine desulfurases are highly conserved enzymes that catalyze the extraction of sulfur from cysteine, leading to the formation of persulfide groups on catalytic cysteine residues. The sulfur is then transferred to various targets, including iron-sulfur clusters and molybdenum cofactors. While there is extensive knowledge about cysteine desulfurases in some pathways, such as iron-sulfur cluster synthesis, our understanding of their involvement in other pathways, especially in photosynthetic organisms, is limited. This review summarizes the current knowledge of cysteine desulfurases and highlights gaps in understanding, emphasizing the need for future research in this area.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Viktor Kozich, Bernd C. Schwahn, Jitka Sokolova, Michaela Krizkova, Tamas Ditroi, Jakub Krijt, Youssef Khalil, Tomas Krizek, Tereza Vaculikova-Fantlova, Blanka Stiburkova, Philippa Mills, Peter Clayton, Kristyna Barvikova, Holger Blessing, Jolanta Sykut-Cegielska, Carlo Dionisi-Vici, Serena Gasperini, Angeles Garcia-Cazorla, Tobias B. Haack, Tomas Honzik, Pavel Jesina, Alice Kuster, Lucia Laugwitz, Diego Martinelli, Francesco Porta, Rene Santer, Guenter Schwarz, Peter Nagy
Summary: Regulation of H2S homeostasis in humans is not well understood. By studying patients with genetic defects, the importance of certain enzymes in H2S synthesis and catabolism was assessed. The findings suggest the presence of control and compensatory mechanisms in the maintenance of H2S homeostasis.
Article
Biology
Xi Jiang, Lucia Paya-Tormo, Diana Coroian, Ines Garcia-Rubio, Rocio Castellanos-Rueda, Alvaro Eseverri, Gema Lopez-Torrejon, Stefan Buren, Luis Manuel Rubio
Summary: By constructing a knowledge-based library and screening, researchers identified superior NifH variants for expression in plant mitochondria and yeast, which could potentially facilitate efficient nitrogen fixation engineering in eukaryotes.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Leon P. Jenner, Mickael Cherrier, Patricia Amara, Luis M. Rubio, Yvain Nicolet
Summary: The nitrogenase MoFe protein contains two different FeS centers, the P-cluster and the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co). NifB is an important enzyme in FeMo-co assembly. Recent crystal structures of NifB proteins show the plasticity of the protein and suggest how ligand reorganization would accommodate cluster loading and fusion in the time-course of NifB-co synthesis.
Article
Biology
Can Baysal, Stefan Buren, Wenshu He, Xi Jiang, Teresa Capell, Luis M. Rubio, Paul Christou
Summary: The long-term goal of genetically engineering cereals to express functional nitrogenase is to replace synthetic N fertilizers by metabolizing atmospheric N-2. However, the genetic and biochemical complexity of nitrogenase biosynthesis hinders the development of this technology. In this study, transgenic rice plants expressing the nitrogenase Fe protein (NifH) were generated, and NifH functionality was observed, although limited by low [4Fe-4S] cluster occupancy.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Victoria V. Shumyantseva, Polina I. Koroleva, Tatiana V. Bulko, Lyubov E. Agafonova
Summary: The functional significance of cytochrome P450s (CYP) enzymes lies in their ability to catalyze the transformation of foreign and endogenous compounds. They can selectively oxidize C-C and C-H bonds in the presence of oxygen. This review paper discusses alternative handmade electron sources to support P450 catalysis, such as modified electrodes. Solar-powered photobiocatalysis and photoelectrochemical biosensors are also promising light-driven systems.
Review
Toxicology
Slobodan P. Rendic, Rachel D. Crouch, F. Peter Guengerich
Summary: This article provides an overview of the metabolic reactions catalyzed by flavin monooxygenase (FMO), monoamine oxidase (MAO), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO), and molybdenum hydroxylase enzymes (aldehyde oxidase (AOX) and xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR)) for drugs, natural products, physiological compounds, and other chemicals. The article discusses the roles of these enzymes as substrates, inducers, and inhibitors, and explores the metabolism and bioactivation of selected examples from each group. FMO enzymes have a higher fraction of bioactivation reactions, predominantly involving drugs and general chemicals, while MAO enzymes primarily metabolize physiological compounds and may lead to unwanted side effects. AOX and XOR enzymes catalyze the oxidation and reduction of various compounds, with AOX playing a more significant role in drug metabolism over the past decade. XOR has a narrower substrate specificity and less involvement in the metabolism of clinical drugs and candidates.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon J. Mayr, Ralf-R Mendel, Guenter Schwarz
Summary: The molybdenum cofactor (Moco) is an ancient metal-sulfur cofactor that plays a catalytic role in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. Moco traces back to LUCA, and its biosynthetic genes have acquired additional functions through evolution, with gene fusions serving as origins for the development of novel functions. Today, Moco biosynthetic genes are involved in a multitude of cellular processes and their loss can lead to severe disorders.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Wenshu He, Stefan Buren, Can Baysal, Xi Jiang, Teresa Capell, Paul Christou, Luis M. Rubio
Summary: This study shows that expression and purification of NifB protein from archaea in transgenic rice plants can successfully produce soluble proteins in plants. This is an important breakthrough for achieving independent biological nitrogen fixation in cereals.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Wenshu He, Stefan Buren, Can Baysal, Xi Jiang, Teresa Capell, Paul Christou, Luis M. Rubio
Summary: The engineering of nitrogen fixation in plants requires the assembly of an active prokaryotic nitrogenase complex. However, the production of NifB protein in plants is challenging due to its insolubility and sensitivity to oxygen. In this study, transgenic rice plants expressing NifB from Archaea were generated, and the NifB proteins accumulated as soluble proteins in planta. The purified proteins were also functional in the in vitro synthesis assay. This study represents a significant step towards the biosynthesis of a functional NifDK complex for biological nitrogen fixation in cereals.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Leon P. Jenner, Jason C. Crack, Julia M. Kurth, Zuzana Soldanova, Linda Brandt, Katarzyna P. Sokol, Erwin Reisner, Justin M. Bradley, Christiane Dahl, Myles R. Cheesman, Julea N. Butt
Summary: This study describes the mechanism of Campylobacter jejuni thiosulfate dehydrogenase in the reaction with sulfite, and proposes a catalytic mechanism for thiosulfate oxidation.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Xuefang Zhu, Meng He, Ling Xiao, Haozhuo Liu, Mancheng Hu, Shuni Li, Quanguo Zhai, Yu Chen, Yucheng Jiang
Summary: Researchers have developed a nitrite electrochemical biosensor using an ionic liquid to promote direct electron transfer, resulting in a wide linear range, low detection limit, and high sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Maria J. Saenz-Espinar, Andres F. Quintero-Jaime, Alonso Gamero-Quijano, Francisco Montilla, Francisco Huerta
Summary: This study investigates the direct electron transfer between cytochrome c and conducting polymers with the structure of thiophene. The combination of electrochemistry and in situ FTIR spectroscopy provides insight into the mechanism of DET at physiological pH. The results show that hydrophilic interactions facilitate the correct orientation of cytochrome c, and injecting a positive charge into the conducting polymer induces protein flipping.
Article
Biology
Stacy Simai Reginald, Hyeryeong Lee, Nabilah Fazil, Basit Sharif, Mungyu Lee, Min Ji Kim, Haluk Beyenal, In Seop Chang
Summary: This study demonstrates the control of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase orientation on electrode surfaces and suggests its application for promoting direct electron transfer in bioelectrocatalytic systems.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Leander Suetzl, Christophe V. F. P. Laurent, Annabelle T. Abrera, Georg Schuetz, Roland Ludwig, Dietmar Haltrich
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer S. M. Loose, Magnus O. Arntzen, Bastien Bissaro, Roland Ludwig, Vincent G. H. Eijsink, Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yulong Tan, Su Ma, Matthias Leonhard, Doris Moser, Berit Schneider-Stickler
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christophe V. F. P. Laurent, Erik Breslmayr, Daniel Tunega, Roland Ludwig, Chris Oostenbrink
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina Grippo, Su Ma, Roland Ludwig, Lo Gorton, Renata Bilewicz
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Biophysics
Yulong Tan, Matthias Leonhard, Doris Moser, Su Ma, Berit Schneider-Stickler
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2019)
Article
Electrochemistry
Muhammad Nadeem Zafar, Iqra Aslam, Roland Ludwig, Guobao Xu, Lo Gorton
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2019)
Article
Electrochemistry
Marta Meneghello, Firas A. Al-Lolage, Su Ma, Roland Ludwig, Philip N. Bartlett
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ivan Mateljak, Emanuele Monza, Maria Fatima Lucas, Victor Guallar, Olga Aleksejeva, Roland Ludwig, Donal Leech, Sergey Shleev, Miguel Alcalde
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Su Ma, Christophe V. F. P. Laurent, Marta Meneghello, Jani Tuoriniemi, Chris Oostenbrink, Lo Gorton, Philip N. Bartlett, Roland Ludwig
Article
Biophysics
Marie-Christin Viehauser, Erik Breslmayr, Stefan Scheiblbrandner, Franziska Schachinger, Su Ma, Roland Ludwig
Summary: The development of third generation biosensors relies on enzymes capable of direct electron transfer (DET), achieved by fusing a cytochrome domain to an enzyme. In this study, the chimeric enzyme NcCYT-GcGDH was successfully generated in large quantities, showing high catalytic activity and the ability to perform interdomain electron transfer and direct electron transfer via the fused cytochrome domain. The high current obtained on a simple, unmodified electrode at a relatively low redox potential provides a promising starting point for further optimization.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)