Conformational control of cofactors in nature The influence of protein-induced macrocycle distortion on the biological function of tetrapyrroles
Citation:
Senge, M. O.; MacGowan, S. A.; O Brien, J. M., Conformational control of cofactors in nature The influence of protein-induced macrocycle distortion on the biological function of tetrapyrroles, Chemical Communications, 51, 2015, 17031 17063Download Item:

Abstract:
Tetrapyrrole‐containing proteins are one of the most fundamental classes of enzymes in nature and it remains an open
question to give a chemical rationale for the multitude of biological reactions that can be catalyzed by these pigment‐
protein complexes. There are many fundamental processes where the same (i.e., chemically identical) porphyrin cofactor
is involved in chemically quite distinct reactions. For example, heme is the active cofactor for oxygen transport and storage
(hemoglobin, myoglobin) and for the incorporation of molecular oxygen in organic substrates (cytochrome P450). It is
involved in the terminal oxidation (cytochrome c oxidase) and the metabolism of H2O2 (catalases and peroxidases) and
catalyzes various electron transfer reactions in cytochromes. Likewise, in photosynthesis the same chlorophyll cofactor
may function as a reaction center pigment (charge separation) or as an accessory pigment (exciton transfer) in light
harvesting complexes (e.g., chlorophyll a). Whilst differences in the apoprotein sequences alone cannot explain the often
drastic differences in physicochemical properties encountered for the same cofactor in diverse protein complexes, a
critical factor for all biological functions must be the close structural interplay between bound cofactors and the respective
apoprotein in addition to factors such as hydrogen bonding or electronic effects. Here, we explore how nature can use the
same chemical molecule as a cofactor for chemically distinct reactions using the concept of conformational flexibility of
tetrapyrroles. The multifaceted roles of tetrapyrroles are discussed in the context of the current knowledge on distorted
porphyrins. Contemporary analytical methods now allow a more quantitative look at cofactors in protein complexes and
the development of the field is illustrated by case studies on hemeproteins and photosynthetic complexes. Specific
tetrapyrrole conformations are now used to prepare bioengineered designer proteins with specific catalytic or
photochemical properties.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/sengemDescription:
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Author: SENGE, MATHIAS
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Chemical Communications;51;
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TetrapyrrolesDOI:
10.1039/C5CC06254CLicences: