Redox titrations of the nickel hydrogenase of Desulfovibrio gigas /

The hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio giaas catalyzes the

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Roberts, Lee Melvin, 1965-
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1994.
Subjects:
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Description
Summary:The hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio giaas catalyzes the
reversible oxidation Of H2 to protons. The active site is a
nickel center with unprecedented redox and magnetic
properties. It is found in four magnetic states termed Ni-B,
NI-SI, Ni-C, and Ni-R. Ni-B and NI-SI almost certainly
correspond to Ni3+ and-Ni2+ respectively. The electronic
designations of Ni-C and Ni-R are not known with certainty.
The Ni-C state, in the absence of H2,was found to be stable
for over 40 hr. This result was surprising since numerous
experiments found the Ni-C state to be unstable in the
absence of H2. This instability was used as evidence that
Ni-C was the catalytic intermediate that reacted with protons
to form H2- Our results demonstrate that the Ni-C state is
not equilibrium with H2, nor is it the active reductant. The
active reducing agent of protons is probably the Ni-R state.
Stoichiometric redox titrations of the enzyme were performed
with the goal of determining the electronic states of Ni-C
and Ni-R. Titrations were monitored at A410 as well as with
EPR, simulated using various models that differed in the
number of equivalents separating the Ni-B state from Ni-C.
Simulations that fit the experimental data best used a model
that assumed Ni-C was two electrons mor e reduced than Ni-B.
From this analysis, the possible isoelectronic designations
of the Ni-C are: (i) a Ni3+Hspecies; (ii) a Nil+H+ species;
(iii) a Ni3+fl2-H2 species; and (iv) Ni2+L* species. The
enzyme also contains one [Fe3S4)1+/O and two [Fe4S4 ]2+/l+
clusters. An unusual EPR signal, termed the g=2.21 signal,
was also followed during the titrations. Analysis revealed
that this signal arises from the magnetic interaction of the
Ni-C species with the [Fe4S4]1+ cluster with the more
negative redox potential. Analysis also suggests that the
redox status of this particular cluster controls the
reversibility of catalysis. Finally, the most popular
mechanism of catalysis was reformulated into a tricyclic
mechanism, using the concept of redox microstates. Further
insights into the mechanism of catalysis are discussed.
Item Description:Vita.
"Major subject: Chemistry".
Physical Description:xii, 146 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references.