Reduction of Nitric Oxide in Bacterial Nitric Oxide Reductase : A Theoretical Model Study

• The mechanism of the nitric oxide reduction in a bacterial nitric oxide reductase (NOR) has been investigated in two model systems of the heme-b3-FeB active site using density functional theory (B3LYP). A model with an octahedral coordination of the non-heme FeB consisting of three histidines, one glutamate and one water molecule gave an energetically feasible reaction mechanism. A tetrahedral coordination of the non-heme iron, corresponding to the one of CuB in cytochrome oxidase, gave several very high barriers which makes this type of coordination unlikely. The first nitric oxide coordinates to heme b3 and is partly reduced to a more nitroxyl anion character, which activates it toward an attack from the second NO. The product in this reaction step is a hyponitrite dianion coordinating in between the two irons. Cleaving an NO bond in this intermediate forms an FeB (IV)O and nitrous oxide, and this is the rate determining step in the reaction mechanism. In the model with an octahedral coordination of FeB the intrinsic barrier of this step is 16.3 kcal/mol, which is in good agreement with the experimental value of 15.9 kcal/mol. However, the total barrier is 21.3 kcal/mol, mainly due to the endergonic reduction of heme b3 taken from experimental reduction potentials. After nitrous oxide has left the active site the ferrylic FeB will form a μ-oxo bridge to heme b3 in a reaction step exergonic by 45.3 kcal/mol. The formation of a quite stable μ-oxo bridge between heme b3 and FeB is in agreement with this intermediate being the experimentally observed resting state in oxidized NOR. The formation of a ferrylic non-heme FeB in the proposed reaction mechanism could be one reason for having an iron as the non-heme metal ion in NOR instead of a Cu as in cytochrome oxidase.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Nitric oxide reductase

NOR

Heme-copper oxidase

Nitrous oxide

Nitric oxide

DFT

B3LYP

Physics

Fysik

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