skip to main content


Title: A De Novo‐Designed Artificial Metallopeptide Hydrogenase: Insights into Photochemical Processes and the Role of Protonated Cys
Abstract

Hydrogenase enzymes produce H2gas, which can be a potential source of alternative energy. Inspired by the [NiFe] hydrogenases, we report the construction of a de novo‐designed artificial hydrogenase (ArH). The ArH is a dimeric coiled coil where two cysteine (Cys) residues are introduced at tandema/dpositions of a heptad to create a tetrathiolato Ni binding site. Spectroscopic studies show that Ni binding significantly stabilizes the peptide producing electronic transitions characteristic of Ni‐thiolate proteins. The ArH produces H2photocatalytically, demonstrating a bell‐shaped pH‐dependence on activity. Fluorescence lifetimes and transient absorption spectroscopic studies are undertaken to elucidate the nature of pH‐dependence, and to monitor the reaction kinetics of the photochemical processes. pH titrations are employed to determine the role of protonated Cys on reactivity. Through combining these results, a fine balance is found between solution acidity and the electron transfer steps. This balance is critical to maximize the production of NiI‐peptide and protonation of the NiII−Hintermediate (Ni−R) by a Cys (pKa≈6.4) to produce H2.

 
more » « less
Award ID(s):
1757220
NSF-PAR ID:
10224130
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ChemSusChem
Volume:
14
Issue:
10
ISSN:
1864-5631
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 2237-2246
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    De novo metalloprotein design involves the construction of proteins guided by specific repeat patterns of polar and apolar residues, which, upon self‐assembly, provide a suitable environment to bind metals and produce artificial metalloenzymes. While a wide range of functionalities have been realized in de novo designed metalloproteins, the functional repertoire of such constructs towards alternative energy‐relevant catalysis is currently limited. Here we show the application of de novo approach to design a functional H2evolving protein. The design involved the assembly of an amphiphilic peptide featuring cysteines at tandema/dsites of each helix. Intriguingly, upon NiIIaddition, the oligomers shift from a major trimeric assembly to a mix of dimers and trimers. The metalloprotein produced H2photocatalytically with a bell‐shape pH dependence, having a maximum activity at pH 5.5. Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to determine the timescales of electron transfer as a function of pH. Selective outer sphere mutations are made to probe how the local environment tunes activity. A preferential enhancement of activity is observed via steric modulation above the NiIIsite, towards the N‐termini, compared to below the NiIIsite towards the C‐termini.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    The analog methanobactin (amb) peptide with the sequence ac‐His1‐Cys2‐Gly3‐Pro4‐Tyr5‐His6‐Cys7(amb5A) will bind the metal ions of zinc, nickel, and copper. To further understand how amb5Abinds these metals, we have undertaken a series of studies of structurally related heptapeptides where one or two of the potential His or Cys binding sites have been replaced by Gly, or the C‐terminus has been blocked by amidation. The studies were designed to compare how these metals bind to these sequences in different pH solutions of pH 4.2 to 10 and utilized native electrospray ionization (ESI) with ion mobility‐mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) which allows for the quantitative analysis of the charged species produced during the reactions. The native ESI conditions were chosen to conserve as much of the solution‐phase behavior of the amb peptides as possible and an analysis of how the IM‐MS results compare with the expected solution‐phase behavior is discussed. The oligopeptides studied here have applications for tag‐based protein purification methods, as therapeutics for diseases caused by elevated metal ion levels or as inhibitors for metal‐protein enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    With the goal of generating anionic analogues to MN2S2Mn(CO)3Br we introduced metallodithiolate ligands, MN2S22−prepared from the Cys‐X‐Cys biomimetic, ema4−ligand (ema=N,N′‐ethylenebis(mercaptoacetamide); M=NiII, [VIV≡O]2+and FeIII) to Mn(CO)5Br. An unexpected, remarkably stable dimanganese product, (H2N2(CH2C=O(μ‐S))2)[Mn(CO)3]2resulted from loss of M originally residing in the N2S24−pocket, replaced by protonation at the amido nitrogens, generating H2ema2−. Accordingly, the ema ligand has switched its coordination mode from an N2S24−cavity holding a single metal, to a binucleating H2ema2−with bridging sulfurs and carboxamide oxygens within Mn‐μ‐S‐CH2‐C‐O, 5‐membered rings. In situ metal‐templating by zinc ions gives quantitative yields of the Mn2product. By computational studies we compared the conformations of “linear” ema4−to ema4−frozen in the “tight‐loop” around single metals, and to the “looser” fold possible for H2ema2−that is the optimal arrangement for binucleation. XRD molecular structures show extensive H‐bonding at the amido‐nitrogen protons in the solid state.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    With the goal of generating anionic analogues to MN2S2Mn(CO)3Br we introduced metallodithiolate ligands, MN2S22−prepared from the Cys‐X‐Cys biomimetic, ema4−ligand (ema=N,N′‐ethylenebis(mercaptoacetamide); M=NiII, [VIV≡O]2+and FeIII) to Mn(CO)5Br. An unexpected, remarkably stable dimanganese product, (H2N2(CH2C=O(μ‐S))2)[Mn(CO)3]2resulted from loss of M originally residing in the N2S24−pocket, replaced by protonation at the amido nitrogens, generating H2ema2−. Accordingly, the ema ligand has switched its coordination mode from an N2S24−cavity holding a single metal, to a binucleating H2ema2−with bridging sulfurs and carboxamide oxygens within Mn‐μ‐S‐CH2‐C‐O, 5‐membered rings. In situ metal‐templating by zinc ions gives quantitative yields of the Mn2product. By computational studies we compared the conformations of “linear” ema4−to ema4−frozen in the “tight‐loop” around single metals, and to the “looser” fold possible for H2ema2−that is the optimal arrangement for binucleation. XRD molecular structures show extensive H‐bonding at the amido‐nitrogen protons in the solid state.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Addition of sub‐stoichiometric quantities of PEt3and diphenyl disulfide to a solution of [Ni(1,5‐cod)2] generates a mixture of [Ni3(SPh)4(PEt3)3] (1), unreacted [Ni(1,5‐cod)2], and [(1,5‐cod)Ni(PEt3)2], according to1H and31P{1H} NMR spectroscopic monitoring of the in situ reaction mixture. On standing, complex1converts into [Ni4(S)(Ph)(SPh)3(PEt3)3] (2), via formal addition of a “Ni(0)” equivalent, coupled with a CS oxidative addition step, which simultaneously generates the Ni‐bound phenyl ligand and the μ3‐sulfide ligand. Upon gentle heating, complex2converts into a mixture of [Ni5(S)2(SPh)2(PEt3)5] (3) and [Ni8(S)5(PEt3)7] (4), via further addition of “Ni(0)” equivalents, in combination with a series of C–S oxidative addition and CC reductive elimination steps, which serve to convert thiophenolate ligands into sulfide ligands and biphenyl. The presence of14in the reaction mixture is confirmed by their independent syntheses and subsequent spectroscopic characterization. Overall, this work provides an unprecedented level of detail of the early stages of Ni nanocluster growth and highlights the fundamental reaction steps (i.e., metal atom addition, CS oxidative addition, and CC reductive elimination) that are required to grow an individual cluster.

     
    more » « less