@article{ForlaniCeredaFreueretal.2005,
  author    = {Forlani, Fabio and Cereda, Angelo and Freuer, Andrea and Nimtz, Manfred and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Pagani, Silvia},
  title     = {The cysteine-desulfurase IscS promotes the production of the rhodanese RhdA in the persulfurated form},
  issn      = {0014-5793},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {After heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, the Azotobacter vinelandii rhodanese RhdA is purified in a persulfurated form (RhdA-SSH). We identified L-cysteine as the most effective sulfur source in producing RhdA-SSH. An E. coli soluble extract was required for in vitro persulfuration of RhdA, and the addition of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate increased RhdA-SSH production, indicating a likely involvement of a cysteine desulfurase. We were able to show the formation of a covalent complex between IscS and RhdA. By combining a time-course fluorescence assay and mass spectrometry analysis, we demonstrated the transfer of sulfur from E. coli IscS to RhdA. (c) 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MatthiesNimtzLeimkuehler2005,
  author    = {Matthies, A. and Nimtz, M. and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke},
  title     = {Molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis in humans : Identification of a persulfide group in the rhodanese-like domain of MOCS3 by mass spectrometry},
  issn      = {0006-2960},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {The human MOCS3 protein contains an N-terminal domain similar to the Escherichia coli MoeB protein and a C- terminal segment displaying similarities to the sulfurtransferase rhodanese. MOCS3 is proposed to catalyze both the adenylation and the subsequent generation of a thiocarboxylate group at the C-terminus of the smaller subunit of molybdopterin (MPT) synthase during Moco biosynthesis in humans. Recent studies have shown that the MOCS3 rhodanese-like domain (MOCS3-RLD) catalyzes the transfer of sulfur from thiosulfate to cyanide and is also able to provide the sulfur for the thiocarboxylation of MOCS2A in a defined in vitro system for the generation of MPT from precursor Z. MOCS3-RLD contains four cysteine residues of which only C412 in the six amino acid active loop is conserved in homologous proteins from other organisms. ESI-MS/MS studies gave direct evidence for the formation of a persulfide group that is exclusively formed on C412. Simultaneous mutagenesis of the remaining three cysteine residues showed that none of them is involved in the sulfur transfer reaction in vitro. A disulfide bridge was identified to be formed between C316 and C324, and possible roles of the three noncatalytic cysteine residues are discussed. By ESI-MS/MS a partially gluconoylated N- terminus of the His(6)-tagged MOCS3-RLD was identified (mass increment of 178 Da) which resulted in a heterogeneity of the protein but did not influence sulfurtransferase activity},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LeimkuehlerCharcossetLatouretal.2005,
  author    = {Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Charcosset, M. and Latour, P. and Dorche, C. and Kleppe, S. and Scaglia, F. and Szymczak, I. and Schupp, P. and Hahnewald, Rita and Reiss, J.},
  title     = {Ten novel mutations in the molybdenum cofactor genes MOCS1 and MOCS2 and in vitro characterization of a MOCS2 mutation that abolishes the binding ability of molybdopterin synthase},
  issn      = {0340-6717},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MIM\#252150) is a severe autosomal- recessive disorder with a devastating outcome. The cofactor is the product of a complex biosynthetic pathway involving four different genes (MOCS1, MOCS2, MOCS3 and GEPH). This disorder is caused almost exclusively by mutations in the MOCS1 or MOCS2 genes. Mutations affecting this biosynthetic pathway result in a lethal phenotype manifested by progressive neurological damage via the inactivation of the molybdenum cofactor-dependent enzyme, sulphite oxidase. Here we describe a total of ten novel disease-causing mutations in the MOCS1 and MOCS2 genes. Nine out of these ten mutations were classified as pathogenic in nature, since they create a stop codon, affect constitutive splice site positions, or change strictly conserved motifs. The tenth mutation abolishes the stop codon of the MOCS2B gene, thus elongating the corresponding protein. The mutation was expressed in vitro and was found to abolish the binding affinities of the large subunit of molybdopterin synthase (MOCS2B) for both precursor Z and the small subunit of molybdopterin synthase (MOCS2A)},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeumannSchulteJuenemannetal.2006,
  author    = {Neumann, Meina and Schulte, Marc and J{\"u}nemann, Nora and St{\"o}cklein, Walter F. M. and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke},
  title     = {Rhodobacter capsulatus XdhC is involved in molybdenum cofactor binding and insertion into xanthine dehydrogenase},
  doi       = {10.1074/jbc.M601617200},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Rhodobacter capsulatus xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) is a cytoplasmic enzyme with an (alpha beta) 2 heterodimeric structure that is highly identical to homodimeric eukaryotic xanthine oxidoreductases. The crystal structure revealed that the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) is deeply buried within the protein. A protein involved in Moco insertion and XDH maturation has been identified, which was designated XdhC. XdhC was shown to be essential for the production of active XDH but is not a subunit of the purified enzyme. Here we describe the purification of XdhC and the detailed characterization of its role for XDH maturation. We could show that XdhC binds Moco in stoichiometric amounts, which subsequently can be inserted into Moco-free apo-XDH. A specific interaction between XdhC and XdhB was identified. We show that XdhC is required for the stabilization of the sulfurated form of Moco present in enzymes of the xanthine oxidase family. Our findings imply that enzyme-specific proteins exist for the biogenesis of molybdoenzymes, coordinating Moco binding and insertion into their respective target proteins. So far, the requirement of such proteins for molybdoenzyme maturation has been described only for prokaryotes},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HahnewaldLeimkuehlerVilasecaetal.2006,
  author    = {Hahnewald, Rita and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Vilaseca, Antonia and Acquaviva-Bourdain, Cecile and Lenz, Ulrike and Reiss, Jochen},
  title     = {A novel MOCS2 mutation reveals coordinated expression of the small and large subunit of molybdopterin synthase},
  series = {Molecular genetics and metabolism},
  volume    = {89},
  journal   = {Molecular genetics and metabolism},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {San Diego},
  issn      = {1096-7192},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ymgme.2006.04.008},
  pages     = {210 -- 213},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {The small and large subunits of molybdopterin (MPT) synthase (MOCS2A and MOCS2B), are both encoded by the MOCS2 gene in overlapping and shifted open reading frames (ORFs), which is a highly unusual structure for eukaryotes. Theoretical analysis of genomic sequences suggested that the expression of these overlapping ORFs is facilitated by the use of alternate first exons leading to alternative transcripts. Here, we confirm the existence of these overlapping transcripts experimentally. Further, we identified a deletion in a molybdenum cofactor deficient patient, which removes the start codon for the small subunit (MOCS2A). We observed undisturbed production of both transcripts, while Western blot analysis demonstrated that MOCS2B, the large subunit, is unstable in the absence of MOCS2A. This reveals new insights into the expression of this evolutionary ancient anabolic system.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeumannMittelstaedtIobbiNivoletal.2009,
  author    = {Neumann, Meina and Mittelstaedt, Gerd and Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal and Saggu, Miguel and Lendzian, Friedhelm and Hildebrandt, Peter and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke},
  title     = {A periplasmic aldehyde oxidoreductase represents the first molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide cofactor containing molybdo-flavoenzyme from Escherichia coli},
  issn      = {1742-464X},
  doi       = {10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07000.x},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Three DNA regions carrying genes encoding putative homologs of xanthine dehydrogenases were identified in Escherichia coli, named xdhABC, xdhD, and yagTSRQ. Here, we describe the purification and characterization of gene products of the yagTSRQ operon, a molybdenum-containing iron-sulfur flavoprotein from E. coli, which is located in the periplasm. The 135 kDa enzyme comprised a noncovalent (alpha beta gamma) heterotrimer with a large (78.1 kDa) molybdenum cofactor (Moco)-containing YagR subunit, a medium (33.9 kDa) FAD-containing YagS subunit, and a small (21.0 kDa) 2 x [2Fe2S]-containing YagT subunit. YagQ is not a subunit of the mature enzyme, and the protein is expected to be involved in Moco modification and insertion into YagTSR. Analysis of the form of Moco present in YagTSR revealed the presence of the molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide cofactor. Two different [2Fe2S] clusters, typical for this class of enzyme, were identified by EPR. YagTSR represents the first example of a molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide-containing protein in E. coli. Kinetic characterization of the enzyme revealed that YagTSR converts a broad spectrum of aldehydes, with a preference for aromatic aldehydes. Ferredoxin instead of NAD(+) or molecular oxygen was used as terminal electron acceptor. Complete growth inhibition of E. coli cells devoid of genes from the yagTSRQ operon was observed by the addition of cinnamaldehyde to a low-pH medium. This finding shows that YagTSR might have a role in the detoxification of aromatic aldehydes for E. coli under certain growth conditions.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeumannMittelstaedtSeduketal.2009,
  author    = {Neumann, Meina and Mittelstaedt, Gerd and Seduk, Farida and Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke},
  title     = {MocA is a specific cytidylyltransferase involved in molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide biosynthesis in Escherichia coli},
  issn      = {0021-9258},
  doi       = {10.1074/jbc.M109.008565},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {We have purified and characterized a specific CTP: molybdopterin cytidylyltransferase for the biosynthesis of the molybdopterin (MPT) cytosine dinucleotide (MCD) cofactor in Escherichia coli. The protein, named MocA, shows 22\% amino acid sequence identity to E. coli MobA, the specific GTP: molybdopterin guanylyltransferase for molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide biosynthesis. MocA is essential for the activity of the MCD-containing enzymes aldehyde oxidoreductase Yag-TSR and the xanthine dehydrogenases XdhABC and XdhD. Using a fully defined in vitro assay, we showed that MocA, Mo-MPT, CTP, and MgCl2 are required and sufficient for MCD biosynthesis in vitro. The activity of MocA is specific for CTP; other nucleotides such as ATP and GTP were not utilized. In the defined in vitro system a turnover number of 0.37 +/- 0.01 min(-1) was obtained. A1:1 binding ratio of MocA to Mo-MPT and CTP was determined to monomeric MocA with dissociation constants of 0.23 +/- 0.02 mu M for CTP and 1.17 +/- 0.18 mu M for Mo-MPT. We showed that MocA was also able to convert MPT to MCD in the absence of molybdate, however, with only one catalytic turnover. The addition of molybdate after one turnover gave rise to a higher MCD production, revealing that MCD remains bound to MocA in the absence of molybdate. This work presents the first characterization of a specific enzyme involved in MCD biosynthesis in bacteria.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{DietzelKuperDoebbleretal.2009,
  author    = {Dietzel, Uwe and Kuper, Jochen and Doebbler, Jennifer A. and Schulte, Antje and Truglio, James J. and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Kisker, Caroline},
  title     = {Mechanism of substrate and inhibitor binding of Rhodobacter capsulatus xanthine dehydrogenase},
  issn      = {0021-9258},
  doi       = {10.1074/jbc.M808114200},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Rhodobacter capsulatus xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) is an (alpha beta)(2) heterotetrameric cytoplasmic enzyme that resembles eukaryotic xanthine oxidoreductases in respect to both amino acid sequence and structural fold. To obtain a detailed understanding of the mechanism of substrate and inhibitor binding at the active site, we solved crystal structures of R. capsulatus XDH in the presence of its substrates hypoxanthine, xanthine, and the inhibitor pterin-6- aldehyde using either the inactive desulfo form of the enzyme or an active site mutant (E(B)232Q) to prevent substrate turnover. The hypoxanthine-and xanthine-bound structures reveal the orientation of both substrates at the active site and show the importance of residue GluB-232 for substrate positioning. The oxygen atom at the C-6 position of both substrates is oriented toward Arg(B)-310 in the active site. Thus the substrates bind in an orientation opposite to the one seen in the structure of the reduced enzyme with the inhibitor oxypurinol. The tightness of the substrates in the active site suggests that the intermediate products must exit the binding pocket to allow first the attack of the C-2, followed by oxidation of the C-8 atom to form the final product uric acid. Structural studies of pterin-6-aldehyde, a potent inhibitor of R. capsulatus XDH, contribute further to the understanding of the relative positioning of inhibitors and substrates in the binding pocket. Steady state kinetics reveal a competitive inhibition pattern with a K-i of 103.57 +/- 18.96 nM for pterin-6-aldehyde.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WiethausMuellerNeumannetal.2009,
  author    = {Wiethaus, Jessica and Mueller, Alexandra and Neumann, Meina and Neumann, Sandra and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Narberhaus, Franz and Masepohl, Bernd},
  title     = {Specific interactions between four Molybdenum-binding proteins contribute to Mo-dependent gene regulation in Rhodobacter capsulatus},
  issn      = {0021-9193},
  doi       = {10.1128/Jb.00526-09},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {The phototrophic purple bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus encodes two transcriptional regulators, MopA and MopB, with partially overlapping and specific functions in molybdate-dependent gene regulation. Both MopA and MopB consist of an N-terminal DNA-binding helix-turn-helix domain and a C-terminal molybdate-binding di-MOP domain. They formed homodimers as apo-proteins and in the molybdate-bound state as shown by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) studies, glutaraldehyde cross-linking, gel filtration chromatography, and copurification experiments. Y2H studies suggested that both the DNA- binding and the molybdate-binding domains contribute to dimer formation. Analysis of molybdate binding to MopA and MopB revealed a binding stoichiometry of four molybdate oxyanions per homodimer. Specific interaction partners of MopA and MopB were the molybdate transporter ATPase ModC and the molbindin-like Mop protein, respectively. Like other molbindins, the R. capsulatus Mop protein formed hexamers, which were stabilized by binding of six molybdate oxyanions per hexamer. Heteromer formation of MopA and MopB was shown by Y2H studies and copurification experiments. Reporter gene activity of a strictly MopA-dependent mop-lacZ fusion in mutant strains defective for either mopA, mopB, or both suggested that MopB negatively modulates expression of the mop promoter. We propose that depletion of the active MopA homodimer pool by formation of MopA-MopB heteromers might represent a fine-tuning mechanism controlling mop gene expression.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SpricigoDronovLisdatetal.2009,
  author    = {Spricigo, Roberto and Dronov, Roman and Lisdat, Fred and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Scheller, Frieder W. and Wollenberger, Ursula},
  title     = {Electrocatalytic sulfite biosensor with human sulfite oxidase co-immobilized with cytochrome c in a polyelectrolyte-containing multilayer},
  issn      = {1618-2642},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00216-008-2432-y},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {An efficient electrocatalytic biosensor for sulfite detection was developed by co-immobilizing sulfite oxidase and cytochrome c with polyaniline sulfonic acid in a layer-by-layer assembly. QCM, UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry revealed increasing loading of electrochemically active protein with the formation of multilayers. The sensor operates reagentless at low working potential. A catalytic oxidation current was detected in the presence of sulfite at the modified gold electrode, polarized at +0.1 V ( vs. Ag/AgCl 1 M KCl). The stability of the biosensor performance was characterized and optimized. A 17-bilayer electrode has a linear range between 1 and 60 mu M sulfite with a sensitivity of 2.19 mA M-1 sulfite and a response time of 2 min. The electrode retained a stable response for 3 days with a serial reproducibility of 3.8\% and lost 20\% of sensitivity after 5 days of operation. It is possible to store the sensor in a dry state for more than 2 months. The multilayer electrode was used for determination of sulfite in unspiked and spiked samples of red and white wine. The recovery and the specificity of the signals were evaluated for each sample.},
  language  = {en}
}