Nj. Cosper et al., X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis of Fe(II) and Cu(II) forms of a herbicide-degrading alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase, J BIOL I CH, 4(1), 1999, pp. 122-129
The first step in the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D
) by Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 is catalyzed by the alpha-ketoglutarate (alp
ha-KG)-dependent dioxygenase TfdA. Previously, EPR and ESEEM studies on ina
ctive Cu(II)-substituted TfdA suggested a mixture of nitrogen/oxygen coordi
nation with two imidazole-like ligands. Differences between the spectra for
Cu TfdA and alpha-KG- and 2.4-D-treated samples were interpreted as a rear
rangement of the g-tensor principal axis system. Herein, we report the use
of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to further characterize the metal co
ordination environment of Cu TMA as well as that in the active, wild-type F
e(II) enzyme. The EXAFS data are interpreted in terms of four NIO ligands (
two imidazole-like) in the Cu TfdA sample and six N/O ligands tone or two i
midazole-like) in the Fe TfdA sample. Addition of alpha-KG results in no si
gnificant structural change in coordination fur Cu or Fe TFdA. However, add
ition of 2,4-D results in a decrease in the number of imidazole ligands in
both Cu and Fe TfdA. Since this change is seen bath in the Fe and Cu EXAFS,
loss of one histidine ligand upon 2,4-D addition best describes the phenom
enon. These XAS data clearly demonstrate that changes occur in the atomic e
nvironment of the metallocenter upon substrate binding.