This is a repository copy of Redox-switchable siderophore anchor enables reversible artificial metalloenzyme assembly.

To acquire essential Fe(III), bacteria produce and secrete siderophores with high affinity and selectivity for Fe(III) to mediate its uptake into the cell. Here, we show that the periplasmic binding protein CeuE of Campylobacter jejuni, which was previously thought to bind the Fe(III) complex of the hexadentate siderophore enterobactin (Kd ∼ 0.4 ± 0.1 µM), preferentially binds the Fe(III) complex of the tetradentate enterobactin hydrolysis product bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl-l-Ser) (H5-bisDHBS) (Kd = 10.1 ± 3.8 nM). The protein selects Λ-configured [Fe(bisDHBS)]2− from a pool of diastereomeric Fe(III)-bisDHBS species that includes complexes with metal-to-ligand ratios of 1:1 and 2:3. Cocrystal structures show that, in addition to electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding, [Fe(bisDHBS)]2− binds through coordination of His227 and Tyr288 to the iron center. Similar binding is observed for the Fe(III) complex of the bidentate hydrolysis product 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl-l-Ser, [Fe(monoDHBS)2]3−. The mutation of His227 and Tyr288 to noncoordinating residues (H227L/Y288F) resulted in a substantial loss of affinity for [Fe(bisDHBS)]2− (Kd ∼ 0.5 ± 0.2 µM). These results suggest a previously unidentified role for CeuE within the Fe(III) uptake system of C. jejuni, provide a molecular-level understanding of the underlying binding pocket adaptations, and rationalize reports on the use of enterobactin hydrolysis products by C. jejuni, Vibrio cholerae, and other bacteria with homologous periplasmic binding proteins.

Iron-bound structure: The ferric complex of a tetradentate siderophore mimic was synthesized and co-crystallized with the periplasmic binding protein CeuE of Campylobacter jejuni. In addition to electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the binding pocket and the substrate, the structure showed direct coordination of two amino acid side chains to the Fe(III) center (orange, see figure).

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is an important Gram-positive human pathogen that causes millions of infections worldwide with an increasing occurrence of antibiotic resistance. Fe acquisition is a crucial virulence determinant in Spn; further, Spn relies on exogenous Fe III -siderophore scavenging to meet nutritional Fe needs. Recent studies suggest that the human catecholamine stress hormone, norepinephrine (NE), facilitates Fe acquisition in Spn under conditions of transferrin-mediated Fe starvation. Here we show that the solute binding lipoprotein PiuA from the piu Fe acquisition ABC transporter PiuBCDA, previously described as an Fe-hemin binding protein, binds tetradentate catechol Fe III complexes, including NE and the hydrolysis products of enterobactin. Two protein-derived ligands (H238, Y300) create a coordinately-saturated Fe III complex, which parallel recent studies in the Gram-negative intestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Our in vitro studies using NMR spectroscopy and 54 Fe LC-ICP-MS confirm the Fe III can move from transferrin to apo-PiuA in a NE-dependent manner. Structural analysis of PiuA Fe III -bis-catechol and Ga III -bis-catechol and Ga III -(NE)2 complexes by NMR spectroscopy reveals only localized structural perturbations in PiuA upon ligand binding, largely consistent with recent descriptions of other solute binding proteins of type II ABC transporters. We speculate that tetradentate Fe III complexes formed by mono-and bis-catechol species are important Fe sources in Gram-positive human pathogens, since PiuA functions in the same way as SstD from Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacteria use siderophores to mediate the transport of essential Fe(III) into the cell. In Campylobacter jejuni the periplasmic binding protein CeuE, an integral part of the Fe(III) transport system, has adapted to bind tetradentate siderophores using a His and a Tyr side chain to complete the Fe(III) coordination. A series of tetradentate siderophore mimics was synthesized in which the length of the linker between the two iron-binding catecholamide units was increased from four carbon atoms (4-LICAM4−) to five, six and eight (5-, 6-, 8-LICAM4−, respectively). Co-crystal structures with CeuE showed that the inter-planar angles between the iron-binding catecholamide units in the 5-, 6- and 8-LICAM4− structures are very similar (111°, 110° and 110°) and allow for an optimum fit into the binding pocket of CeuE, the inter-planar angle in the structure of 4-LICAM4− is significantly smaller (97°) due to restrictions imposed by the shorter linker. Accordingly, the protein-binding affinity was found to be slightly higher for 5- compared to 4-LICAM4− but decreases for 6- and 8-LICAM4−. The optimum linker length of five matches that present in natural siderophores such as enterobactin and azotochelin. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the relative importance of the Fe(III)-coordinating residues H227 and Y288.

Nonpurine xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) inhibitors represent important alternatives to the purine analogue allopurinol, which is still the most widely used drug in the treatment of conditions associated with elevated uric acid levels in the blood. By condensing mono-, di- and trihydroxybenzaldehydes with aromatic thiosemicarbazides, aryl hydrazides and dithiocarbazates, three series of structurally related Schiff bases were synthesised, characterised and tested for XOR inhibitory activity. Hydroxy substitution in the para-position of the benzaldehyde component was found to confer high inhibitory activities. Acyl hydrazones were generally less potent than thiocarbonyl-containing Schiff bases. Within the thiosemicarbazone series, chloro and cyano substituents in the para-position of the thiosemicarbazide unit increased activities further, up to potencies approximately four-times higher than that of the benchmark allopurinol, as measured under the same assay conditions. In order to illustrate the potential of the Schiff bases to bind directly to the molybdenum centre in the active site of the enzyme, a representative example (H₂L) of each inhibitor series was co-ordinated to a cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) unit, and the resulting complexes, [MoO₂(L)MeOH], were structurally characterised. Subsequent steady-state kinetic investigations, however, indicated mixed-type inhibition, similar to that observed for inhibitors known to bind within the substrate access channel of the enzyme, remote from the Mo centre. Enzyme co-crystallisation studies are thus required to determine the exact binding mode. Finally, the coordination of representative inhibitors to copper(II) gave rise to significantly decreased IC₅₀ values, revealing an additive effect that merits further investigation.

Due to rising resistance, new antibacterial strategies are needed, including methods for targeted antibiotic release. As targeting vectors, chelating molecules called siderophores that are released by bacteria to acquire iron have been investigated for conjugation to antibacterials, leading to the clinically approved drug cefiderocol. The use of smallmolecule catalysts for prodrug activation within cells has shown promise in recent years, and here we investigate siderophore-linked ruthenium catalysts for the activation of antibacterial prodrugs within cells. Moxifloxacin-based prodrugs were synthesised, and their catalyst-mediated activation was demonstrated under anaerobic, biologically relevant conditions. In the absence of catalyst, decreased antibacterial activities were observed compared to moxifloxacin versus Escherichia coli K12 (BW25113). A series of siderophore-linked ruthenium catalysts were investigated for prodrug activation, all of which displayed a combinative antibacterial effect with the prodrug, whereas a representative example displayed little toxicity against mammalian cell lines. By employing complementary bacterial growth assays, conjugates containing siderophore units based on catechol and azotochelin were found to be most promising for intracellular prodrug activation.

Anchoringahomogeneous catalyst onto ah eterogeneous support facilitatess eparation of the product from the catalyst, and catalyst-substratei nteractions can also modify reactivity.H erein we describe the synthesis of composite materialsc omprising carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 )a sthe heterogeneouss upport and the well-established homogeneous catalyst moiety [Cp*IrCl] + (where Cp* = h 5 -C 5 Me 5 ), commonly used forc atalytic hydrogenation. Coordination of [Cp*IrCl] + to g-C 3 N 4 occursd irectly at exposed edge sites with a k 2 N,N' binding motif, leading to ap rimary inner coordination sphere analogous to known homogeneous complexeso ft he generalc lass [Cp*IrCl(NN-k 2 N,N')] + (where N,N' = ab identate nitrogen ligand). Hydrogenation of unsaturateds ubstrates using the composite catalysti ss elective for terminal alkenes,w hich is attributedt ot he restricted steric environmento ft he outer coordination spherea tt he edge-sites of g-C 3 N 4 .