Manganese redox chemistry is fundamental to biological processes at molecular, cellular and environmental scales, from antioxidant defense to oxygenic photosynthesis. Biomedically important enzymes including Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), Mn catalase (MnC), and oxalate oxidase (OXO) require a catalytic manganese cofactor for their biological function, yet the molecular mechanisms involved in delivering the essential metal ion are just beginning to be studied in detail. The goal of this proposal is to advance our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the metal-binding maturation of Mn metalloenzymes, including MnSOD. In vitro methods (including fluorescence monitored metal uptake kinetics) will be complemented by an analysis of processes and proteins required for metal binding by manganese metalloenzymes in vivo. This work is fundamental to understanding the role of manganese trafficking in human health and disease. Further, understanding the metal binding mechanism of the ubiquitous antioxidant metalloenzyme MnSOD may contribute new insight into biological defenses against oxidative stress, a key factor in aging and neurodegenerative disorders. This work may also shed light on diseases of metal homeostasis in which metal misincorporation occurs. Roles of manganese in pathogenesis will be explored through the expression and molecular characterization of manganese catalase homologs mined from the genome of a medically important microbial pathogen, the enterohaemorraghic E. coli O157:H7. Further, the role of high-valent manganese complexes in enzyme catalysis will be investigated by applying a combination of advanced spectroscopic methods and rapid kinetics to probe the active site chemistry of oxalate oxidase.

Public Health Relevance

Manganese is an element that plays many essential roles in health and disease. One of the important aims of this proposal is to investigate how living cells specifically deliver manganese to manganese-dependent enzymes so that they can perform their biological functions, providing important new insight into processes underlying aging and neurodegenerative disorders. The role of manganese in the virulence of the foodborne pathogen, E. coli O157:H7, will also be explored, and the mechanisms of manganese catalysis will be investigated in oxalate oxidase, an enzyme that is important in clinical bioanalytical chemistry.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM042680-19
Application #
7808061
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function A Study Section (MSFA)
Program Officer
Fabian, Miles
Project Start
1989-07-01
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2010-03-01
Budget End
2011-02-28
Support Year
19
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$294,536
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
Whittaker, James W (2016) Intracellular trafficking of the pyridoxal cofactor. Implications for health and metabolic disease. Arch Biochem Biophys 592:20-6
Whittaker, Mei M; Penmatsa, Aravind; Whittaker, James W (2015) The Mtm1p carrier and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor trafficking in yeast mitochondria. Arch Biochem Biophys 568:64-70
Coates, Christopher S; Milikisiyants, Sergey; Chatterjee, Ruchira et al. (2015) Two-dimensional HYSCORE spectroscopy of superoxidized manganese catalase: a model for the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II. J Phys Chem B 119:4905-16
Whittaker, Mei M; Whittaker, James W (2014) Expression and purification of recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial carrier protein YGR257Cp (Mtm1p). Protein Expr Purif 93:77-86
Whittaker, James W (2013) Cell-free protein synthesis: the state of the art. Biotechnol Lett 35:143-52
Whittaker, Mei M; Whittaker, James W (2012) Metallation state of human manganese superoxide dismutase expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Arch Biochem Biophys 523:191-7
McConnell, Iain L; Grigoryants, Vladimir M; Scholes, Charles P et al. (2012) EPR-ENDOR characterization of (17O, 1H, 2H) water in manganese catalase and its relevance to the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II. J Am Chem Soc 134:1504-12
Whittaker, Mei M; Lerch, Thomas F; Kirillova, Olga et al. (2011) Subunit dissociation and metal binding by Escherichia coli apo-manganese superoxide dismutase. Arch Biochem Biophys 505:213-25
Whittaker, James W (2011) Non-heme manganese catalase - The 'other' catalase. Arch Biochem Biophys :
Whittaker, James W (2010) Metal uptake by manganese superoxide dismutase. Biochim Biophys Acta 1804:298-307

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