Chromogenic assessment of the three molybdo-selenoprotein formate dehydrogenases in Escherichia coli

Stefanie Hartwig, Constanze Pinske, R. Gary Sawers (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Escherichia coli synthesizes three selenocysteine-dependent formate dehydrogenases (Fdh) that also have a molybdenum cofactor. Fdh-H couples formate oxidation with proton reduction in the formate hydrogenlyase (FHL) complex. The activity of Fdh-H in solution can be measured with artificial redox dyes but, unlike Fdh-O and Fdh-N, it has never been observed by chromogenic activity staining after non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Here, we demonstrate that Fdh-H activity is present in extracts of cells from stationary phase cultures and forms a single, fast-migrating species. The activity is oxygen labile during electrophoresis explaining why it has not been previously observed as a discreet activity band. The appearance of Fdh-H activity was dependent on an active selenocysteine incorporation system, but was independent of the [NiFe]-hydrogenases (Hyd), 1, 2 or 3. We also identified new active complexes of Fdh-N and Fdh-O during fermentative growth. The findings of this study indicate that Fdh-H does not form a strong complex with other Fdh or Hyd enzymes, which is in line with it being able to deliver electrons to more than one redox-active enzyme complex.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)62-67
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemistry and Biophysics Reports
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2015

Keywords

  • Chromogenic activity staining
  • Enzyme complexes
  • Formate dehydrogenase H
  • Stationary phase
  • [NiFe]-hydrogenase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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