Iron-sulfur proteins: new roles for old clusters

Curr Opin Chem Biol. 1998 Apr;2(2):173-81. doi: 10.1016/s1367-5931(98)80058-6.

Abstract

Several major advances in our understanding of the structure, function and properties of biological iron-sulfur clusters have occurred in the past year. These include a new structural type of cluster in the inappropriately named prismane protein, the establishment of redox-mediated [Fe2S2]2+ <--> [Fe4S4]2+ cluster conversions, and the characterization of valence-delocalized [Fe2S2]+ and all ferrous clusters with [Fe2S2]0, [Fe3S4]2- and [Fe4S4]0 cores. The emergence of novel types of redox, regulatory and enzymatic roles have also raised the possibility of iron-sulfur clusters mediating two electron redox processes, coupling proton and electron transfer, and catalyzing disulfide reduction and reductive cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine via sulfur-based cluster chemistry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nitrogenase / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sulfur / chemistry

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins
  • prismane protein, Desulfovibrio vulgaris
  • Sulfur
  • Iron
  • Nitrogenase