Formate oxidation to carbon dioxide is a key reaction in one-carbon compound metabolism, and its reverse reaction represents the first step in carbon assimilation in the acetogenic and methanogenic branches of many anaerobic organisms. The molybdenum-containing dehydrogenase FdsABG is a soluble NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase and a member of the NADH dehydrogenase superfamily. Here, we present the first structure of the FdsBG subcomplex of the cytosolic FdsABG formate dehydrogenase from the hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium Cupriavidus necator H16 both with and without bound NADH. The structures revealed that the two iron-sulfur clusters, Fe4S4 in FdsB and Fe2S2 in FdsG, are closer to the FMN than they are in other NADH dehydrogenases. Rapid kinetic studies and EPR measurements of rapid freeze-quenched samples of the NADH reduction of FdsBG identified a neutral flavin semiquinone, FMNH•, not previously observed to participate in NADH-mediated reduction of the FdsABG holoenzyme. We found that this semiquinone forms through the transfer of one electron from the fully reduced FMNH−, initially formed via NADH-mediated reduction, to the Fe2S2 cluster. This Fe2S2 cluster is not part of the on-path chain of iron-sulfur clusters connecting the FMN of FdsB with the active-site molybdenum center of FdsA. According to the NADH-bound structure, the nicotinamide ring stacks onto the re-face of the FMN. However, NADH binding significantly reduced the electron density for the isoalloxazine ring of FMN and induced a conformational change in residues of the FMN-binding pocket that display peptide-bond flipping upon NAD+ binding in proper NADH dehydrogenases.

The coupling of transcription and translation is more than mere translation of an mRNA that is still being transcribed. The discovery of physical interactions between RNA polymerase and ribosomes has spurred renewed interest into this long-standing paradigm of bacterial molecular biology. Here, we provide a concise presentation of recent insights gained from super-resolution microscopy, biochemical, and structural work, including cryo-EM studies. Based on the presented data, we put forward a dynamic model for the interaction between RNA polymerase and ribosomes, in which the interactions are repeatedly formed and broken. Furthermore, we propose that long intervening nascent RNA will loop out and away during the forming the interactions between the RNA polymerase and ribosomes. By comparing the effect of the direct interactions between RNA polymerase and ribosomes with those that transcription factors NusG and RfaH mediate, we submit that two distinct modes of coupling exist: Factor-free and factor-mediated coupling. Finally, we provide a possible framework for transcription-translation coupling and elude to some open questions in the field.

High energy photon beams (greater than 10 MV) are routinely employed in clinical use for treatment of deep-seated tumors 1,2) . However, they induce undesirable photonuclear and electronuclear reactions 3) that produce neutrons and radioisotopes. Neutron production increases with photon energy, and the induced radioactivity depends on the neutron radiation level 3,4) . This phenomenon induces potential exposure for radiation therapists due to neutron, gamma and beta radiations emitted from decay of activation products 1, 3) . As occupational doses are of concern, undesirable photoneutrons should be minimized and actions taken to reduce unnecessary exposure. Neutron productionThe minimum energy required to remove a neutron from a nucleus decreases with increase in target atomic number 5) and lies between 6 to 16 MeV for nuclei heavier than carbon 6) . Linear accelerators generate high energy photon beams by accelerating electrons to 6-25 MV and then converting them to therapeutic X-rays. For photon energies below 10 MV, minimal photonuclear reaction occurs, and neutron production is negligible 5) . Neutrons are also produced by photodisintegration processes. However, since these have fewer interactions with the nuclei of the accelerator head components 7) , photonuclear reactions are considered to be the main cause of neutron contamination in external beam radiotherapy.Neutron production takes place inside machinery components of the linear accelerator head and the bodies of patients, as well as in the walls of the treatment room [1][2][3][4][8][9][10][11] . The target, beam collimation systems and multi-leaf collimators (MLCs) are the major sources of neutron production where the photon This study estimated gamma dose contributions to radiation therapists during high energy, whole pelvic, photon beam treatments and determined the optimum room entry times, in terms of safety of radiation therapists. Methods: Two types of technique (anteriorposterior opposing and 3-field technique) were studied. An Elekta Precise treatment system, operating up to 18 MV, was investigated. Measurements with an area monitoring device (a Mini 900R radiation monitor) were performed, to calculate gamma dose rates around the radiotherapy facility. Measurements inside the treatment room were performed when the linear accelerator was in use. The doses received by radiation therapists were estimated, and optimum room entry times were determined. Results: The highest gamma dose rates were approximately 7 μSv/h inside the treatment room, while the doses in the control room were close to background (~0 μSv/h) for all techniques. The highest personal dose received by radiation therapists was estimated at 5 mSv/yr. To optimize protection, radiation therapists should wait for up to11 min after beam-off prior to room entry. Conclusions: The potential risks to radiation therapists with standard safety procedures were well below internationally recommended values, but risks could be further decreased by delaying room entry times. Dependent on the te...

Here, we report recent progress our laboratories have made in understanding the maturation and reaction mechanism of the cytosolic and NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator. Our recent work has established that the enzyme is fully capable of catalyzing the reverse of the physiological reaction, namely, the reduction of CO2 to formate using NADH as a source of reducing equivalents. The steady-state kinetic parameters in the forward and reverse directions are consistent with the expected Haldane relationship. The addition of an NADH-regenerating system consisting of glucose and glucose dehydrogenase increases the yield of formate approximately 10-fold. This work points to possible ways of optimizing the reverse of the enzyme’s physiological reaction with commercial potential as an effective means of CO2 remediation. New insight into the maturation of the enzyme comes from the recently reported structure of the FdhD sulfurase. In E. coli, FdhD transfers a catalytically essential sulfur to the maturing molybdenum cofactor prior to insertion into the apoenzyme of formate dehydrogenase FdhF, which has high sequence similarity to the molybdenum-containing domain of the C. necator FdsA. The FdhD structure suggests that the molybdenum cofactor may first be transferred from the sulfurase to the C-terminal cap domain of apo formate dehydrogenase, rather than being transferred directly to the body of the apoenzyme. Closing of the cap domain over the body of the enzymes delivers the Mo-cofactor into the active site, completing the maturation of formate dehydrogenase. The structural and kinetic characterization of the NADH reduction of the FdsBG subcomplex of the enzyme provides further insights in reversing of the formate dehydrogenase reaction. Most notably, we observe the transient formation of a neutral semiquinone FMNH·, a species that has not been observed previously with holoenzyme. After initial reduction of the FMN of FdsB by NADH to the hydroquinone (with a kred of 680 s−1 and Kd of 190 µM), one electron is rapidly transferred to the Fe2S2 cluster of FdsG, leaving FMNH·. The Fe4S4 cluster of FdsB does not become reduced in the process. These results provide insight into the function not only of the C. necator formate dehydrogenase but also of other members of the NADH dehydrogenase superfamily of enzymes to which it belongs.

The soluble molybdenum‐containing, NAD+‐dependent formate dehydrogenase FdsDABG from Cupriavidus necator belongs to the NADH dehydrogenase superfamily and catalyzes the oxidation of formate to CO2 and the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. Here, we present the first description of the crystal structure of the FdsBG subcomplex with and without bound NADH. Compared to other NADH dehydrogenases, FMN is closer to both iron‐sulfur clusters, Fe4S4 in FdsB and Fe2S2 in FdsG. Based on the NADH‐bound structure, we conclude that the nicotinamide ring of NADH can only access the re‐face of FMN. However, the binding of NADH reduces the affinity of the isoalloxazine ring of FMN and allows for a conformational change of the residues that are known to undergo an oxidation state‐dependent peptide flip in canonical NADH dehydrogenases.