Nature utilizes [FeFe]-hydrogenase
enzymes to catalyze the interconversion
between H2 and protons and electrons. Catalysis occurs
at the H-cluster, a carbon monoxide-, cyanide-, and dithiomethylamine-coordinated
2Fe subcluster bridged via a cysteine to a [4Fe-4S] cluster. Biosynthesis
of this unique metallocofactor is accomplished by three maturase enzymes
denoted HydE, HydF, and HydG. HydE and HydG belong to the radical S-adenosylmethionine superfamily of enzymes and synthesize
the nonprotein ligands of the H-cluster. These enzymes interact with
HydF, a GTPase that acts as a scaffold or carrier protein during 2Fe
subcluster assembly. Prior characterization of HydF demonstrated the
protein exists in both dimeric and tetrameric states and coordinates
both [4Fe-4S]2+/+ and [2Fe-2S]2+/+ clusters
[Shepard, E. M., Byer, A. S., Betz, J. N., Peters, J. W., and Broderick,
J. B. (2016) Biochemistry 55, 3514–3527].
Herein, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is utilized to characterize
the [2Fe-2S]+ and [4Fe-4S]+ clusters bound to
HydF. Examination of spin relaxation times using pulsed EPR in HydF
samples exhibiting both [4Fe-4S]+ and [2Fe-2S]+ cluster EPR signals supports a model in which the two cluster types
either are bound to widely separated sites on HydF or are not simultaneously
bound to a single HydF species. Gel filtration chromatographic analyses
of HydF spectroscopic samples strongly suggest the [2Fe-2S]+ and [4Fe-4S]+ clusters are coordinated to the dimeric
form of the protein. Lastly, we examined the 2Fe subcluster-loaded
form of HydF and showed the dimeric state is responsible for [FeFe]-hydrogenase
activation. Together, the results indicate a specific role for the
HydF dimer in the H-cluster biosynthesis pathway.