The iron-sulfur centers of the soluble [NiFeSe] hydrogenase, from Desulfovibrio baculatus (DSM 1743). EPR and Mössbauer characterization.

The soluble (cytoplasmic plus periplasmic) Ni/Fe-S/Se-containing hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio baculatus (DSM 1743) was purified from cells grown in an 57Fe-enriched medium, and its iron-sulfur centers were extensively characterized by Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopies. The data analysis excludes the presence of a [3Fe-4S] center, either in the native (as isolated) or in the hydrogen-reduced states. In the native state, the non-heme iron atoms are arranged as two diamagnetic [4Fe-4S]2+ centers. Upon reduction, these two centers exhibit distinct and unusual Mössbauer spectroscopic parameters. The centers were found to have similar mid-point potentials (approximately -315 mV) as determined by oxidation-reduction titratins followed by EPR.