Zumft WG.
Biogenesis of the bacterial respiratory CuA,
Cu-S enzyme nitrous oxide reductase
J Mol Microbiol
Biotechnol 10:154-166 (2005)
Nitrous oxide reductase (NosZ, EC 1.7.99.6) is the
terminal oxidoreductase of a respiratory electron transfer chain that
transforms nitrous oxide to dinitrogen. The enzyme carries six Cu
atoms. Two
are arranged in the mixed-valent binuclear CuA site, and
four make
up the µ4-sulfide bridged Cu cluster, CuZ.
The
biogenesis of a catalytically active NosZ requires auxiliary functions
for
metal center assembly in the periplasm. Both, Tat and Sec pathways
share the
task to transport the various Nos proteins to their functional sites.
Biogenesis of NosZ depends on an ABC transporter complex and the
periplasmic Cu
chaperone NosL. Sustaining whole-cell NosZ function depends on the
periplasmic,
FAD-containing protein NosX, and the membrane-bound iron-sulfur
flavoprotein
NosR. Most components with a biogenetic function are now amenable to
structural
studies.