The Human Iron–Sulfur Assembly Complex Catalyzes the Synthesis of 2Fe-2S Clusters on ISCU2 That Can Be Transferred to Acceptor Molecules

摘要

Iron–sulfur (Fe–S) clusters are essential protein cofactors for most life forms. In human mitochondria, the core Fe–S biosynthetic enzymatic complex (called SDUF) consists of NFS1, ISD11, ISCU2, and frataxin (FXN) protein components. Few mechanistic details about how this complex synthesizes Fe–S clusters and how these clusters are delivered to targets are known. Here circular dichroism and Mössbauer spectroscopies were used to reveal details of the Fe–S cluster assembly reaction on the SDUF complex. SDUF reactions generated [2Fe-2S] cluster intermediates that readily converted to stable [2Fe-2S] clusters bound to uncomplexed ISCU2. Similar reactions that included the apo Fe–S acceptor protein human ferredoxin (FDX1) resulted in formation of [2Fe-2S]-ISCU2 rather than [2Fe-2S]-FDX1. Subsequent addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) induced transfer of the cluster from ISCU2 to FDX1, suggesting that [2Fe-2S]-ISCU2 is an intermediate. Reactions that initially included DTT rapidly generated [2Fe-2S]-FDX1 and bypassed formation of [2Fe-2S]-ISCU2. In the absence of apo-FDX1, incubation of [2Fe-2S]-ISCU2 with DTT generated [4Fe-4S]-ISCU2 species. Together, these results conflict with a recent report of stable [4Fe-4S] cluster formation on the SDUF complex. Rather, they support a model in which SDUF builds transient [2Fe-2S] cluster intermediates that generate clusters on sulfur-containing molecules, including uncomplexed ISCU2. Additional small molecule or protein factors are required for the transfer of these clusters to Fe–S acceptor proteins or the synthesis of [4Fe-4S] clusters.