Regulations of mitoNEET by the key redox homeostasis molecule glutathione.

Human mitoNEET (mNT) and CISD2 are two NEET proteins characterized by an atypical [2Fe-2S] cluster coordination involving three cysteines and one histidine. They act as redox switches with an active state linked to the oxidation of their cluster. In the present study, we show that reduced glutathione but also free thiol-containing molecules such as β-mercaptoethanol can induce a loss of the mNT cluster under aerobic conditions, while CISD2 cluster appears more resistant.

Evidence for [2Fe-2S] and Linear [3Fe-4S] Clusters in a Unique Family of Glycine/Cysteine-Rich Fe-S Proteins from Giant Viruses.

We have discovered a protein with an amino acid composition exceptionally rich in glycine and cysteine residues in the giant virus mimivirus. This small 6 kDa protein is among the most abundant proteins in the icosahedral 0.75 μm viral particles; it has no predicted function but is probably essential for infection.

A complete biomimetic iron-sulfur cubane redox series.

Synthetic iron-sulfur cubanes are models for biological cofactors, which are essential to delineate oxidation states in the more complex enzymatic systems. However, a complete series of [FeS] complexes spanning all redox states accessible by 1-electron transformations of the individual iron atoms ( = 0-4+) has never been prepared, deterring the methodical comparison of structure and spectroscopic signature. Here, we demonstrate that the use of a bulky arylthiolate ligand promoting the encapsulation of alkali-metal cations in the vicinity of the cubane enables the synthesis of such a series.

The Ruthenium Nitrosyl Moiety in Clusters: Trinuclear Linear μ-Hydroxido Magnesium(II)-Diruthenium(II), μ-Oxido Trinuclear Diiron(III)-Ruthenium(II), and Tetranuclear μ-Oxido Trigallium(III)-Ruthenium(II) Complexes.

The ruthenium nitrosyl moiety, {RuNO}, is important as a potential releasing agent of nitric oxide and is of inherent interest in coordination chemistry. Typically, {RuNO} is found in mononuclear complexes. Herein we describe the synthesis and characterization of several multimetal cluster complexes that contain this unit.