摘要
The mitochondrial membrane-bound enzyme Clock-1 (CLK-1) extends the average longevity of mice and Caenorhabditis elegans, as demonstrated for Δclk-1 constructs for both organisms. Such an apparent impact on aging and the presence of a carboxylate-bridged diiron center in the enzyme inspired this work. We expressed a soluble human CLK-1 (hCLK-1) fusion protein with an N-terminal immunoglobulin binding domain of protein G (GB1). Inclusion of the solubility tag allowed for thorough characterization of the carboxylate-bridged diiron active site of the resulting GB1-hCLK-1 by spectroscopic and kinetic methods. Both UV-visible and Mössbauer experiments provide unambiguous evidence that GB1-hCLK-1 functions as a 5-demethoxyubiquinone-hydroxylase, utilizing its carboxylate-bridged diiron center. The binding of DMQ n (n = 0 or 2) to GB1-hCLK-1 mediates reduction of the diiron center by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and initiates O 2 activation for subsequent DMQ hydroxylation. Deployment of DMQ to mediate reduction of the diiron center in GB1-hCLK-1 improves substrate specificity and diminishes consumption of NADH that is uncoupled from substrate oxidation. Both V max and k cat /K M for DMQ hydroxylation increase when DMQ 0 is replaced by DMQ 2 as the substrate, which demonstrates that an isoprenoid side chain enhances enzymatic hydroxylation and improves catalytic efficiency. © 2013 American Chemical Society.