Probing intermediates in the activation cycle of [NiFe] hydrogenase by infrared spectroscopy: the Ni-SI(r) state and its light sensitivity

The [NiFe] hydrogenase from the sulphate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F is reversibly inhibited in the presence of molecular oxygen. A key intermediate in the reactivation process, Ni-SI(r), provides the link between fully oxidized (Ni-A, Ni-B) and active (Ni-SI(a), Ni-C and Ni-R) forms of hydrogenase. In this work Ni-SI(r) was found to be light-sensitive (T ≤ 110 K), similar to the active Ni-C and the CO-inhibited states. Transition to the final photoproduct state (Ni-SL) was shown to involve an additional transient light-induced state (Ni-SI(1961)). Rapid scan kinetic infrared measurements provided activation energies for the transition from Ni-SL to Ni-SI(r) in protonated as well as in deuterated samples. The inhibitor CO was found not to react with the active site of the Ni-SL state. The wavelength dependence of the Ni-SI(r) photoconversion was examined in the range between 410 and 680 nm. Light-induced effects were associated with a nickel-centred electronic transition, possibly involving a change in the spin state of nickel (Ni(2+)). In addition, at T ≤ 40 K the CN(−) stretching vibrations of Ni-SL were found to be dependent on the colour of the monochromatic light used to irradiate the species, suggesting a change in the interaction of the hydrogen-bonding network of the surrounding amino acids. A possible mechanism for the photochemical process, involving displacement of the oxygen-based ligand, is discussed. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00775-009-0566-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.