Anammox Organism KSU-1 Expresses a Novel His/DOPA Ligated Cytochrome c

Anammox is a bacterial energy metabolic process that forms N2 gas from nitrite and ammonium ions. The enzymatic mechanisms of anammox have been gradually revealed; however, the electron transport chain in anammox bacteria remains poorly understood. In the present study, we purified and characterized two low-molecular-weight c-type cytochromes from an enriched culture of the anammox bacterium strain, KSU-1. Their genes, KSU1_B0428 and KSU1_C0855, were identified in the KSU-1 genome, and their recombinant proteins were characterized. KSU1_B0428 is a typical c-type cytochrome with a His/Met coordinated heme, acting as an electron transfer protein. In contrast, KSU1_C0855 could not be assigned as a known cytochrome and its heme was suggested to have an uncommon axial ligand set. Crystal structural analyses of C0855 clearly showed that its heme iron is coordinated by His15 as a fifth ligand. Moreover, the sixth coordination site is occupied by the aromatic ring of Tyr60, and an unassignable electron density that is inseparable with that of aromatic carbon of Tyr60 was found. The additional electron density was assigned to an O atom by molecular mass analyses. Therefore, Tyr60 would be chemically modified to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and bound to the Fe atom. We revealed that an anammox bacterium strain KSU-1 expresses a novel cytochrome c having an unprecedented His/3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine coordinating heme. The expression of the novel c-type cytochrome might be required for the redox reaction of the anammox process. [Display omitted] •Two low-molecular-weight c-type cytochromes were purified from an anammox bacterium.•One was a typical c-type cytochrome with a His/Met coordinated heme.•The other was presumed to have a heme with a unique ligand set.•Crystallography showed that DOPA was ligated to its heme.•This is the first example of c-type cytochrome which has a DOPA serving as a ligand.