Dph3 Enables Aerobic Diphthamide Biosynthesis by Donating One Iron Atom to Transform a [3Fe-4S] to a [4Fe-4S] Cluster in Dph1-Dph2

All radical S-adenosylmethionine (radical-SAM) enzymes, including the noncanonical radical-SAM enzyme diphthamide biosynthetic enzyme Dph1-Dph2, require at least one [4Fe-4S](Cys)(3) cluster for activity. It is well-known in the radical-SAM enzyme community that the [4Fe-4S](Cys)(3) cluster is extremely air-sensitive and requires strict anaerobic conditions to reconstitute activity in vitro. Thus, how such enzymes function in vivo in the presence of oxygen in aerobic organisms is an interesting question. Working on yeast Dph1-Dph2, we found that consistent with the known oxygen sensitivity, the [4Fe-4S] cluster is easily degraded into a [3Fe-4S] cluster. Remarkably, the small iron-containing protein Dph3 donates one Fe atom to convert the [3Fe-4S] cluster in Dph1-Dph2 to a functional [4Fe-4S] cluster during the radical-SAM enzyme catalytic cycle. This mechanism to maintain radical-SAM enzyme activity in aerobic environments is likely general, and Dph3-like proteins may exist to keep other radical-SAM enzymes functional in aerobic environments.

Automated summary

All radical-SAM enzymes require a [4Fe-4S](Cys)(3) cluster for activity, which is highly air-sensitive. A study on yeast Dph1-Dph2 revealed that the iron-containing protein Dph3 donates an iron atom to convert a [3Fe-4S] cluster to a functional [4Fe-4S] cluster, maintaining radical-SAM enzyme activity in aerobic environments.