Bacillus subtilis Class Ib Ribonucleotide Reductase Is a Dimanganese(III)-Tyrosyl Radical Enzyme

Bacillus subtilis class Ib ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalyzes the conversion of nucleotides to deoxynudeotides, providing the building blocks for DNA replication and repair. It is composed of two proteins: alpha (NrdE) and beta (NrdF). beta contains the metallo-cofactor, essential for the initiation of the reduction process. The RNR genes are organized within the nrdI-nrdE-nrdF-ymaB operon. Each protein has been cloned, expressed, and purified from Escherichia coli. As isolated, recombinant NrdF (rNrdF) contained a diferric-tyrosyl radical [Fe(III)(2)-Y-center dot] cofactor. Alternatively, this cluster could be self-assembled from apo-rNrdF, Fe(II), and O-2. Apo-rNrdF loaded using 4 Mn(II)/beta(2),O-2, and reduced NrdI (a flavodoxin) can form a dimanganese-(III)-Y-center dot [Mn(III)(2)-Y-center dot] cofactor. In the presence of rNrdE, ATP, and CDP, Mn(III)(2)-Y-center dot and Fe(III)(2)-Y-center dot rNrdF generate dCDP at rates of 132 and 10 nmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively (both normalized for 1 Y-center dot/beta(2)). To determine the endogenous cofactor of NrdF in B. subtilis, the entire operon was placed behind a Pspank(hy) promoter and integrated into the B. subtilis genome at the amyE site. All four genes were induced in cells grown in Luria-Bertani medium, with levels of NrdE and NrdF elevated 35-fold relative to that of the wild-type strain. NrdE and NrdF were copurified in a 1:1 ratio from this engineered B. subtilis. The visible, EPR, and atomic absorption spectra of the purified NrdENrdF complex (eNrdF) exhibited characteristics of a Mn(III)(2)-Y-center dot center with 2 Mn/beta(2) and 0.5 Y-center dot/beta(2) and an activity of 318-363 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) (normalized for 1 Y-center dot/beta(2)). These data strongly suggest that the B. subtilis class Ib RNR is a Mn(III)(2)-Y-center dot enzyme.