How the Larger Methionine-Rich Domain of CueO from Hafnia alvei Enhances Cuprous Oxidation

Abstract

CueOs, members of the multicopper oxidase family, play a crucial role in bacterial copper detoxification. These enzymes feature a unique methionine-rich (Met-rich) domain, which is essential for the oxidation of Cu⁺ to Cu²⁺. Recent studies using CueO from Escherichia coli (EcCueO) suggest that the Met-rich domain facilitates Cu⁺ recruitment from highly chelated species. To further explore this hypothesis, we produced and characterized a novel CueO from the bacterium Hafnia alvei (HaCueO). HaCueO possesses a significantly larger Met-rich domain than EcCueO, providing new insights into the role of this domain in cuprous oxidase activity. We first showed that HaCueO was as efficient in copper detoxification as EcCueO in vivo. The structures of both wild-type HaCueO and a variant lacking the Met-rich domain were resolved by X-ray crystallography and simulated by molecular dynamics, offering a detailed structural basis for understanding their functions. Cuprous oxidase activity was then quantified either from free electrogenerated Cu⁺ with CueO immobilized on an electrode or from different Cu⁺-complexes with CueO in solution. These methods enabled the fine-tuning of Cu⁺ chelation strength. Consistent with findings for EcCueO, it was confirmed that the Met-rich domain of HaCueO is dispensable for Cu⁺ oxidation when weakly chelated Cu⁺ is used. However, its role becomes crucial as chelation strength increases. Comparative analyses of cuprous oxidase activity between HaCueO and EcCueO revealed that HaCueO outperforms EcCueO, demonstrating superior efficiency in oxidizing Cu⁺ from chelated forms. This enhanced activity correlates with the higher methionine content in HaCueO, which appears to play a pivotal role in facilitating Cu⁺ oxidation under conditions of stronger chelation.