The Fe-type nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2 forms an alpha-activator protein complex

An Fe-type nitrile hydratase α(ɛ) protein complex from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2 (ReNHase) was discovered and shown by MALDI-TOF to form a 1:1 complex. As isolated, the α(ɛ) protein complex exhibited no detectable NHase activity even in the presence of iron. The addition of the ReNHase β-subunit and Fe(II) to the ReNHase apo-α(ε) complex, provided an enzyme with a k value of 0.7 ± 0.1 s using acrylonitrile as the substrate, indicating that the β-subunit is important for the reconstitution of NHase activity. The addition of the reducing agent TCEP enhanced the activity by more than 50% (k of 1.7 ± 0.2 s). As the (ɛ) protein was previously shown to bind and hydrolyze GTP, the addition of GTP to the as-purified α(ε) complex provided a k value of 1.1 ± 0.2 s, in the presence of Fe(II) and β-subunit. The addition of TCEP to this combination further enhanced the activity (k of 2.1 ± 0.3 s). Apo α-subunit was expressed in purified and added to the (ɛ) protein and β-subunits plus Fe(II) and TCEP resulting in a k value of 0.7 ± 0.2 s suggesting an α(ɛ) complex can form in vitro. The addition of GTP to this sample increased the observed rate of nitrile hydration by ~ 30%, while TCEP free samples exhibited no activity. Taken together, these data provide insight into the role of the (ɛ) protein and the newly discovered α(ɛ) complex in NHase metallocenter assembly.