Initial Characterization Of A New Class Of 2fe-2s Proteins From The Plant Arabidopsis Thaliana

A new class of 2Fe-2S proteins has been identified with 3Cys and 1His coordination (1,2). In an attempt to investigate the function of these NEET proteins, we have initiated studies in Arabidopsis thaliana that contains a single copy of a similar gene called At5g51720. The transcript levels of At5g51720 were shown to increase in response to stress (3). Here we report the isolation and initial characterization of At5g51720 protein. Its Vis absorbance spectrum is nearly identical with the human homolog and is similarly reversibly reducible (Figure). The 2Fe-2S clusters are also similarly labile. Thus, the At5g51720 protein serves as a good model for investigations of the physiological function of the NEET protein family. (1) Paddock et al. (2007) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci USA104, 14342-14347. (2) Conlan et al. (2009) J. Mol. Biol.392, 143-153. (3) Camp et al. (2004) Plant Cell15, 2320-2332. ∗Supported by NIH (GM41637, GM54038 and DK5441).