Title:	Quantum chemical studies of biochemical reaction mechanisms
DNr:	SNIC 2016/1-544
Project Type:	SNIC Medium Compute
Principal Investigator:	Margareta Blomberg <margareta.blomberg@su.se>
Affiliation:	Stockholms universitet
Duration:	2017-01-01 – 2018-01-01
Classification:	10407
Keywords:

Abstract

The general goal of my research is to elucidate enzyme mechanisms, in particular for redox active enzymes containing transition metals. For this purpose quantum chemical methods (Density Functional Theory, DFT) are used to study biochemical model systems. Our group is world leading in this field, and our approach to quantum biomodeling is generally adopted as an important tool, as can be seen from the large number of citations (513) of an early (2000) description of this approach. My main project concerns mechanisms for reduction of molecular oxygen and proton pumping in cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), the terminal enzyme in the respiratory chain where oxygen is reduced to water. We have suggested a gating mechanism for proton pumping against the gradient, which can explain many important experimental observations, and which is now further developed based on continued DFT calculations on larger and better models. Another enzyme of particular interest is nitric oxide reductase (NOR), since it has large similarities to cytochrome c oxidase. The first crystal structure of this enzyme was solved in 2010. Based on DFT calculations on the active site taken from the crystal structure, we have suggested a reaction mechanisms of NOR, which also can explain why this enzyme is non-electrogenic. Cco and NOR belong to the same family of enzymes and certain species can use both substrates, molecular oxygen and nitric oxide as substrate. An important approach to learn more about the reaction mechanisms is to make comparisons between the two enzymes for both substrates. At present calculations are performed for oxygen reduction in NOR. I have also recently started closer collaborations with the experimental groups working on these enzymes (at Stockholm University).