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Bernt Krebs

Bio: Bernt Krebs is an academic researcher from University of Münster. The author has contributed to research in topics: Crystal structure & Ligand. The author has an hindex of 56, co-authored 729 publications receiving 16336 citations. Previous affiliations of Bernt Krebs include Leiden University & Clariant.


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on biochemical, spectroscopic and the presented structural data, a catalytical mechanism is proposed in which one of the oxygen atoms of the diphenolic substrate binds to CuB ofThe oxygenated enzyme.
Abstract: Catechol oxidases are ubiquitous plant enzymes containing a dinuclear copper center. In the wound-response mechanism of the plant they catalyze the oxidation of a broad range of ortho-diphenols to the corresponding o-quinones coupled with the reduction of oxygen to water. The crystal structures of the enzyme from sweet potato in the resting dicupric Cu(II)-Cu(II) state, the reduced dicuprous Cu(I)-Cu(I) form, and in complex with the inhibitor phenylthiourea were analyzed. The catalytic copper center is accommodated in a central four-helix-bundle located in a hydrophobic pocket close to the surface. Both metal binding sites are composed of three histidine ligands. His 109, ligated to the CuA site, is covalently linked to Cys 92 by an unusual thioether bond. Based on biochemical, spectroscopic and the presented structural data, a catalytical mechanism is proposed in which one of the oxygen atoms of the diphenolic substrate binds to CuB of the oxygenated enzyme.

749 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A remarkable diversity is also seen in the structures of the active sites of these di- and trinuclear metalloenzymes, even for enzymes that catalyze very similar reactions, including hydrolytic cleavage of phosphomono-, -di- and -triester bonds, phosphoanhydride bonds as well as of peptide bonds or urea.
Abstract: Numerous studies, both in enzymatic and nonenzymatic catalysis, have been undertaken to understand the way by which metal ions, especially zinc ions, promote the hydrolysis of phosphate ester and amide bonds. Hydrolases containing one metal ion in the active site, termed mononuclear metallohydrolases, such as carboxypeptidase. A and thermolysin were among the first enzymes to have their structures unraveled by X-ray crystallography. In recent years an increasing number of metalloenzymes have been identified that use two or more adjacent metal ions in the catalysis of phosphoryl-transfer reactions (R-OPO3 + R′-OH R′-OPO3 + R-OH; in the case of the phosphatase reaction R′-OH is a water molecule) and carbonyl-transfer reactions, for example, in peptidases or other amidases. These dinuclear metalloenzymes catalyze a great variety of these reactions, including hydrolytic cleavage of phosphomono-, -di- and -triester bonds, phosphoanhydride bonds as well as of peptide bonds or urea. In addition, the formation of the phosphodiester bond of RNA and DNA by polymerases is catalyzed by a two-metal ion mechanism. A remarkable diversity is also seen in the structures of the active sites of these di- and trinuclear metalloenzymes, even for enzymes that catalyze very similar reactions. The determination of the structure of a substrate, product, stable intermediate, or a reaction coordinate analogue compound bound to an active or inactivated enzyme is a powerful approach to investigate mechanistic details of enzyme action. Such studies have been applied to several of the metalloenzymes reviewed in this article; together with many other biochemical studies they provide a growing body of information on how the two (or more) metal ions cooperate to achieve efficient catalysis.

553 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparison between the 3D structures of catechol oxidase and hemocyanins reveals the structural reasons for the divergence in function.
Abstract: The crystal structure of catechol oxidase reveals new insight into the functional properties of the type-3 copper proteins. This class of proteins includes the closely related and better-known tyrosinase as well as hemocyanin, an oxygen transport protein. All these proteins have a dinuclear copper center, have similar spectroscopic behaviors, and show close evolutionary and functional relationships. Comparison between the 3D structures of catechol oxidase and hemocyanins reveals the structural reasons for the divergence in function.

499 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
09 Jun 1995-Science
TL;DR: The active-site structure of the homodimeric 111-kilodalton KBPAP is consistent with previous proposals regarding the mechanism of phosphate ester hydrolysis involving nucleophilic attack on the phosphate group by an Fe(III)-coordinated hydroxide ion.
Abstract: Kidney bean purple acid phosphatase (KBPAP) is an Fe(III)-Zn(II) metalloenzyme resembling the mammalian Fe(III)-Fe(II) purple acid phosphatases. The structure of the homodimeric 111-kilodalton KBPAP was determined at a resolution of 2.9 angstroms. The enzyme contains two domains in each subunit. The active site is located in the carboxyl-terminal domain at the carboxy end of two sandwiched beta alpha beta alpha beta motifs. The two metal ions are 3.1 angstroms apart and bridged monodentately by Asp164. The iron is further coordinated by Tyr167, His325, and Asp135, and the zinc by His286, His323, and Asn201. The active-site structure is consistent with previous proposals regarding the mechanism of phosphate ester hydrolysis involving nucleophilic attack on the phosphate group by an Fe(III)-coordinated hydroxide ion.

409 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the long sought role of MT lies in the control of the cellular zinc distribution as a function of the energy state of the cell and not in the widely held belief that MT primarily scavenges radicals or detoxifies metals.
Abstract: Metallothioneins (MTs) define a superfamily of ubiquitous cysteine-rich low molecular weight proteins or polypeptides that contain polynuclear metalsulfur coordination sites formed by metal ions with d10 configuration. The most prominent characteristics of these biomolecules, which have been discovered as a cadmium and zinc containing protein in horse kidney by Margoshes and Vallee in 1957,1 are their extremely high metal and sulfur contents (up to 10% w/w). Although MTs have been known as long as about half a century, their precise physiological function is still under debate. According to Kägi and Schäffer, they are thought to play roles both in the intracellular fixation of the essential trace elements zinc and copper, in controlling the concentrations of the free ions of these elements, in regulating their flow to their cellular destinations, in neutralizing the harmful influences of exposure to toxic elements such as cadmium and mercury, and in the protection from a variety of stress conditions.2 More recently, it was concluded by Maret and Vallee that the long sought role of MT lies in the control of the cellular zinc distribution as a function of the energy state of the cell and not in the widely held belief that MT primarily scavenges radicals or detoxifies metals.3 As can be learned by these speculations, investigations directed to explore the structure and chemistry of metallothioneins in greater detail are extremely important taking into account that nature makes use of them as multipurpose proteins. Several reviews covering this issue are available in the literature.4 Today, MTs are known to occur in all animal phyla examined so far as well as in certain fungi, plants, and cyanobacteria. Characterized by a low molecular mass of 6.000-7.000 amu, by 20 totally conserved cysteines out of a total of 61 or 62 amino acid residues (according to ca. 30% by number), without aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine or histidine, the apoprotein from rat liver (thionein) is able to bind a total of seven equivalents of divalent metal ions with d10 configuration such as Zn2+ or Cd2+ in two noninteracting domains. After demetalation, these proteins can be loaded with up to six Cu1+ ions in each domain.5 * To whom correspondence should be addressed. (G.H.) Tel +495251-60-2494. Fax +49-5251-60-3423. E-mail biohenkel@ uni-paderborn.de. (B.K.) Tel +49-251-833-3131. Fax +49-251-8338366. E-mail krebs@uni-muenster.de. † Universität Paderborn. ‡ Universität Münster. 801 Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 801−824

365 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review will be of value to synthetic chemists interested in this emerging field of materials science, as well as those investigating applications of graphene who would find a more thorough treatment of the chemistry of graphene oxide useful in understanding the scope and limitations of current approaches which utilize this material.
Abstract: The chemistry of graphene oxide is discussed in this critical review Particular emphasis is directed toward the synthesis of graphene oxide, as well as its structure Graphene oxide as a substrate for a variety of chemical transformations, including its reduction to graphene-like materials, is also discussed This review will be of value to synthetic chemists interested in this emerging field of materials science, as well as those investigating applications of graphene who would find a more thorough treatment of the chemistry of graphene oxide useful in understanding the scope and limitations of current approaches which utilize this material (91 references)

10,126 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 1988-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) is presented.
Abstract: Deposits of clastic carbonate-dominated (calciclastic) sedimentary slope systems in the rock record have been identified mostly as linearly-consistent carbonate apron deposits, even though most ancient clastic carbonate slope deposits fit the submarine fan systems better. Calciclastic submarine fans are consequently rarely described and are poorly understood. Subsequently, very little is known especially in mud-dominated calciclastic submarine fan systems. Presented in this study are a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) that reveals a >250 m thick calciturbidite complex deposited in a calciclastic submarine fan setting. Seven facies are recognised from core and thin section characterisation and are grouped into three carbonate turbidite sequences. They include: 1) Calciturbidites, comprising mostly of highto low-density, wavy-laminated bioclast-rich facies; 2) low-density densite mudstones which are characterised by planar laminated and unlaminated muddominated facies; and 3) Calcidebrites which are muddy or hyper-concentrated debrisflow deposits occurring as poorly-sorted, chaotic, mud-supported floatstones. These

9,929 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The hydrogen bond is the most important of all directional intermolecular interactions, operative in determining molecular conformation, molecular aggregation, and the function of a vast number of chemical systems ranging from inorganic to biological.
Abstract: The hydrogen bond is the most important of all directional intermolecular interactions. It is operative in determining molecular conformation, molecular aggregation, and the function of a vast number of chemical systems ranging from inorganic to biological. Research into hydrogen bonds experienced a stagnant period in the 1980s, but re-opened around 1990, and has been in rapid development since then. In terms of modern concepts, the hydrogen bond is understood as a very broad phenomenon, and it is accepted that there are open borders to other effects. There are dozens of different types of X-H.A hydrogen bonds that occur commonly in the condensed phases, and in addition there are innumerable less common ones. Dissociation energies span more than two orders of magnitude (about 0.2-40 kcal mol(-1)). Within this range, the nature of the interaction is not constant, but its electrostatic, covalent, and dispersion contributions vary in their relative weights. The hydrogen bond has broad transition regions that merge continuously with the covalent bond, the van der Waals interaction, the ionic interaction, and also the cation-pi interaction. All hydrogen bonds can be considered as incipient proton transfer reactions, and for strong hydrogen bonds, this reaction can be in a very advanced state. In this review, a coherent survey is given on all these matters.

5,153 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The transition metal dichalcogenides are about 60 in number as discussed by the authors, and two-thirds of these assume layer structures and can be cleaved down to less than 1000 A and are then transparent in the region of direct band-to-band transitions.
Abstract: The transition metal dichalcogenides are about 60 in number. Two-thirds of these assume layer structures. Crystals of such materials can be cleaved down to less than 1000 A and are then transparent in the region of direct band-to-band transitions. The transmission spectra of the family have been correlated group by group with the wide range of electrical and structural data available to yield useful working band models that are in accord with a molecular orbital approach. Several special topics have arisen; these include exciton screening, d-band formation, and the metal/insulator transition; also magnetism and superconductivity in such compounds. High pressure work seems to offer the possibility for testing the recent theory of excitonic insulators.

3,313 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Copper sites have historically been divided into three classes based on their spectroscopic features, which reflect the geometric and electronic structure of the active site: type 1 or blue copper, type 2 (T2) or normal copper, and type 3 (T3) or coupled binuclear copper centers.
Abstract: Copper is an essential trace element in living systems, present in the parts per million concentration range. It is a key cofactor in a diverse array of biological oxidation-reduction reactions. These involve either outer-sphere electron transfer, as in the blue copper proteins and the Cu{sub A} site of cytochrome oxidase and nitrous oxide redutase, or inner-sphere electron transfer in the binding, activation, and reduction of dioxygen, superoxide, nitrite, and nitrous oxide. Copper sites have historically been divided into three classes based on their spectroscopic features, which reflect the geometric and electronic structure of the active site: type 1 (T1) or blue copper, type 2 (T2) or normal copper, and type 3 (T3) or coupled binuclear copper centers. 428 refs.

3,241 citations