Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of Cu2+-dependent reductive inactivation in direct electron transfer-type bioelectrocatalysis by copper efflux oxidase

Copper efflux oxidases (CueOs) are key enzymes in copper homeostasis systems. The mechanisms involved are however largely unknown. CueO-type enzymes share a typical structural feature composed of Methionine-rich (Met-rich) domains that are proposed to be involved in copper homeostasis. Bioelectrocatalysis using CueO-type enzymes in the presence of Cu2+ recently highlighted a new Cu2+-dependent catalytic pathway related to a cuprous oxidase activity. In this work, we further investigated the effects of Cu2+ on direct electron transfer (DET)-type bioelectrocatalytic reduction of O2 by CueO at NH2-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The DET-type bioelectrocatalytic activity of CueO decreased at low potential in the presence of Cu2+, showing unique peak-shaped voltammograms that we attribute to inactivation and reactivation processes. Chro-noamperometry was used to kinetically analyze these processes, and the results suggested linear free energy relationships between the inactivation/reactivation rate constant and the electrode potential. Pseudo -steady-state analysis also indicated that Cu2+ uncompetitively inhibited the enzymatic activity. A detailed model for the Cu2+-dependent reductive inactivation of CueO was proposed to explain the electrochemical data, and the related thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. A CueO variant with truncated copper-binding alpha helices and bilirubin oxidase free of Met-rich domains also showed such reductive inactivation process, which suggests that multicopper oxidases contain copper-binding sites that lead to inactivation.