Cryo-EM structures of human STEAP4 reveal mechanism of iron(III) reduction

Nat Commun. 2018 Oct 18;9(1):4337. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06817-7.

Abstract

Enzymes of the six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate (STEAP) family reduce Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions to facilitate metal-ion uptake by mammalian cells. STEAPs are highly upregulated in several types of cancer, making them potential therapeutic targets. However, the structural basis for STEAP-catalyzed electron transfer through an array of cofactors to metals at the membrane luminal side remains elusive. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of human STEAP4 in absence and presence of Fe3+-NTA. Domain-swapped, trimeric STEAP4 orients NADPH bound to a cytosolic domain onto axially aligned flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and a single b-type heme that cross the transmembrane-domain to enable electron transfer. Substrate binding within a positively charged ring indicates that iron gets reduced while in complex with its chelator. These molecular principles of iron reduction provide a basis for exploring STEAPs as therapeutic targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Biocatalysis
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy*
  • Electrons
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / metabolism
  • Heme / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure*
  • NADP / metabolism
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / chemistry
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Oxidoreductases / ultrastructure*
  • Protein Domains
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
  • Heme
  • NADP
  • Iron
  • Oxidoreductases
  • STEAP4 protein, human
  • NADPH Oxidases