Structure of S35C flavodoxin mutant from Desulfovibrio vulgaris in the semiquinone state

The crystallographic structure of an engineered flavodoxin mutant from Desulfovibrio vulgaris has been analysed. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to substitute serine 35 with a cysteine to provide a possible covalent linkage. The crystal structure of the semiquinone form of this mutant is similar to the corresponding oxidation state of the wild-type flavodoxin. Analysis of the structural changes reveals the interaction between N(5)H of the flavin and the carbonyl O atom of Gly61 to be critical for modulation of the electrochemical properties of the protein.