Thermodynamic analysis of ferrous ion binding to Escherichia coli ferritin EcFtnA

Iron oxidation in the bacterial ferritin EcFtnA from Escherichia coli shows marked differences from its homologue human H-chain ferritin (HuHF). While the amino acid residues that constitute the dinuclear center in these proteins are highly conserved, EcFtnA has a third iron-binding site (C site) in close proximity to the dinuclear center that is seemingly responsible for these differences. Here, we describe the first thermodynamic study of Fe²⁺ binding to EcFtnA and its variants to determine the location of the primary ferrous ion-binding sites on the protein and to better understand the role of the third C site in iron binding. Isothermal titration calorimetric analyses of the wild-type protein reveal the presence of two main classes of binding sites in the pH range of 6.5-7.5, ascribed to Fe²⁺ binding, first at the A and then the B sites. Site-directed mutagenesis of ligands in the A, B, or C sites affects the apparent Fe²⁺-binding stoichiometries at the unaltered sites. The data imply some degree of inter- and intrasubunit negative cooperative interaction between sites. Unlike HuHF where only the A site initially binds Fe²⁺, both A and B sites in EcFtnA bind Fe ²⁺, implying a role for the C site in influencing the binding of Fe²⁺ at the B site of the di-iron center of EcFtnA. The ITC equations describing a binding model for three classes of independent binding sites are reported here for the first time.