Structural Basis of Escherichia coli YtfE Iron Donor Properties

Abstract Escherichia coli YtfE was first discovered due to the very high induction of the encoded gene in bacterial cells exposed to nitrosative stress conditions. The subsequent studies show that YtfE is a di‐iron protein with ability to: (i) protect cells under nitrosative and/or oxidative stress; (ii) repair damaged iron–sulfur clusters; (iii) donate iron for the formation of de novo iron–sulfur clusters; and (iv) its di‐iron center binds and reduces nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N 2 O). This article focuses on the structural basis of the iron‐donating properties of Escherichia coli YtfE.