Tetraphenylporphyrin Enters the Ring: First Example of a Complex Between Highly Bulky Porphyrins and a Protein

Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) is a synthetic porphyrin whose properties can be readily modified, endowing it with significant benefits over naturally occurring porphyrins. Yet, their insolubility in water and/or steric bulk have rendered them incompatible with biological systems. Herein, we report the first example of a native biomolecule capturing TPP as well as its derivatives. The haemoprotein HasA, secreted by certain pathogens to scavenge haem from their hosts, can capture various metal- and meso-substituted TPPs. The rapid crystallisation of TPP derivatives captured by HasA revealed the binding mode of TPP at excellent resolutions. A single-site mutation (L85A) of HasA enlarged the binding pocket, allowing the incorporation of a bulkier derivative of TPP. HasA binding TPP derivatives was also demonstrated to inhibit proliferation of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study not only represents a simple method for the complexation of TPP derivatives with a native protein, but also opens the door for the future use of TPP derivatives as biological tools.