Spectroscopic characterizations of bridging cysteine ligand variants of an engineered Cu2(Scys)2 CuA azurin

Bridging cysteine ligands of the Cu(A) center in an engineered Cu(A) azurin were replaced with serine, and the variants (Cys116Ser and Cys112Ser Cu(A) azurin) were characterized by mass spectrometry, as well as UV-vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques. The replacements resulted in dramatically perturbed spectroscopic properties, indicating that the cysteines play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of the Cu center. The replacements at different cysteine residues resulted in different perturbations, even though the two cysteines are geometrically symmetrical in the primary coordination sphere with respect to the two copper ions. The Cys112Ser variant contains two distinct type 2 copper centers, while the Cys116Ser variant has one type 1 copper center with slight tetragonal distortion. Both the UV-vis and EPR spectra of the Cys116Ser variant change with pH, and the pK(a) of the transition is 6.0. A type 1 copper EPR spectrum with A(||) = 26 G was obtained at pH 7.0, while a type 2 copper EPR spectrum with A(||) = 140 G was found at pH 5.0. Interestingly, lowering the temperature from 290 to 85 K resulted in conversion of the Cys116Ser variant from a type 1 copper center to a type 2 copper center, suggesting rearrangement of the ligand around the copper or binding of an exogenous ligand at low temperature. This difference in mutation effects at different cysteines may be due to different constraints exerted on the two cysteines by hydrogen-bonding patterns in the ligand loop.     

Loop-contraction mutagenesis of type 1 copper sites

The shortest known type 1 copper binding loop (that of amicyanin, Ami) has been introduced into three different cupredoxin beta-barrel scaffolds. All of the loop-contraction variants possess copper centers with authentic type 1 properties and are redox active. The Cu(II) and Co(II) sites experience only small structural alterations upon loop contraction with the largest changes in the azurin variant (AzAmi), which can be ascribed to the removal of a hydrogen bond to the coordinating thiolate sulfur of the Cys ligand. In all cases, loop contraction leads to an increase in the pK(a) of the His ligand found on the loop in the reduced proteins, and in the pseudoazurin (Paz) and plastocyanin (Pc) variants the values are almost identical to that of Ami ( approximately 6.7). Thus, in Paz, Pc, and Ami, the length of this loop tunes the pK(a) of the His ligand. In the AzAmi variant, the pK(a) is 5.5, which is considerably higher than the estimated value for Az (<2), and other controlling factors, along with loop length, are involved. The reduction potentials of the loop-contraction variants are all lower than those of the wild-type proteins by approximately 30-60 mV, and thus this property of a type 1 copper site is fine-tuned by the C-terminal loop. The electron self-exchange rate constant of Paz is significantly diminished by the introduction of a shorter loop. However, in PcAmi only a 2-fold decrease is observed and in AzAmi there is no effect, and thus in these two cupredoxins loop contraction does not significantly influence electron-transfer reactivity. Loop contraction provides an active site environment in all of the cupredoxins which is preferable for Cu(II), whereas previous loop elongation experiments always favored the cuprous site. Thus, the ligand-containing loop plays an important role in tuning the entatic nature of a type 1 copper center.     

Structural model for an alkaline form of ferricytochrome C

An (15)N-enriched sample of the yeast iso-1-ferricytochrome c triple variant (Lys72Ala/Lys79Ala/Cys102Thr) in an alkaline conformation was examined by NMR spectroscopy. The mutations were planned to produce a cytochrome c with a single conformer. Despite suboptimal conditions for the collection of spectra (i.e., pH approximately equal to 11), NMR remains a suitable investigation technique capable of taking advantage of paramagnetism. 76% of amino acids and 49% of protons were assigned successfully. The assignment was in part achieved through standard methods, in part through the identification of groups maintaining the same conformation as in the native protein at pH 7 and, for a few other residues, through a tentative analysis of internuclear distance predictions. Lys73 was assigned as the axial ligand together with His18. In this manner, 838 meaningful NOEs for 108 amino acids, 50 backbone angle constraints, and 203 pseudocontact shifts permitted the convergence of randomly generated structures to a family of conformers with a backbone RMSD of 1.5 +/- 0.2 A. Most of the native cytochrome c conformation is maintained at high pH. The NOE pattern that involves His18 clearly indicates that the proximal side of the protein, including the 20s and 40s loops, remains essentially intact. Structural differences are concentrated in the 70-80 loop, because of the replacement of Met80 by Lys73 as an axial ligand, and in the 50s helix facing that loop; as a consequence, there is increased exposure of the heme group to solvent. Based on several spectral features, we conclude that the folded polypeptide is highly fluxional.     

Design and spectroscopic characterization of peptide models for the plastocyanin copper-binding loop

The Cu(II)- and Co(II)-binding properties of two peptides, designed on the basis of the active site sequence and structure of the blue copper protein plastocyanin, are explored. Peptide BCP-A, Ac-Trp-(Gly)(3)-Ser-Tyr-Cys-Ser-Pro-His-Gln-Gly-Ala-Gly-Met-(Gly )(3)-His-(Gly)(2)-Lys-CONH(2), conserves the Cu-binding loop of plastocyanin containing three of the four copper ligands and has a flexible (Gly)(3) linker to the second His ligand. Peptide BCP-B, Ac-Trp-(Gly)(3)-Cys-Gly-His-Gly-Val-Pro-Ser-His-Gly-Met-Gly-CONH(2), contains all four blue copper ligands, with two on either side of a beta-turn. Both peptides form 1:1 complexes with Cu(II) through His and Cys ligands. BCP-A, the ligand loop, binds to Cu(II) in a tetrahedrally distorted square plane with axial solvent ligation, while BCP-B-Cu(II) has no tetrahedral distortion in aqueous solution. In methanolic solution, distortion of the square plane is evident for both BCP-Cu(II) complexes. Tetrahedral Co(II) complexes are observed for both peptides in aqueous solution but with 4:2 peptide:Co(II) stoichiometries as estimated by ultracentrifugation. Cu(II) reduction potentials for the aqueous peptide-Cu(II) complexes were measured to be +75 +/- 30 mV vs NHE for BCP-A-Cu(II) and -10 +/- 20 mV vs NHE for BCP-B-Cu(II). The results indicate that the plastocyanin ligand loop can act as a metal-binding site with His and Cys ligands in the absence of the remainder of the folded protein but, by itself, cannot stabilize a type 1 copper site, emphasizing the role of the protein matrix in protecting the Cu binding site from solvent exposure and the Cys from oxidation.     

Kinetics of copper incorporation into a biosynthetic purple Cu(A) azurin: characterization of red, blue, and a new intermediate species

Evolutionary links between type 1 blue copper (T1 Cu), type 2 red copper (T2 Cu), and purple Cu(A) cupredoxins have been proposed, but the structural features and mechanism responsible for such links as well as for assembly of Cu(A) sites in vivo are poorly understood, even though recent evidence demonstrated that the Cu(II) oxidation state plays an important role in this process. In this study, we examined the kinetics of Cu(II) incorporation into the Cu(A) site of a biosynthetic Cu(A) model, Cu(A) azurin (Cu(A)Az) and found that both T1 Cu and T2 Cu intermediates form on the path to final Cu(A) reconstitution in a pH-dependent manner, with slower kinetics and greater accumulation of the intermediates as the pH is raised from 5.0 to 7.0. While these results are similar to those observed previously in the native Cu(A) center of nitrous oxide reductase, the faster kinetics of copper incorporation into Cu(A)Az allowed us to use lower copper equivalents to reveal a new pathway of copper incorporation, including a novel intermediate that has not been reported in cupredoxins before, with intense electronic absorption maxima at ~410 and 760 nm. We discovered that this new intermediate underwent reduction to Cu(I), and proposed that it is a Cu(II)-dithiolate species. Oxygen-dependence studies demonstrated that the T1 Cu species only formed in the presence of molecular oxygen, suggesting the T1 Cu intermediate is a one-electron oxidation product of a Cu(I) species. By studying Cu(A)Az variants where the Cys and His ligands are mutated, we have identified the T2 Cu intermediate as a capture complex with Cys116 and the T1 Cu intermediate as a complex with Cys112 and His120. These results led to a unified mechanism of copper incorporation and new insights regarding the evolutionary link between all cupredoxin sites as well as the in vivo assembly of Cu(A) centers.     

A model for enzyme-substrate interaction in alanine racemase.

We report on a theoretical model for the complex of the enzyme alanine racemase with its natural substrate (L-alanine) and cofactor (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate). Electrostatic potentials were calculated and ionization states were predicted for all of the ionizable groups in alanine racemase. Some rather unusual charge states were predicted for certain residues. Tyr265' has an unusually low predicted pK(a) of 7.9 and at pH 7.0 has a predicted average charge of -0.37, meaning that 37% of the Tyr265' residues in an ensemble of enzyme molecules are in the phenolate form. At pH 8-9, the majority of Tyr265' side groups will be in the phenolate form. This lends support to the experimental evidence that Tyr265' is the catalytic base involved in the conversion of L-alanine to D-alanine. Residues Lys39 and Lys129 have predicted average charges of +0.91 and +0.14, respectively, at pH 7.0. Lys39 is believed to be the catalytic base for the conversion of D-alanine to L-alanine, and the present results show that, at least some of the time, it is in the unprotonated amine form and thus able to act as a base. Cys311', which is located very close to the active site, has an unusually low predicted pK(a) of 5.8 and at pH 7.0 has a predicted average charge of -0.72. The very low predicted charge for Lys129 is consistent with experimental evidence that it is carbamylated, since an unprotonated amine group is available to act as a Lewis base and form the carbamate with CO(2). Repeating the pK(a) calculations on the enzyme with Lys129 in carbamylated form predicts trends similar to those of the uncarbamylated enzyme. It appears that the enzyme has the ability to stabilize negative charge in the region of the active site. Implications for selective inhibitor design are discussed.     

Probing the Coordination Environment of the Human Copper Chaperone HAH1: Characterization of HgII‐Bridged Homodimeric Species in Solution

Although metal ion homeostasis in cells is often mediated through metallochaperones, there are opportunities for toxic metals to be sequestered through the existing transport apparatus. Proper trafficking of Cu^I in human cells is partially achieved through complexation by HAH1, the human metallochaperone responsible for copper delivery to the Wilson and Menkes ATPase located in the trans‐Golgi apparatus. In addition to binding copper, HAH1 strongly complexes Hg^II, with the X‐ray structure of this complex previously described. It is important to clarify the solution behavior of these systems and, therefore, the binding of Hg^II to HAH1 was probed over the pH range 7.5 to 9.4 using ¹⁹⁹Hg NMR, ^199mHg PAC and UV–visible spectroscopies. The metal‐dependent protein association over this pH range was examined using analytical gel‐filtration. It can be concluded that at pH 7.5, Hg^II is bound to a monomeric HAH1 as a two coordinate, linear complex (HgS₂), like the Hg^II–Atx1 X‐ray structure (PDB ID: 1CC8). At pH 9.4, Hg^II promotes HAH1 association, leading to formation of HgS₃ and HgS₄ complexes, which are in exchange on the μs–ns time scale. Thus, structures that may represent central intermediates in the process of metal ion transfer, as well as their exchange kinetics have been characterized.     

基于指示剂置换法利用紫外-可见光谱和比色检测水溶液中的半胱氨酸

基于半胱氨酸(Cys)与二价铜离子的配位作用, 发展了一种在纯水溶液中以4-(2-吡啶偶氮)间苯二酚(PAR)为指示剂, 通过紫外-可见光谱定性定量检测半胱氨酸的方法. 研究发现, 在pH=7.0的含有PAR和二价铜离子(摩尔比为1: 1)的缓冲溶液中, 当加入半胱氨酸后, 由于配位竞争使PAR释放出来, 实现了对半胱氨酸的识别, 选择性研究结果表明, 其它氨基酸不干扰体系对半胱氨酸的测定. 通过紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)对识别过程进行了研究, 确定了Cu²⁺与PAR的配位比为1: 1, Cu²⁺与Cys的配位比为1: 3; 半胱氨酸的线性关系变化范围为0~240 μmol/L, ε=7519 L/(mol·cm), 线性相关系数为0.9982. 在检测过程中可观察到溶液颜色由桃红色变成了黄色.     

Computer simulation of the interaction of Cu(I) with cys residues at the binding site of the yeast metallochaperone Cu(I)-Atx1

The copper binding site and electronic structure of the metallochaperone protein Atx1 were investigated using the combination of quantum mechanics methods and molecular mechanics methods in the ONIOM(QM:MM) scheme at the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/ 6-31G(d):AMBER level. The residues in the binding site, -Met13-Thr14-Cys15-Cu(I)-Cys18-Gly17-Ser16-, were modeled with QM and the rest of the residues with MM. Our results indicate that the structure for Cu(I)-Atx1 has the copper atom coordinated to two sulfur atoms from Cys15 (2.110 A) and Cys18 (2.141 A) with an angle S-Cu(I) -S of 166 degrees . The potential energy surface of the copper atom is used to estimate its binding energy and the force field for the copper ligands. The potential surface is shallow for the bending mode S-Cu-S, which explains the origin of the disorder observed in crystallographic and nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Using molecular dynamics for Cu(I)-Atx1 in a box of water molecules and in vacuum, with the force field derived in this work, we observed a correlated motion between the side chains of Thr14 and of Lys65 which enhances distortions in the S-Cu-S geometry. The results are compared with recent experiments and the previous models. The vibrational spectra for the copper ligands and for the residues in the binding site were computed. The localized modes for the copper ligands and the amide bands were assigned. The presence of the copper atom affects the amide bands' frequencies of the residues Cys15 and Cys18, giving resolved bands that can be used to sense changes in the binding site upon translocation of copper atom or interaction with target proteins. Furthermore, the EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectrum of the proposed structure for Cu(I)-Atx1 was calculated and reproduced the experiments fairly well.     

A hydrogenase model system based on the sequence of cytochrome c: photochemical hydrogen evolution in aqueous media

The diiron carbonyl cluster is held by a native CXXC motif, which includes Cys14 and Cys17, in the cytochrome c sequence. It is found that the diiron carbonyl complex works well as a catalyst for H(2) evolution. It has a TON of ～80 over 2 h at pH 4.7 in the presence of a Ru-photosensitizer and ascorbate as a sacrificial reagent in aqueous media.     

CopAb, the second N-terminal soluble domain of Bacillus subtilis CopA, dominates the Cu(I)-binding properties of CopAab

The Cu(I)-detoxifying P-type ATPase CopA from Bacillus subtilis contains two N-terminal soluble domains, CopAa and CopAb, connected by a short linker. This arrangement is extremely common in prokaryotic Cu(I) transporters and is also found amongst the multiple soluble domains of eukaryotic homologues. Previous studies of a protein containing only these domains (CopAab) revealed complex Cu(I)-binding properties: both domains are able to bind Cu(I) extremely tightly and, at levels of Cu(I) > 1 per CopAab, the protein undergoes dimerisation, yielding a highly luminescent multi-Cu(I) bound species (Singleton and Le Brun, Dalton Trans., 2009, 688-696). To investigate this complex Cu(I)-binding behaviour and, in particular, to determine the contributions of the two domains to the overall behaviour of the N-terminal part, we generated and purified each domain in isolation. Here, we report studies of the second domain, CopAb. The protein was found to bind Cu(I) with an extremely high affinity (K = ~1 × 10(18) M(-1)) and remained as a monomer up to a level of 1 Cu(I) per protein. Above this level, the protein dimerised, generating a weakly luminescent species. Studies of the acid-base properties of the binding motif Cys residues revealed pK(a) values of < ~5 and ~6.3, adding further support to the proposal that high Cu(I)-affinity is correlated with low proton affinity. Exchange of Cu(I) between the protein and a high affinity chelator was found to occur rapidly via Cu(I)-mediated association, a process that is relevant to in vivo Cu(I) trafficking. Overall, the Cu(I)-binding properties of CopAb are very similar to those of the two-domain protein CopAab, indicating that this domain plays a dominant role in determining the binding properties of CopAab.     

EPR and optical spectroscopic studies of Met80X mutants of yeast ferricytochrome c. Models for intermediates in the alkaline transition

The ferric forms of Met80X mutants of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (X = Ala, Ser, Asp, and Glu) display EPR and optical spectra that are strongly pH dependent. At low pH values (pH approximately 5) the sixth coordination sites are filled by H(2)O that, on elevating the pH, is replaced by OH(-) in the cases of Met80Ala and -Ser (pK approximately 5.6 and 5.9, respectively) and by a lysine amino group in the cases of Met80Asp and -Glu (pK approximately 9.3 and 11.6, respectively). The ligand sets and the pK values of the transitions are rationalized in terms of the structure of the heme pocket, and a possible mechanism of the "trigger" in the alkaline transition of the native protein is suggested.     

Copper-binding properties and structures of methanobactins from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Methanobactins (mbs) are a class of copper-binding peptides produced by aerobic methane oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) that have been linked to the substantial copper needs of these environmentally important microorganisms. The only characterized mbs are those from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and Methylocystis strain SB2. M. trichosporium OB3b produces a second mb (mb-Met), which is missing the C-terminal Met residue from the full-length form (FL-mb). The as-isolated copper-loaded mbs bind Cu(I). The absence of the Met has little influence on the structure of the Cu(I) site, and both molecules mediate switchover from the soluble iron methane mono-oxygenase to the particulate copper-containing enzyme in M. trichosporium OB3b cells. Cu(II) is reduced in the presence of the mbs under our experimental conditions, and the disulfide plays no role in this process. The Cu(I) affinities of these molecules are extremely high with values of (6-7) × 10(20) M(-1) determined at pH ≥ 8.0. The affinity for Cu(I) is 1 order of magnitude lower at pH 6.0. The reduction potentials of copper-loaded FL-mb and mb-Met are 640 and 590 mV respectively, highlighting the strong preference for Cu(I) and indicating different Cu(II) affinities for the two forms. Cleavage of the disulfide bridge results in a decrease in the Cu(I) affinity to ～9 × 10(18) M(-1) at pH 7.5. The two thiolates can also bind Cu(I), albeit with much lower affinity (～ 3 × 10(15) M(-1) at pH 7.5). The high affinity of mbs for Cu(I) is consistent with a physiological role in copper uptake and protection.     

Direct nitric oxide detection in aqueous solution by copper(II) fluorescein complexes

A series of FL(n) (n = 1-5) ligands, where FL(n) is a fluorescein modified with a functionalized 8-aminoquinoline group as a copper-binding moiety, were synthesized, and the chemical and photophysical properties of the free ligands and their copper complexes were investigated. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a 1:1 binding stoichiometry for the Cu(II) complexes of FL(1), FL(3), and FL(5) in pH 7.0 buffered aqueous solutions. The reactions of FL(2) or FL(4) with CuCl(2), however, appear to produce a mixture of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, as suggested by Job's plots. These binding modes were modeled by the synthesis and X-ray crystal structure determination of Cu(II) complexes of 2-[(quinolin-8-ylamino)methyl]phenol (modL), employed as a surrogate of the FL(n) ligand family. Two kinds of crystals, [Cu(modL)(2)](BF(4))(2) and [Cu(2)(modL')(2)(CH(3)OH)](BF(4))(2) (modL' = 2-[(quinolin-8-ylamino)methyl]phenolate), were obtained. The structures suggest that one oxygen and two nitrogen atoms of the FL(n) ligands most likely bind to Cu(II). Introduction of nitric oxide (NO) to pH 7.0 buffered aqueous solutions of Cu(FL(n)) (1 microM CuCl(2) and 1 microM FL(n)) at 37 degrees C induces an increase in fluorescence. The fluorescence response of Cu(FL(n)) to NO is direct and specific, which is a significant improvement over commercially available small molecule-based probes that are capable of detecting NO only indirectly. The NO-triggered fluorescence increase of Cu(FL(5)) occurs by reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) with concomitant dissociation of the N-nitrosated fluorophore ligand from copper. Spectroscopic and product analyses of the reaction of the FL(5) copper complex with NO indicated that the N-nitrosated fluorescein ligand (FL(5)-NO) is the species responsible for fluorescence turn-on. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of FL(5) versus FL(5)-NO reveal how N-nitrosation of the fluorophore ligand brings about the fluorescence increase. The copper-based probes described in the present work form the basis for real-time detection of nitric oxide production in living cells.     

邻苯三酚红修饰碳糊电极吸附伏安法测定痕量铜

报道了采用邻苯三酚红修饰碳糊电极测定痕量铜的方法。通过在邻苯二甲酸氢钾 -氢氧化钠 (p H4.5)介质中富集 ,Cu2 +和邻苯三酚红形成络合物富集于电极表面 ,然后转换到 0 .0 50 mol· L-1的 H3PO4 中 ,经阴极还原后再进行阳极溶出伏安法测定。Cu2 +浓度在 1 .6× 1 0 -9～ 2 .8× 1 0 -7mol·L-1范围内与二次导数峰电流呈线性关系 ,检出限达 8× 1 0 -10 mol·L-1。同时 ,对电极反应机理进行了探讨。应用于合金样的测定 ,取得满意的结果。     

游离氨基酸对Аβ多肽异常聚集作用的影响

阿尔兹海默氏病的主要病因之一,是病人大脑的海马区和皮质区中Аβ多肽异常聚集形成了老年脑斑.本工作通过质谱方法研究游离氨基酸存在下铜离子和Аβ多肽的相互作用,发现由于其侧链极性和强配位能力,天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸、苏氨酸和组氨酸6种氨基酸能够在较低浓度下明显抑制铜离子和Аβ多肽的结合,由此推测游离氨基酸可能是一种新的与Аβ多肽异常聚集相关的微环境因素.     

亚甲基二膦酸为配位体的无氰碱性镀铜

提出一种以亚甲基二膦酸(MDPA, H₄L)为主配位剂的无氰镀铜体系. 采用pH 电位滴定法分别测定MDPA的四级解离常数和MDPA-Cu(II)的稳定常数, 并比较MDPA-Cu(II)和羟基乙叉二膦酸(HEDPA)-Cu(II)的循环伏安曲线和阴极极化曲线. 结果表明: MDPA各级解离常数为, pK₁=1.86, pK₂=2.65, pK₃=6.81, pK₄=9.04;MDPA与Cu²⁺形成分级配合物的稳定常数为, pK_ML=10.65, pK_ML2 = 5.59, pK_ML3 = 2.50; 随着pH升高, 形成的配合物依次为, Cu(H₃L)₂、[Cu(H₃L)(H₂L)]-和[Cu(H₂L)₂]^2-; 当pH在7-10 时, MDPA较HEDPA更易与Cu²⁺配位. 当pH=9 时, MDPA碱性镀铜体系阴极主要发生的是[Cu(H₃L)(H₂L)]^-和[Cu(H₂L)₂]^2-还原生成铜的过程; 在10 °C,MDPA体系的铜配位化合物还原生成铜的电位比HEDPA体系负移, 扩散速度更快.     

Autoredox interconversion of two galactose oxidase forms GOase(ox) and GOase(semi) with and without dioxygen

Solutions of galactose oxidase stored in air give in 3-4 h a mix of GOase(ox)(Cu(II)-Tyr(*)) and GOase(semi)(Cu(II)-Tyr), as a result of processes involving the formation and decay of the Cu(II)-coordinated tyrosyl radical (Tyr(*)). In this work the two reactions have been studied by UV-vis spectrophotometry and separate rate laws defined. The first involves the "spontaneous" autoreduction of GOase(ox) to GOase(semi), which in air-free conditions is 100% complete. Rate constants (k(red)) are dependent on pH, and previously defined acid dissociation constants pK(1a) = 5.7 (exogenous H(2)O ligand), and pK(2a) = 8.0 (axial H(+)Tyr-495) apply. Values of k(red)(25 degrees C) range from 1.55 x 10(-4) s(-1) (pH 5.5) to 2.69 x 10(-4) s(-1) (pH 8.6), I = 0.100 M (NaCl). No reaction occurs with N(3)(-) or NCS(-) present in amounts sufficient to give >98% binding at the substrate binding (exogenous) site, while CH(3)CO(2)(-) and phosphate (less extensively bound) also inhibit the reaction. From such inhibition studies K(25 degrees C) is 161 M(-1) at pH 6.4 for acetate (previous value 140 M(-)(1)) and 46 M(-1) at pH 7.0 for phosphate. No reaction occurs when the disulfide Cys515-Cys518 (10.2 A from the Cu) is chemically modified with HSPO(3)(2-), and electron transfer via the disulfide and exogenous position is proposed (source of the electron not established). The conversion of GOase(semi) to GOase(ox) only occurs with O(2) present, when a first-order dependence on [O(2)] is observed, giving k(ox)(25 degrees C) = 0.021 M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.5. This process is unaffected by NCS(-) or N(3)(-) bound at the exogenous site, and a mechanism involving outer-sphere reaction of O(2) to O(2)(-) followed by a fast step O(2) to H(2)O(2) is proposed. As GOase(ox) is formed, autoreduction back to GOase(semi) occurs, and at pH 7.5 with O(2) in large excess (1.13 mM) the maximum conversion to GOase(ox) is 69%. The k(ox) reaction proceeds to completion with >98% N(3)(-) bound at the exogenous site.     

Heme-Peptide Models for Hemoproteins. 1. Solution Chemistry of N-Acetylmicroperoxidase-8

An improved method for the preparation of the heme octapeptide acetyl-MP8, obtained by proteolysis of horse heart cytochrome c, is described. AcMP8 obeys Beer's law at pH 7.0 in aqueous solution up to a concentration of 3 x 10(-)(5) M. The self-association constant measured at 25 degrees C (log K(D) = 4.04) is an order of magnitude lower than that for MP8, reflecting the role of the N-acetyl protecting group in abolishing intermolecular coordination. However, AcMP8 does form pi-stacked dimers in aqueous solution with increasing ionic strength. A more weakly packed pi-pi dimer reaches a maximum abundance at approximately 3 M ionic strength, but a more tightly packed dimer is favored at &mgr; > 3 M. An equilibrium model based on charge neutralization by specific binding of Na(+) ions gives a total molecular charge of 3- for AcMP8 at pH 7.0 and a self-association constant log K(D) = 4.20. AcMP8 exhibits six spectroscopically active pH-dependent transitions. The Glu-21 c-terminal carboxylate binds to the heme iron at low pH (pK(a) = 2.1) but is substituted by His-18 (pK(a) = 3.12) as the pH increases. The two heme propanoic acid substituents ionize with pK(a)'s of 4.95 and 6.1. This is followed by ionization of iron-bound water with a pK(a) = 9.59, DeltaH = 48 +/- 1 kJ mol(-)(1), and DeltaS = -22 +/- 3 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1). The electronic spectra indicate that AcMP8 is predominantly in the S = (5)/(2) state at pH 7.0, while the hydroxo complex at pH 10.5 corresponds to an equilibrium mixture of S = (5)/(2) and S = (1)/(2) states at 25 degrees C. In the final transition, His-18 ionizes to form the S = (1)/(2) histidinate complex with a pK(a) of 12.71. AcMP8 is relatively stable under alkaline conditions, dimerizing slowly at high pH (k = 2.59 +/- 0.14 M(-)(1) s(-)(1)) to form a high-spin &mgr;-oxo-bridged species. The pH-dependent behavior of AcMP8 in the presence of excess 3-cyanopyridine, however, is markedly different. At low pH, AcMP8 simultaneously binds the exogenous ligand and the Glu-21 c-terminal carboxylate with a pK(a) < 2. His-18 replaces the carboxylate ligand at higher pH (pK(a) = 2.60), and both heme propanoic acid groups ionize with a mean pK(a) = 5.10. Unlike AcMP8.OH(-), the axial histidine of the 3-CNPy complex ionizes at near neutral pH (pK(a) = 7.83), prior to being replaced by OH(-) (pK(a) = 10.13). The sixth transition in the AcMP8/3-CNPy system produces the bis(hydroxo) complex (pK(a) > 13).     

Spectroscopic characterization of a high-potential lipo-cupredoxin found in Streptomyces coelicolor

For many streptomycetes, a distinct dependence on the "bioavailability" of copper ions for their morphological development has been reported. Analysis of the Streptomyces coelicolor genome reveals a number of gene products encoding for putative copper-binding proteins. One of these appears as an unusual copper-binding protein with a lipoprotein signal sequence and a cupredoxin-like domain harboring a putative Type-1 copper-binding motif. Cloning of this gene from S. coelicolor and subsequent heterologous expression in Escherichia coli has allowed for a thorough spectroscopic interrogation of this putative copper-binding protein. Optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies have confirmed the presence of a "classic" Type-1 copper site with the axial ligand to the copper a methionine. Paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy on both the native Cu(II) form and Co(II)-substituted protein has yielded active-site structural information, which on comparison with that of other cupredoxin active sites reveals metal-ligand interactions most similar to the "classic" Type-1 copper site found in the amicyanin family of cupredoxins. Despite this high structural similarity, the Cu(II)/(I) midpoint potential of the S. coelicolor protein is an unprecedented +605 mV vs normal hydrogen electrode at neutral pH (amicyanin approximately +250 mV), with no active-site protonation of the N-terminal His ligand observed. Suggestions for the physiological role/function of this high-potential cupredoxin are discussed.