Unequivocal determination of metal atom oxidation state in naked heme proteins: Fe(III)myoglobin, Fe(III)cytochrome c, Fe(III)cytochrome b5, and Fe(III)cytochrome b5 L47R

Unambiguous determination of metal atom oxidation state in an intact metalloprotein is achieved by matching experimental (electrospray ionization 9.4 tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance) and theoretical isotopic abundance mass distributions for one or more holoprotein charge states. The ion atom oxidation state is determined unequivocally as Fe(III) for each of four gas-phase unhydrated heme proteins electrosprayed from H2O: myoglobin, cytochrome c, cytochrome b5, and cytochrome b5 L47R (i.e., the solution-phase oxidation state is conserved following electrospray to produce gas-phase ions). However, the same Fe(III) oxidation state in all four heme proteins is observed after prior reduction by sodium dithionite to produce Fe(II) heme proteins in solution: thus proving that oxygen was present during the electrospray process. Those results bear directly on the issue of similarity (or lack thereof) of solution-phase and gas-phase protein conformations. Finally, infrared multiphoton irradiation of the gas-phase Fe(III)holoproteins releases Fe(III)heme from each of the noncovalently bound Fe(III)heme proteins (myoglobin, cytochrome b5 and cytochrome b5 L47R), but yields Fe(II)heme from the covalently bound heme in cytochrome c.     

Roles of the proximal heme thiolate ligand in cytochrome p450(cam).

To examine the roles of the proximal thiolate iron ligand, the C357H mutant of P450(cam) (CYP101) was characterized by resonance Raman, UV, circular dichroism, and activity measurements. The C357H mutant must be reconstituted with hemin for activity to be observed. The reconstituted enzyme is a mixture of high and low spin species. Low temperature (10 degrees C), low enzyme concentration (1 microM), high camphor concentration (1 mM), and 5--50 mM buffer concentrations increase the high to low spin ratio, but under no conditions examined was the protein more than 60% high spin. The C357H mutant has a poorer K(m) for camphor (23 vs 2 microM) and a poorer K(d) for putidaredoxin (50 vs 20 microM) than wild-type P450(cam). The mutant also exhibits a greatly decreased camphor oxidation rate, elevated uncoupling rate, and much greater peroxidase activity. Electron transfer from putidaredoxin to the mutant is much slower than to the wild-type even though redox potential measurements show that the electron transfer remains thermodynamically favored. These experiments confirm that the thiolate ligand facilitates the O--O bond cleavage by P450 enzymes and also demonstrate that this ligand satisfies important roles in protein folding, substrate binding, and electron transfer.     

Influences of the Hydrophobicity of the Heme－binding Pocket on the Properties and Functions of Cytochrome b5 Mutants

The mutation sites of the four mutants F35Y, P40V, V45E and V45Y of cytochrome b5 are located at the edge of the heme-binding pocket. The solvent accessible areas of the “pocket inte-rior“ of the four mutants and the wild-type cytochrome b5 have been calculated based on their crystal structures at high resolu-tion. The change in the hydrophobicity of the heme-binding pocket resulting from the mutation can be quantitatively de-scribed using the difference of the solvent accessible area of the “pocket interior“ of each mutant from that of the wild-type cy-tochrome b5. The influences of the hydrophobicity of the heme-binding pocket on the protein stability and redox potential are discussed.     

The allosteric properties of hemoglobin: insights from natural and site directed mutants

After over a century of extensive research, hemoglobin has become the prototype of allosteric and cooperative proteins. Its molecular structure, known in great detail, has allowed the design of hundreds of site directed mutations, aimed at interfering with its function, and thus at testing our hypotheses on the molecular mechanisms of allostery. The wealth of information thus obtained is difficult to read except for specialists, not only because it makes use of many different technical approaches, but also because of its intrinsically patchy nature. Moreover, several researchers have tried to assign specific roles to segments of the polypeptide chains, rather than to single residues, and have tested their hypotheses by multiple point mutations or by complete replacement with the homologous segment from a different hemoglobin to produce chimeric macromolecules. This approach is in great need of a revision since putative functionally relevant segments partially overlap. This review briefly describes the structure and function of hemoglobin, and analyzes the effect of point mutations, multiple mutations and segment replacement, with special attention to possible biotechnological applications, ranging from pharmacology (Hb solutions as resuscitating fluids and sources of the protein found in hemoglobinopathies for biochemical studies) to bioreactors. Occasional reference is made to site directed mutants of myoglobin, whenever this helps clarifying perplexing results obtained on hemoglobin.     

A multiplex assay to identify 18 European mammal species from mixtures using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

A novel species-specific multiplex to identify 18 common European mammalian species (badger, cat, cow, dog, donkey, fox, goat, guinea pig, harvest mouse, hedgehog, horse, house mouse, human, pig, rabbit, rat, red deer and sheep), many of which are often associated with forensic investigations, has been developed. The assay is based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, which is commonly used in species identification and phylogeny studies. Areas of homology and variation were identified and were used to create universal and species-specific primers. The species-specific primers were designed such that they will only react with the species for which they were designed. Two primer sets were designed for each species making the test self-confirmatory. All primer sets produced the expected results. The multiplex was balanced at template concentration of 40 000 copies (approximately 1.36 pg). Validation was accomplished by analysing the same sample ten times to determine run variation and several samples for each species to determine between-sample variation. Twenty-eight additional mammalian species were reacted with the multiplex. The multiplex provides, for the first time, a definitive method for identification of species in a forensic context.     

The effectiveness of three multi-component binding models in describing the binary competitive equilibrium adsorption of two cytochrome b(5) mutants

Competitive adsorption isotherms for two conservative surface charge-neutralizing mutants of cytochrome b(5), E11Q and E44Q, previously measured with competitor concentration held constant over the range of the isotherm, were used to test three widely-used multi-component isotherm models. The extended Langmuir-Freundlich, Langmuir and Jovanovic-Freundlich models each adequately described the weaker infinite dilution adsorption of the E44Q protein in the presence of the strong binding E11Q. The extended Langmuir-Freundlich model generally gave the lowest errors at higher concentrations, and the Jovanovic-Freundlich model gave the best fits when using empirically optimized maximal loading values based on multi-component as well as pure-component isotherm data.     

电喷雾质谱法研究细胞色素Tb5及其F35Y突变体蛋白 肽链和辅基的相互作用

本文通过牛肝线粒体细胞色素Tb5和它的F35Y突变体蛋白相对分子质量的外标法测定,得到细胞色素Tb5全蛋白的相对分子质量为10077.5脱辅基蛋白的相对分子质量为9461.4F35Y突变体蛋白的相对分子质量为10093.6,它的脱辅基蛋白的相对分子质量为9477.5,不同nozzle电压下的电喷雾质谱结果表明,该电压的大小明显影响蛋白肽链与血红素辅基之间的非共价结合,随着电压的降低,全蛋白谱峰的强度逐渐增大,然而,过低的电压导致了Na^+,K^+离子加合峰相对强度的增加,而不利于谱图分析。同时,考察到细胞色素Tb5在甲醇溶液和酸性溶液中的变性行为,因此选择nozzle电压70V,10%的甲醇水溶液和pH=7为得到全蛋白质谱峰的最佳条件。相同实验条件下得到的野生型CytTb5和F35Y突变体全蛋白的质谱峰相比较,其相对丰度有悬殊的差异,表明F35Y突变体蛋白的血红素结合能力明显低于野生型蛋白。通过解离出的Hemeb的分子离子峰进行解析,证明铁仍以三价离子存在于血红素辅基中。     

Metal and ligand K-edge XAS of titanium-TEMPO complexes: determination of oxidation states and insights into Ti-O bond homolysis

Ti-TEMPO (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) provides a means for generating Ti(III) complexes by homolysis of the Ti-O bond. It has been determined that bis-Cp-Ti-TEMPO complexes readily undergo homolytic cleavage while the mono-Cp-Ti-TEMPO complexes do not. Here Ti K- and Cl K-edge XAS are applied to directly determine the oxidation state of TiCl3TEMPO, TiCpCl2TEMPO, and TiCp2ClTEMPO, with reference to Ti(III) and Ti(IV) complexes of known oxidation state. The Ti K-edge data show that Ti(III) complexes exhibit a pre-edge feature approximately 1 eV lower than any of the Ti(IV) complexes; while the Cl K-edges show that Ti(III) complexes have a Cl K- pre-edge feature to approximately 1 eV higher energy than any of the Ti(IV) complexes. Taken together, the Ti and Cl K-edge data indicate that the Ti-TEMPO complexes are best described as Ti(IV)-TEMPO anions (rather than Ti(III)-nitroxyl radicals). In addition, the Cl K-edges indicate that replacement of Cl by Cp weakens the bonding with the remaining ligands, with the Cl 3p covalency decreasing from 25% to 21% to 17% on going from TiCl3TEMPO to TiCpCl2TEMPO to TiCp2ClTEMPO. DFT calculations also show that the electronic structures of the Ti-TEMPO complexes are modulated by the replacement of chloride by Cp. The effect of the Cp on the ancillary ligation is one factor that contributes to facile Ti-O bond homolysis in TiCp2ClTEMPO. However, the results indicate the primary contribution to the energetics of Ti-O bond homolysis in TiCp2ClTEMPO is stabilization of the three-coordinate product by Cp.     

Stereochemistry of the oxidation of imines derived from substituted cyclohexanones: axial vs equatorial attack and evidence for delivery by an adjacent hydroxyl group

A set of conformationally biased imines derived from substituted cyclohexanones and benzylamine or diphenylmethylamine, respectively, were oxidized to the corresponding oxaziridines. The structures of the oxaziridines were determined via NMR comparison of two series of differently N-substituted oxaziridines. Thus, those compounds having an axially disposed nitrogen substituent displayed an upfield-shifted axial proton in a 1,3-relationship to the oxaziridine nitrogen in the N-diphenylmethyl series relative to the N-benzyl compounds. Analysis of the products obtained from these reactions suggests that (1) adjacent hydroxyl groups favor syn oxidant addition and (2) imines containing adjacent methoxy groups preferentially undergo attack anti to the resident alkoxy substituent.     

Effects of axial ligand on the oxidation of triphenylphosphine catalyzed by nitro(tetraphenylporphyrinato)cobalt complexes

Nitro(tetrahenylporphyrinato)cobalt complexes catalyze the oxidation of triphenylphosphine to triphenylphosphine oxide by molecular oxygen. The effects of axial ligands in the nitro cobalt complexes on this oxidation reaction were studied. 4-Cyanopyridine gave the best yield. This result suggests that the more unstable is nitro(tetraphenylporphyrinato)cobalt complex the better the yield obtained.     

Spectroscopic characterization of hydroxide and aqua complexes of Fe(II)-protoheme, structural models for the axial coordination of the atypical heme of membrane cytochrome b6f complexes

Electronic absorption and resonance Raman (RR) spectra are reported for hydroxide and aqua complexes of iron(II)-protoporphyrin IX (Fe(II)PP) respectively formed in alkaline and neutral aqueous solutions. These compounds with weak axial ligand(s) represent a biomimetic approach of the unusual coordination of the atypical heme c(i) of membrane cytochrome b6f complexes. Absorption spectra and spectrophotometric titrations show that Fe(II)PP in alkaline aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) binds one hydroxide ion, forming a five-coordinated high-spin (HS) complex. In alkaline aqueous ethanol, we confirm the formation of a dihydroxy complex of Fe(II)PP. In the RR spectra of Fe(II)PP dissolved in neutral aqueous CTABr, a mixture of a four-coordinated intermediate spin form with an HS monoaqua complex (Fe(II)PP(H2O)) was observed. The spectroscopic information obtained for Fe(II)PP(OH-), Fe(II)PP(H2O), and Fe(II)PP(OH-)2 was compared with that previously reported for the 2-methylimidazole and 2-methylimidazolate complexes of Fe(II)PP, representative of the most common axial ligation in HS heme proteins. This investigation reveals a very remarkable analogy in the spectral properties of, in one hand, the Fe(II)PP(H2O) and mono-2-methylimidazole complexes and, in the other hand, the Fe(II)PP(OH-) and mono-2-methylimidazolate complexes. The comparisons of the absorption and RR spectra of Fe(II)PP(OH-) and Fe(II)PP(OH-)2 clearly establish that both a redshift of the pi-pi electronic transitions and an upshift of the v8 RR frequency are spectral parameters indicative of porphyrin doming in HS ferrous complexes. Based upon isotopic substitutions (16OH-,16OD-, and 18OH-), stretching modes of the Fe-OH bond(s) of a ferrous porphyrin were assigned for the first time, i.e., at 435 cm(-1) for Fe(II)PP(OH-) (nu(Fe(II)-OH-)) and at 421 cm(-1) for Fe(II)PP(OH-)2 (nu(s)(Fe(II)-(OH-)2). The spectroscopic and redox properties of Fe(II)PP(H2O), Fe(II)PP(OH-), and heme c(i) were discussed and favor a water coordination for the heme c(i) iron.     

Role of axial ligand on the electronic structures of active intermediates in cytochrome P-450, peroxidase and catalase

DFT method (B3LYP) with 6-31G^* basis set was utilized in the computation of a fully optimized structure, net atomic charges and spin densities of the intermediate of cytochrome P-450-oxoiron(IV) porphyrin cation radical, compound I – in the presence of axial ligand such as thiolate (SMe⁻) imidazole (IM), phenoxide (OPh⁻), methoxide (OMe⁻) and chloride (Cl⁻). The results show doublet states in compound I are about 2–4 kcal/mol more stable than quartet states for all aforementioned ligands, and the doublet state is the ground state in all cases. However, electron donor ability of the ligands are in the order of SMe⁻ > IM > OMe⁻ > OPh⁻ > Cl⁻. Also the active oxidant intermediate of cytochrome P-450 between different mesomeric structures select sulfur oxygen radical type structure and can be viewed as (RS^↓)Fe^↑(IV)(O^↑)(Por). In horseraddish peroxidase (HRP) and peroxidase with histidine axial ligand π cation radical character of porphyrin ring is preferred (Im)Fe^↑(IV)(O^↑)(Por^↓). For the ligands such as OMe⁻, OPh⁻ and Cl⁻ oxidation mainly took place on the iron and the active intermediate can be viewed as (L)Fe^↑(V)(O)(Por) with one unpaired electron localized on the iron.     

Dynamic docking and electron-transfer between cytochrome b5 and a suite of myoglobin surface-charge mutants. Introduction of a functional-docking algorithm for protein-protein complexes

Horse myoglobin (Mb) provides a convenient "workbench" for probing the effects of electrostatics on binding and reactivity in the dynamic [Mb, cytochrome b(5)] electron-transfer (ET) complex. We have combined mutagenesis and heme neutralization to prepare a suite of six Mb surface-charge variants: the [S92D]Mb and [V67R]Mb mutants introduce additional charges on the "front" face, and incorporation of the heme di-ester into each of these neutralizes the charge on the heme propionates which further increases the positive charge on the "front" face. For this set of mutants, the nominal charge of Mb changes by -1 to +3 units relative to that for native Mb. For each member of this set, we have measured the bimolecular quenching rate constant (k(2)) for the photoinitiated (3)ZnDMb --> Fe(3+)b(5) ET reaction as a function of ionic strength. We find: (i) a dramatic decoupling of binding and reactivity, in which k(2) varies approximately 10(3)-fold within the suite of Mbs without a significant change in binding affinity; (ii) the ET reaction occurs within the "thermodynamic" or "rapid exchange" limit of the "Dynamic Docking" model, in which a large ensemble of weakly bound protein-protein configurations contribute to binding, but only a few are reactive, as shown by the fact that the zero-ionic-strength bimolecular rate constant varies exponentially with the net charge on Mb; (iii) Brownian dynamic docking profiles allow us to visualize the microscopic basis of dynamic docking. To describe these results we present a new theoretical approach which mathematically combines PATHWAY donor/acceptor coupling calculations with Poisson-Boltzmann-based electrostatics estimates of the docking energetics in a Monte Carlo (MC) sampling framework that is thus specially tailored to the intermolecular ET problem. This procedure is extremely efficient because it targets only the functionally active complex geometries by introducing a "reactivity filter" into the computations themselves, rather than as a subsequent step. This efficiency allows us to employ more computationally expensive and accurate methods to describe the relevant intermolecular interaction energies and the protein-mediated donor/acceptor coupling interactions. It is employed here to compute the changes in the bimolecular rate constant for ET between Mb and cyt b(5) upon variations in the myoglobin surface charge, pH, and ionic strength.     

Comparison of thioethers and sulfoxides as axial ligands for N-acetylmicroperoxidase-8: implications for oxidation of methionine-80 in cytochrome c

Methionine-80 (Met-80) in mitochondrial cytochrome c (cyt c) can be oxidized to the corresponding sulfoxide by reactive oxygen species, a reaction of potential biological significance. As an approach to investigating how oxidation of Met-80 would influence its interactions with heme iron, we have examined binding of 2-(methylthio)ethanol (MTE) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), models for the side chains of Met and Met(SO), respectively, to ferrous and ferric N-acetylmicroperoxidase-8 (AcMP8). We find that DMSO coordinates 1.2 kcal/mol less strongly to Fe(III)-AcMP8 than does MTE, although both ligands form low-spin complexes. Comparison of spectroscopic data for the DMSO complex of Fe(III)-AcMP8 with published data for the Met(SO)-80 form of ferric cyt c allows us to conclude that Met(SO)-80 does not coordinate to iron in the latter. DMSO coordinates to Fe(II)-AcMP8 1.3 kcal/mol more strongly than does MTE, whereas Met-80 and Met(SO)-80 are reported to have approximately equal affinity for Fe(II) in cyt c. This result suggests that the steric environment near the heme iron in cyt c discriminates against coordination of Met(SO)-80. Vacuum quantum chemical density functional theory calculations confirm the greater affinity of the sulfoxide and show that coordination via oxygen is strongly favored. Resonance Raman spectroscopic data indicate that the preference for coordination via oxygen is maintained in solution. The computational data further indicate that the DMSO complex derives significant enthalpic stabilization from pi back-bonding but that iron to sulfur pi back-bonding does not make a significant contribution to bonding in the thioether complex.     

Magnetic properties of transition metal ion cubic 5T2 terms in axial ligand fields

The theory of magnetic anisotropy and susceptibility is worked out for cubic ⁵T₂ terms, the degeneracy of which is partially lifted by a ligand field component of axial symmetry as well as by spin-orbit coupling. Matrix elements are calculated by application of the method of Abragam and Pryce to a set of M.O. based wave-functions. The anisotropy in covalency of the metal-ligand bond and in spin-orbit coupling is taken into account. Numerical values of principal magnetic moments, P and P , are calculated as function of kT/, /, and .The theoretical results are employed in a rigorius analysis of existing single crystal magnetic data on high-spin iron(II) compounds. For (NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6 H₂O, =–100 cm^–1, =1070 cm^–1 and =0.8 to 0.6 is obtained. For FeSiF₆·6 H₂O, =–80 cm^–1, =–760cm^–1 at 77.3K and –580 cm^–1 between 20.4 and 1.57K, and 0.7 is derived. No unique fit is possible for K₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6 H₂O. The data are reproduced to better than ±1% in most cases. The limitations of the approach are stressed.

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Zusammenfassung Die Theorie der magnetischen Anisotropie und der magnetischen SuszeptibilitÄt eines ⁵ T ₂ Grundterms im oktaedrischen Ligandenfeld wird für den Fall entwickelt, da\ die Entartung unter dem Einflu\ einer axial-symmetrischen Feldkomponente sowie der Spin-Bahn-Wechselwirkung teilweise aufgehoben ist. Eigenfunktionen werden auf der Grundlage der M.O.-Theorie aufgestellt, Matrixelemente mittels der Theorie von Abragam und Pryce ermittelt. Der Anisotropie der Metall-Ligand-Bindung sowie der Spin-Bahn-Kopplung wird Rechnung getragen. Numerische Werte für die magnetischen Hauptmomente P und P werden in AbhÄngigkeit von kT/, / und berechnet.Die Ergebnisse der Theorie werden für eine genaue Analyse der verfügbaren magnetischen Daten aus Messungen an Einkristallen magnetisch normaler Eisen(II)-Verbindungen verwendet. Für (NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6 H₂O werden =–100 cm^–1, = 1070 cm^–1 und = 0,8 bis 0,6 erhalten. Für FeSiF₆·6 H₂O ergeben sich =–80 cm^–1, =–760 cm^–1 bei 77,3K und =–580 cm^–1 zwischen 20,4 und 1,57K sowie 0,7. Die experimentellen Daten können in den meisten FÄllen auf ±1% genau oder besser wiedergegeben werden. Bei K₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6 H₂O gelang keine eindeutige Bestimmung der theoretischen Parameter. Die Grenzen der vorliegenden Behandlung werden kritisch diskutiert.

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Résumé La théorie de l'anisotropie magnétique et de la susceptibilité magnétique est développée pour les termes cubiques ⁵ T ₂, dont la dégénérescence est partiellement levée par une composante à symétrie axiale du champ de ligandes ainsi que par le couplage spin-orbite. Les éléments de matrice sont calculés à l'aide de la méthode d'Abragam et Pryce employée sur un système M.O. des fonctions d'onde de base. On a pris en consideration l'anisotropie de la liaison entre le metal et le ligand et aussi du couplage spin-orbite. Les valeurs numériques des moments magnétiques principaux P et P sont calculées en fonction de kT/, /, et .Les résultats théoriques sont employés dans une analyse détaillée des données magnétiques disponibles sur monocristaux des composés ferreux spin-élevés. Pour (NH₄)₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6 H₂O on a obtenu =–100 cm^–1, =1070 cm^–1 et =0.8 à 0,6. Pour FeSiF₆·6 H₂O on a eu comme résultat =–80 cm^–1, =–760 cm^–1 à 77,3 K et =–580 cm^–1 entre 20,4 et 1,57K avec 0,7. Les valeurs expérimentales sont réprésentées dans la plupart de cas plus précises que ±1%. Au cas de K₂Fe(SO₄)₂·6 H₂O une détermination unique était impossible. Les limites de cette approximation sont discutées.

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Postdoctoral Fellow, Theoretical Chemistry, 1963–1964.