Probing metalloproteins by voltammetry

Kinetic studies of the electron exchange reaction between the octaheme cytochrome c3 (Mr 26000) and the hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway

The octaheme cytochrome c3 (Mr 26000) from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway was studied using cyclic voltammetry at the pyrolytic graphite electrode. The kinetics of reduction of the octaheme cytochrome c3 (Mr 26000) from D. desulfuricans Norway by the Ni-Fe-Se hydrogenase purified from the same organism was investigated by an electrochemical method. From cyclic voltammetry experiments a value of 8.108M-1S-1 was obtained for the second order homogenous rate constant of the electron transfer between the two proteins. Results are compared with similar experiments performed on the electron exchange between the tetrahemic cytochrome c3 (Mr 13000) and hydrogenase.

Stepped potential microcoulometry of ferritin

A coulometric method for measuring the redox potentials of ferritins and the rates of reduction of the iron core is reported. The half-reduction potential, Eo', of the protein is determined from the coulomb-applied potential curve. This curve is obtained from the difference between the curves for the mediator plus protein and the mediator alone. The coulomb-applied potential curves are generated by stepping the potential in increments over the region of interest and measuring the charged passed following each step. The method is reasonably fast, enabling the redox potential to be determined in 1 day, and gives Eo', values for mediators and the protein that are in good agreement with literature values.