Resonance Raman study of the pH-dependent and detergent-induced structural alterations in the heme moiety of Rhodospirillum rubrum cytochrome c'

The roles of C-terminal residues on the thermal stability and local heme environment of cytochrome c' from the thermophilic purple sulfur bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum

A soluble cytochrome (Cyt) c' from thermophilic purple sulfur photosynthetic bacterium Thermochromatium (Tch.) tepidum exhibits marked thermal tolerance compared with that from the closely related mesophilic counterpart Allochromatium vinosum. Here, we focused on the difference in the C-terminal region of the two Cyts c' and examined the effects of D131 and R129 mutations on the thermal stability and local heme environment of Cyt c' by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy. In the oxidized forms, D131K and D131G mutants exhibited denaturing temperatures significantly lower than that of the recombinant control Cyt c'. In contrast, R129K and R129A mutants denatured at nearly identical temperatures with the control Cyt c', indicating that the C-terminal D131 is an important residue maintaining the enhanced thermal stability of Tch. tepidum Cyt c'. The control Cyt c' and all of the mutants increased their thermal stability upon the reduction. Interestingly, D131K exhibited narrow DSC curves and unusual thermodynamic parameters in both redox states. The RR spectra of the control Cyt c' exhibited characteristic bands at 1,635 and 1,625 cm(-1), ascribed to intermediate spin (IS) and high spin (HS) states, respectively. The IS/HS distribution was differently affected by the D131 and R129 mutations and pH changes. Furthermore, R129 mutants suggested the lowering of their redox potentials. These results strongly indicate that the D131 and R129 residues play significant roles in maintaining the thermal stability and modulating the local heme environment of Tch. tepidum Cyt c'.

Cytochromes c': Structure, Reactivity and Relevance to Haem-Based Gas Sensing

Cytochromes c' are a group of class IIa cytochromes with pentacoordinate haem centres and are found in photosynthetic, denitrifying and methanotrophic bacteria. Their function remains unclear, although roles in nitric oxide (NO) trafficking during denitrification or in cellular defence against nitrosoative stress have been proposed. Cytochromes c' are typically dimeric with each c-type haem-containing monomer folding as a four-α-helix bundle. Their hydrophobic and crowded distal sites impose severe restrictions on the binding of distal ligands, including diatomic gases. By contrast, NO binds to the proximal haem face in a similar manner to that of the eukaryotic NO sensor, soluble guanylate cyclase and bacterial analogues. In this review, we focus on how structural features of cytochromes c' influence haem spectroscopy and reactivity with NO, CO and O2. We also discuss the relevance of cytochrome c' to understanding the mechanisms of gas binding to haem-based sensor proteins.

The 2-Cys peroxiredoxin alkyl hydroperoxide reductase c binds heme and participates in its intracellular availability in Streptococcus agalactiae

Heme is a redox-reactive molecule with vital and complex roles in bacterial metabolism, survival, and virulence. However, few intracellular heme partners were identified to date and are not well conserved in bacteria. The opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus) is a heme auxotroph, which acquires exogenous heme to activate an aerobic respiratory chain. We identified the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase AhpC, a member of the highly conserved thiol-dependent 2-Cys peroxiredoxins, as a heme-binding protein. AhpC binds hemin with a K(d) of 0.5 microm and a 1:1 stoichiometry. Mutagenesis of cysteines revealed that hemin binding is dissociable from catalytic activity and multimerization. AhpC reductase activity was unchanged upon interaction with heme in vitro and in vivo. A group B Streptococcus ahpC mutant displayed attenuation of two heme-dependent functions, respiration and activity of a heterologous catalase, suggesting a role for AhpC in heme intracellular fate. In support of this hypothesis, AhpC-bound hemin was protected from chemical degradation in vitro. Our results reveal for the first time a role for AhpC as a heme-binding protein.

Accessibility of the distal heme face, rather than Fe-His bond strength, determines the heme-nitrosyl coordination number of cytochromes c': evidence from spectroscopic studies

The heme coordination chemistry and spectroscopic properties of Rhodobacter capsulatus cytochrome c' (RCCP) have been compared to data from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (AXCP), with the aim of understanding the basis for their different reactivities with nitric oxide (NO). Whereas ferrous AXCP reacts with NO to form a predominantly five-coordinate heme-nitrosyl complex via a six-coordinate intermediate, RCCP forms an equilibrium mixture of six-coordinate and five-coordinate heme-nitrosyl species in approximately equal proportions. Ferrous RCCP and AXCP both exhibit high Fe-His stretching frequencies (227 and 231 cm(-)(1), respectively), suggesting that factors other than the Fe-His bond strength account for their differences in heme-nitrosyl coordination number. Resonance Raman spectra of ferrous-nitrosyl RCCP confirm the presence of both five-coordinate and six-coordinate heme-NO complexes. The six-coordinate heme-nitrosyl of RCCP exhibits a fairly typical Fe-NO stretching frequency (569 cm(-)(1)), in contrast to the relatively high value (579 cm(-)(1)) of the AXCP six-coordinate heme-nitrosyl intermediate. It is proposed that NO experiences greater steric hindrance in binding to the distal face of AXCP, as compared to RCCP, leading to a more distorted Fe-N-O geometry and an elevated Fe-NO stretching frequency. Evidence that RCCP has a more accessible distal coordination site than in AXCP stems from the fact that ferric RCCP readily forms a heme complex with exogenous imidazole, whereas AXCP does not. A model is proposed in which distal heme-face accessibility, rather than the proximal Fe-His bond strength, determines the heme-nitrosyl coordination number in cytochromes c'.

Electronic Structures of Five-Coordinate Iron(III) Porphyrin Complexes with Highly Ruffled Porphyrin Ring

The spin states of the iron(III) complexes with a highly ruffled porphyrin ring, [Fe(TEtPrP)X] where X = F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, and ClO4(-), have been examined by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. While the F-, Cl-, and Br- complexes adopt a high-spin (S = 5/2) state, the I- complex exhibits an admixed intermediate-spin (S = 5/2, 3/2) state in CD2Cl2 solution. The I- complex shows, however, a quite pure high-spin state in toluene solution as well as in the solid. The results contrast those of highly saddled [Fe(OETPP)X] where the I- complex exhibits an essentially pure intermediate-spin state both in solution and in the solid. In contrast to the halide-ligated complexes, the ClO4(-) complex shows a quite pure intermediate-spin state. The 13C NMR spectra of [Fe(TEtPrP)ClO4] are characterized by the downfield and upfield shifts of the meso and pyrrole-alpha carbon signals, respectively: delta(meso) = +342 and delta(alpha-py) = -287 ppm at 298 K. The data indicate that the meso carbon atoms of [Fe(TEtPrP)ClO4] have considerable amounts of positive spin, which in turn indicate that the iron has an unpaired electron in the d(xy) orbital; the unpaired electron in the d(xy) orbital is delocalized to the meso positions due to the iron(d(xy))-porphyrin(a(2u)) interaction. Similar results have been obtained in analogous [Fe(TiPrP)X] though the intermediate-spin character of [Fe(TiPrP)X] is much larger than that of the corresponding [Fe(TEtPrP)X]. On the basis of these results, we have concluded that the highly ruffled intermediate-spin complexes such as [Fe(TEtPrP)ClO4] and [Fe(TiPrP)ClO4] adopt a novel (d(xz), d(yz))3(d(xy))1(d(z)(2)1 electron configuration; the electron configuration of the intermediate-spin complexes reported previously is believed to be (d(xy))2(d(xz)), d(yz))2(d(z)(2))1.

Models for cytochromes c': spin states of mono(imidazole)-ligated (meso-tetramesitylporphyrinato)iron(III) complexes as studied by UV-Vis, 13C NMR, 1H NMR, and EPR spectroscopy

A number of mono(imidazole)-ligated complexes of perchloro(meso-tetramesitylporphyrinato)iron(III), [Fe(TMP)L]ClO(4), have been prepared, and their spin states have been examined by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and EPR spectroscopy as well as solution magnetic moments. All the complexes examined have shown a quantum mechanical spin admixed state of high and intermediate-spin (S = 5/2 and 3/2) states though the contribution of the S = 3/2 state varies depending on the nature of axial ligands. While the complex with extremely bulky 2-tert-butylimidazole (2-(t)()BuIm) has exhibited an essentially pure S = 5/2 state, the complex with electron-deficient 4,5-dichloroimidazole (4,5-Cl(2)Im) adopts an S = 3/2 state with 30% of the S = 5/2 spin admixture. On the basis of the (1)H and (13)C NMR results, we have concluded that the S = 3/2 contribution at ambient temperature increases according to the following order: 2-(t)BuIm < 2-(1-EtPr)Im < 2-MeIm <or= 2-EtIm <or= 2-(i)PrIm < 4,5-Cl(2)Im. The effective magnetic moments determined by the Evans method in CH(2)Cl(2) solution are 5.9 and 5.0 mu(B) at 25 degrees C for [Fe(TMP)(2-(t)BuIm)]ClO(4) and [Fe(TMP)(2-MeIm)]ClO(4), respectively, which further verify the order given above. Comparison of the NMR and EPR data has revealed that the S = 3/2 contribution changes sensitively by the temperature; the S = 3/2 contribution decreases as the temperature is lowered for all the mono(imidazole) complexes examined in this study. The solvent polarity also affects the spin state; polar solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile increase the S = 3/2 contribution while nonpolar solvents such as benzene decrease it. These results are explained in terms of the structurally flexible nature of the mono(imidazole) complexes; structural parameters such as the Fe(III)-N(axial) bond length, displacement of the iron from the N4 core, tilting of the Fe(III)-N(axial) bond to the heme normal, orientation of the coordinated imidazole ligand, etc., could be altered by the nature of the axial ligands as well as by the solvent polarity and temperature. Some mysteries on the spin states of cytochromes c' isolated from various bacterial sources are possibly explained in terms of the flexible nature of the mono(imidazole)-ligated structure.

Six- to five-coordinate heme-nitrosyl conversion in cytochrome c' and its relevance to guanylate cyclase

The 5-coordinate ferrous heme of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans cytochrome c' reacts with NO to form a 6-coordinate nitrosyl intermediate (lambdaSoret at 415 nm) which subsequently converts to a 5-coordinate nitrosyl end product (lambdaSoret at 395 nm) in a rate-determining step. Stopped-flow measurements at pH 8.9, 25 degrees C, yield a rate constant for the formation of the 6-coordinate nitrosyl adduct, k(on) = (4.4 +/- 0.5) x 10(4) M(-1) x s(-1), which is 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than the values for other pentacoordinate ferrous hemes and is consistent with NO binding within the sterically crowded distal heme pocket. Resonance Raman measurements of the freeze-trapped 6-coordinate nitrosyl intermediate reveal an unusually high Fe-NO stretching frequency of 579 cm(-1), suggesting a distorted Fe-N-O coordination geometry. The rate of 6- to 5-coordinate heme nitrosyl conversion is also dependent upon NO concentration, with a rate constant, k(6-5) = (8.1 +/- 0.7) x 10(3) M(-1) x s(-1), implying that an additional molecule of NO is required to form the 5c-NO adduct. Since crystallographic studies have shown that the 5-coordinate nitrosyl complex of cytochrome c' binds NO to the proximal (rather than distal) face of the heme, the NO dependence of the 6- to 5-coordinate NO conversion supports a mechanism in which the weakened His ligand, as well as the distally bound NO, is displaced by a second NO molecule which attacks and is retained in the proximal coordination position. The fact that a dependent 6- to 5-coordinate nitrosyl conversion has been previously reported for soluble guanylate cyclase suggests that the mechanism of Fe-His bond cleavage may be similar to that of cytochrome c' and strengthens the recent proposal that both proteins exhibit proximal NO binding in their 5-coordinate nitrosyl adducts.

Resonance Raman studies of cytochrome c' support the binding of NO and CO to opposite sides of the heme: implications for ligand discrimination in heme-based sensors

Resonance Raman (RR) studies have been conducted on Alcaligenes xylosoxidans cytochrome c', a mono-His ligated hemoprotein which reversibly binds NO and CO but not O(2). Recent crystallographic characterization of this protein has revealed the first example of a hemoprotein which can utilize both sides of its heme (distal and proximal) for binding exogenous ligands to its Fe center. The present RR investigation of the Fe coordination and heme pocket environments of ferrous, carbonyl, and nitrosyl forms of cytochrome c' in solution fully supports the structures determined by X-ray crystallography and offers insights into mechanisms of ligand discrimination in heme-based sensors. Ferrous cytochrome c' reacts with CO to form a six-coordinate heme-CO complex, whereas reaction with NO results in cleavage of the proximal linkage to give a five-coordinate heme-NO adduct, despite the relatively high stretching frequency (231 cm(-1)) of the ferrous Fe-N(His) bond. RR spectra of the six-coordinate CO adduct indicate that CO binds to the Fe in a nonpolar environment in line with its location in the hydrophobic distal heme pocket. On the other hand, RR data for the five-coordinate NO adduct suggest a positively polarized environment for the NO ligand, consistent with its binding close to Arg 124 on the opposite (proximal) side of the heme. Parallels between certain physicochemical properties of cytochrome c' and those of heme-based sensor proteins raise the possibility that the latter may also utilize both sides of their hemes to discriminate between NO and CO binding.

Spectroscopic characterization of nitrosylheme in nitric oxide complexes of ferric and ferrous cytochrome c' from photosynthetic bacteria

Reactions of ferric and ferrous cytochromes c' from four photosynthetic bacteria (Rhodobacter capsulatus ATCC 11166, Rhodopseudomonas palustris ATCC 17001, Rhodospirillum rubrum ATCC 11170, and Chromatium vinosum ATCC 17899) with nitric oxide have been investigated by electronic absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. The heme iron(III) of these ferric cytochromes c' has been recently reported to be in a quantum mechanically admixed (S = 5/2, 3/2) state [Fujii, S., Yoshimura, T., Kamada, H., Yamaguchi, K., Suzuki, S., Shidara, S. and Takakuwa, S. (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1251, 161-169]. The affinity of ferric cytochromes c' for NO among these bacterial species (C. vinosum > Rps. palustris approximately Rb. capsulatus >> R. rubrum) was apparently related to the S = 3/2 content in the or der. In the reaction of ferrous cytochrome c' with NO, six- and five-coordinated nitrosylhemes, which represent species with and without a ligand at the axial position trans to nitrosyl group, have been formed. The content of six-coordinated nitrosylheme in NO-ferrous cytochrome c' has been determined to be Rb. capsulatus approximately Rps. palustris > C. vinosum < R rubrum, suggesting that a stability of iron-to-histidine bond decreases with this order. The NO reactions of ferric and ferrous cytochromes c' from photosynthetic bacteria have been compared with those of cytochromes c' from denitrifying bacteria.

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of ferric cytochrome c' from photosynthetic bacteria

Electronic ground nature of ferric cytochromes c' isolated from five photosynthetic bacteria. Chromatium vinosum ATCC 17899, Rhodobacter capsulatus ATCC 11166, Rhodopseudomonas palustris ATCC 17001, Rhodospirillum molischianum ATCC 14031, and Rhodospirillum rubrum ATCC 11170 has been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR spectra indicate that the electronic ground state of five ferric cytochromes c' is a quantum mechanical admixed-spin state of a high spin (S = 5/2) and an intermediate spin (S = 3/2) at pH 7.2 and is high-spin state at pH 11.0. At physiological pH, however, the content of an intermediate spin state differs with the bacterial source of the protein: approximately 50%, Chromatium vinosum; approximately 40%, Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodopseudomonas palustris; approximately 10%, Rhodospirillum molischianum and Rhodospirillum rubrum. Computer simulation of the spectra supports this diversity of the contribution of an intermediate spin state. Model studies of the ferric porphyrin complexes suggest that the correlation between content of an intermediate spin state and heme iron displacement from the mean heme plane. Therefore, the variation of the content of an intermediate spin state observed in the present study reflects the subtle difference in the degree of heme iron displacement among the proteins.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy of c-type cytochromes

This paper provides an overview of the usefulness of the resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy in the determination of the structural and electronic properties of heme(s) included in c-type cytochromes. It reviews the mode assignments presently available for heme c and includes recent RR data on the most important subclasses of c-type cytochromes. It also describes the effects of cytochrome c-oxidase and cytochrome c-reductase associations on the heme vibrational modes of the bound cytochrome c.

A heme c-peptide model system for the resonance Raman study of c-type cytochromes: characterization of the solvent-dependence of peptide-histidine-heme interactions

The visible absorption and Soret-excited resonance Raman spectra of ferrous microperoxidase-8 [MP8(II)], an octapeptide containing a heme c, are reported. These spectroscopies indicate that MP8(II), dissolved in aqueous buffered solutions, forms low-spin six-coordinated complexes in the 7-14 pH range. Intermolecular bonding interactions of MP8(II) in water account for this behavior. On the contrary, when the hemopeptide is dispersed in aqueous solutions containing detergent or an alcohol, the spectroscopic data show that the iron atom of MP8(II) is essentially high-spin five-coordinated in accordance with a monomeric structure of MP8(II). In addition to a high-spin signature to the heme skeletal modes, the high-frequency regions of resonance Raman spectra characterize an electronic influence of the thioether bridges on the frequency of stretching modes of C beta-C beta bonds (nu 2, nu 11, and nu 29). On the other hand, the low-frequency Raman spectra of monomeric MP8(II) at pH 7.5 present significant differences in the 150-250-cm-1 regions depending upon the solvent composition (pH, presence or absence of detergent, alcohol). These effects are attributed to frequency variations of the Fe-N(His)-involving mode which indicate changes in the H-bonding interactions of the axial His and therefore solvent-dependent changes of the octapeptide conformation. Our resonance Raman data further show that the axial His of monomeric MP8(II) could be totally deprotonated in aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide solution at very alkaline pH (pKa = 13.3). The vibrational data (100-1700 cm-1) obtained for the various monomeric forms of MP8(II) are expected to be useful for determining the heme structure and environment in reduced c'-type cytochromes. Comparisons of resonance Raman data with X-ray crystallographic data available for different hemoproteins allow us to evaluate the ionization and H-bonding states of the His bound to the high-spin five-coordinated hemes. These data are discussed in terms of proximal influence of protein-His-heme interactions on the determination and the regulation of a particular biological function.

NOE and two-dimensional correlated 1H-NMR spectroscopy of cytochrome c' from Chromatium vinosum

1H two-dimensional (nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy (COSY) spectra of cytochrome c' from Chromatium vinosum have been obtained. The protein is of medium size (Mr 28,000), essentially high spin (S = 5/2) although some quantum mechanical spin admixing with S = 3 2 may be present. Under these circumstances NOESY cross peaks have been revealed between geminal protons (alpha-CH2 propionate and beta-CH2 protons of the bound histidine) and between alpha-CH2 propionate protons and the heme methyl groups. COSY maps have confirmed the geminal nature of the proton pairs, even with a linewidth as large as 900 Hz; the J value is about 12 Hz. This assignment has rationalized on a sound basis the biochemical behavior of this protein with pH and has showed the utility of this kind of spectroscopy for the other cytochromes c' structures and analogous systems.

1H NMR studies of Chromatium vinosum cytochrome c'

The cytochrome c' from Chromatium vinosum has been studied through 1H NMR in the pH range 4-11 in both the oxidized and the reduced forms. The 1H NMR spectra are similar to those of the other cytochrome c' systems. Three pKa values of 5.1, 7.0, and 9.2 have been observed for the oxidized species and tentatively assigned to the two carboxylate propionic residues of the heme moiety and to the iron-coordinated histidine 125, respectively. The spectra are consistent with an essentially S = 5/2 state in all the pH ranges investigated. Some evidence is provided for conformational flexibilities. Among the oxidized cytochromes c' the present one is capable of binding cyanide, giving rise to a low spin state. The reduced species is a typical high spin iron(II) system.

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure study of Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodospirillum molischianum cytochromes c': relationship between heme stereochemistry and spin state

An EXAFS study on the oxidized and reduced forms of cytochromes c' from Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodospirillum molischianum was performed at pH 7. The cytochromes c' have an apparent coordination number of 5 in both oxidation states. Average Fe-ligand bond lengths of 2.02 +/- 0.025 and 2.06 +/- 0.025 A are obtained in their oxidized and reduced forms, respectively. By use of suitable values for the Fe-NHis bond length and Fe out-of-plane displacement, as determined by small molecule crystallographic techniques, the Fe-Npyrrole bond lengths and the porphyrin center-to-Npyrrole distance have been estimated for cytochrome c' in both of its oxidation states. With this model, estimates of the Fe-Npyrrole bond lengths are 2.01 +/- 0.03 and 2.05 +/- 0.03 A, for the oxidized and reduced cytochromes c', respectively. The center-to-Npyrrole distance is estimated to be 1.99 +/- 0.03 A for oxidized cytochrome c' and 2.03 +/- 0.03 A for reduced cytochrome c'.

Identification of heme axial ligands of cytochrome c' from Alcaligenes sp. N.C.I.B. 11015

The spectral properties of both ferric and ferrous cytochromes c' from Alcaligenes sp. N.C.I.B. 11015 are reported. The EPR spectra at 77 K and the electronic, resonance Raman, CD and MCD spectra at room temperature have been compared with those of the other cytochromes c' and various hemoproteins. In the ferrous form, all the spectral results at physiological pH strongly indicated that the heme iron(II) is in a high-spin state. In the ferric form, the EPR and electronic absorption spectra were markedly dependent upon pH. EPR and electronic spectral results suggested that the ground state of heme iron(III) at physiological pH consists of a quantum mechanical admixture of an intermediate-spin and a high-spin state. Under highly alkaline conditions, identification of the axial ligands of heme iron(III) was attempted by crystal field analysis of the low-spin EPR g values. Upon the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate to ferric and ferrous cytochrome c', the low-spin type spectra were induced. The heme environment of this low-spin species is also discussed.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy shows different temperature-dependent coordination equilibria for native horseradish and cytochrome c peroxidase

Resonance Raman spectra are reported for native horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) at 290, 77 and 9 K, using 406.7 nm excitation, in resonance with the Soret electronic transition. The spectra reveal temperature-dependent equilibria involving changes in coordination or spin state. At 290 K and pH 6.5, CCP contains a mixture of 5- and 6-coordinate high-spin FeIII heme while at 9 K the equilibrium is shifted entirely to the 6-coordinate species. The spectra indicate weak binding of H2O to the heme Fe, consistent with the long distance, 2.4 A, seen in the crystal structure. At 290 K HRP also contains a mixture of high-spin FeIII hemes with the 5-coordinate form predominant. At low temperature, a small 6-coordinate high-spin component remains but the 5-coordinate high-spin spectrum is replaced by another which is characteristic either of 6-coordinate low-spin or 5-coordinate intermediate spin heme. The latter species is definitely indicated by previous EPR studies at low temperature. This behavior implies that, in contrast to CCP, the distal coordination site of HRP is only partially occupied by H2O at any temperature and that lowering the temperature significantly weakens the Fe-proximal imidazole bond. Consistent with this inference, the 77 K spectrum of reduced HRP shows an appreciable fraction of molecules having an Fe-imidazole stretching frequency of 222 cm-1, a value indicating weakened H-bonding of the proximal imidazole.

Resonance Raman characterization of a novel, oxygen-binding heme protein from Chromatium vinosum

Resonance Raman spectroscopy was employed to characterize the local heme environment of a high-spin, ligand-binding heme protein from Chromatium vinosum (Chromatium high-spin hemoprotein). High-frequency spectra obtained with both B- and Q-band excitation were found to resemble qualitatively those of deoxyhemoglobin (HbA). Differences between HbA and Chromatium high-spin hemoprotein spectra can be assigned to either the effects of a covalent linkage of the heme vinyls to the protein matrix or alterations in the heme-proximal ligand bonding interaction. Both kinematic and electronic effects were evident. The behavior of heme core-size sensitive modes and low-frequency modes in Chromatium high-spin hemoprotein may be an indication of distortions in the heme geometry of Chromatium high-spin hemoprotein relative to HbA. The effects of covalent bonding of the heme peripheral vinyls upon the vibrational, electronic, and geometric characteristics of the heme active site in Chromatium high-spin hemoprotein are discussed.

Cytochromes c' in their reaction with ethyl isocyanide

The binding of ethyl isocyanide (EIC) to a representative number of cytochromes c' is demonstrated. Spectroscopic and equilibrium constants have been measured and compared for the binding of EIC to cytochromes c' from the photosynthetic bacteria Chromatium vinosum, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. While the absorption spectra of the EIC complexes resemble those of EIC complexes of other high-spin hemoproteins, the Soret half band widths and extinction coefficients per heme exhibit more than a 2-fold difference with the values of C. vinosum being most similar to those of Rh. sphaeroides and of Rh. palustris similar to those of Rs. rubrum. The cytochromes exhibit binding equilibria consistent with the ligation of one molecule of EIC per heme in contrast to the reported binding of more than one molecule of CO per heme. The binding constants exhibit more than a 1000-fold difference with the values of C. vinosum being closely similar to those of Rh. sphaeroides and of Rh. palustris similar to those of Rs. rubrum. The lack of correlation between EIC and CO binding properties indicates that electronic factors do not determine the difference in EIC binding properties. The observed correlation between the extinction coefficients, half band widths, and equilibrium constants for EIC complex formation provides the first spectroscopic evidence that the differences in binding properties are associated with sterically hindered ligation to the heme. Although the differences in binding properties provide evidence of steric hindrance, the EIC binding constants for particular cytochromes c' indicate that the distal heme binding site is more accessible than previously indicated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metal coordination centres of class II cytochromes c

The class II cytochromes Rhodospirillum molischianum cytochrome c', Rhodopseudomonas palustris cytochrome C556 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (B2a) cytochrome c556 have been investigated with a variety of spectroscopic techniques. The cytochrome c' was found to be high-spin and the two cytochromes c556 were found to be mainly low-spin and sx-coordinate with the fifth and sixth ligands being histidine and methionine. The implications of the different types of iron coordination are discussed.

Resonance Raman spectra of bovine adrenal cytochrome P-450SCC

Resonance Raman spectra were observed for a mitochondria-type cytochrome p-450 (P-450SCC) for the first time. Reduced P-450SCC at pH 7.4 exhibited the V4 line at 1342 cm-1, which is an unusually low frequency compared with an ordinary protohemoprotein but is common to the family of cytochrome P-450, suggesting the coordination of a strong pi-donor such as thiolate anion at the fifth coordination position of the heme iron. The anomaly was preserved for the CO-complex of the reduced form. The V10 line of oxidized P-450SCC with a substrate was observed at 1617 cm-1. This frequency and those of other structure-sensitive bands implied that the heme iron of oxidized P-450SCC adopts the hexa-coordinate high-spin structure, in contrast with the high-spin type cytochrome P-450 purified from phenobarbital- or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rabbit liver microsomes which presumably have a penta-coordinate structure. In the presence of 20alpha-hydroxycholesterol, oxidized P-450SCC gave the V10 line at 1637 cm-1, i.e., at a frequency similar to that of low-spin type cytochrome P-450. The alkaline-denatured P-420SCC preparation in the presence of both dithiothreitol and EDTA, but not the P-450SCC gave the V10 line at 1637 cm-1, i.e., at a frequency similar to that of low-spin type cytochrome P-450. The alkaline-denatured P-420SCC preparation in the presence of both dithiothreitol and EDTA, but not the P-450SCC.

Proton nuclear-magnetic-resonance and resonance Raman studies of thermophilic cytochrome c-552 from Thermus thermophilus HB8

The pH and temperature dependences of the 270-MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance and resonance Raman spectra of Thermus thermophilus cytochrome c-552 were studied. Observation of the NMR methyl signal of the iron-bound methionine indicates that a methionine residue is the sixth ligand of heme iron in both ferric and ferrous states, although the environment of this methionine is not similar to that in mitochondrial cytochrome c. The NMR methyl signal of the coordinated methionine in the ferrous state was observed even at 87 degrees C, indicating the retention of the methionine ligand at the sixth coordination position. None of resonance Raman lines in ferrous cytochrome c-552 at higher temperatures showed a prominant temperature-dependent frequency shift, which implies that the heme iron was still bound with strong ligands and retained the low-spin state. In either redox state overall thermal denaturation did not occur even at 87 degrees C, although the ferric form existed in thermal spin mixture of the low-spin and high-spin species at higher temperatures. The hyperfine-shifted NMR resonances of the ferric form indicated rapid exchange of the sixth ligand at alkaline pH in the process of a single-step alkaline isomerization.

1H-NMR and rosonance Raman spectra of octaethylporphyrinatoiron(III) perchlorate and its mono imidazole adduct

The 1H-NMR spectra and the resonance Raman spectra of intermediate spin complex, octaethylporphyrinatoiron (III) perchlorate (OEP-Fe(III)ClO4) and its mono imidazole adduct have been recorded and analyzed. The perchlorate complex was determined to be an intermediate-spin state (S = 3/2) in dichloromethane. The mono imidazole and 2-methylimidazole adducts of OEP-Fe(III)ClO4 were of the high-spin state in dichloromethane, which is a good model for the ferrihemoproteins such as metmyoglobins. The spin state of OEP-Fe(III)ClO4 varies the polarity of solvent from typical high-spin (S = 5/2) to typical low-spin (S = 1/2) state including intermediate-spin state (S = 3/2). The resonance Raman studies of the intermediate-spin complex in various solvents indicate that the complex is a plausible model to reproduce anomalous physico-chemical properties of the ferricytochrome c' at physiological condition.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy in biochemistry and biology

Resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy provides detailed information on the vibrational and electronic properties of biochemical and biological chromophores. The analysis of RR spectra, using for example model compounds or a group frequency approach, enables us to form an accurate structural picture of the chromophore in its natural biological site. Moreover, the insight gained into the electronic states of a biological chromophore can be crucial to our understanding of its function. Thus the RR technique represents a powerful means of eliciting precise structural and electronic data from a coloured species and of focusing upon key aspects of its function. It has even been possible to obtain RR spectra from some natural chromophores invivo, giving spectra detailed and informative enough to please a spectroscopist from a system complex enough to satisfy a biologist.