1H- and 15N-NMR study of the binding of thiocyanate to chemically modified horseradish peroxidase and involvement of salt bridge

Autocatalytic Modification of the Prosthetic Heme of Horseradish but Not Lactoperoxidase by Thiocyanate Oxidation Products. A Role for Heme−Protein Covalent Cross-Linking

The mammalian peroxidases eosinophil peroxidase, lactoperoxidase (LPO), and myeloperoxidase oxidize thiocyanate to the antimicrobial agents hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) and (SCN)2 and are part of a defense system that protects the host from infections. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a plant enzyme, also oxidizes thiocyanate. We report here that the prosthetic heme vinyl groups of HRP react with the catalytically generated HOSCN and (SCN)2 to form at least nine vinyl-modified heme adducts. Mass spectrometry combined with analysis of the equivalent reactions of HRP reconstituted with 2- or 4-cyclopropylheme, or mesoheme-d4, shows that all of the prosthetic heme modifications result from addition of oxidized thiocyanate to the heme vinyl groups. No delta-meso-substitution of the heme was observed, in contrast to what is observed with radical agents. Model studies show that incubation of either HRP with preformed HOSCN or a solution of heme with preformed (SCN)2 gives rise to the same products obtained in the HRP-catalyzed reaction. Model studies also demonstrate that the SCN* radical, if formed, should add to a meso-carbon. These findings implicate an electrophilic addition mechanism. In contrast, oxidation by LPO of thiocyanate, the normal substrate of this enzyme, does not result in heme modification. In view of the demonstrated intrinsic reactivity of the heme group, LPO must actively suppress heme modification. As the key difference between LPO (and other mammalian peroxidases) and HRP is the presence of two covalent ester links between the heme and the protein, we propose that these links contribute to steric protection of the adjacent heme vinyl groups.

Haem propionates control oxidative and reductive activities of horseradish peroxidase by maintaining the correct orientation of the haem

The role of haem propionates in oxidative and reductive reactions catalysed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was studied after successful reconstitution of ferric protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (PPDME) into the apoperoxidase. The reconstituted enzyme oxidizes neither guaiacol (aromatic electron donor) nor iodide or thiocyanate (inorganic donor). Although the reconstituted enzyme binds guaiacol with a similar Kd (13 mM) to that of the native enzyme (10 mM), the Kd for SCN- binding (5 mM) is decreased 20-fold compared with that of the native enzyme (100 mM). This indicates that haem propionates hinder the entry or binding of inorganic anion to the active site of the native HRP. However, the reconstituted enzyme is catalytically inactive as it does not form spectroscopically detectable compound II with H2O2. CD measurements indicate a significant loss of haem CD spectrum of the reconstituted enzyme at 409 nm, suggesting a loss of asymmetry of the haem-protein interaction. Thus the inability of the reconstituted enzyme to form catalytic intermediates results from the change in orientation of the haem due to loss of interactions via the haem propionates. HRP also catalyses reductive reactions such as reduction of iodine (I+) in the presence of EDTA and H2O2. The reconstituted enzyme cannot catalyse I+ reduction because of the loss of I+ binding to the haem propionate. Since I+ reduction requires formation of the catalytically active enzyme-I+-EDTA ternary complex, the loss of reductive activity is primarily due to the loss of active enzyme formation. Haem propionates thus play a vital role in the oxidative and reductive reactions of HRP by favouring the formation of catalytic intermediates with H2O2 by maintaining the correct orientation of the haem with respect to the surrounding residues.

pH-induced conformational perturbation in horseradish peroxidase. Picosecond tryptophan fluorescence studies on native and cyanide-modified enzymes

The fluorescence-decay characteristics of the single tryptophan present in horseradish peroxidase (HRP) have been studied using dye-laser pulses and single-photon counting techniques. The decay was found to be dominated by a picosecond-lifetime component, with small contributions from two other lifetime components in the nanosecond range. The distance of the tryptophan residue was estimated from the fluorescence-energy transfer to the heme moiety using Förster's theory. The tryptophan residue was found to be approximately 1.2 nm from the heme moiety at neutral pH. Detailed analysis of the fluorescence-decay profiles using the maximum-entropy method (MEM) has been carried out. The results of the MEM analysis also showed a maximum amplitude peak at approximately 45 ps (at pH approximately 7) with a very small (< 5%) contribution from two other components. Similar results were obtained with the cyanide derivative of the enzyme (HRPCN) where the major lifetime component was found to be 58 ps at neutral pH. The picosecond component of fluorescence lifetimes of native HRP as well as of HRPCN were found to increase with decrease in pH in the range pH 6-3.5. Moreover, the native enzyme showed significant increase in the magnitude of this fast lifetime component at pH above 8. Such increase in the major lifetime component possibly indicated a conformational perturbation caused by pH change in the enzyme. However, the pH dependence of HRPCN, which is devoid of alkaline transition, showed that the shortest lifetime component remains almost unchanged over the pH range 6-11. This result showed that the alkaline transition in native HRP is associated with a structural change in the distal region of the heme center, which is absent in the cyanide-ligated enzyme. The results have been discussed with respect to understanding the pH-induced effects associated with salt bridge and hydrogen-bonding network in HRP.