Molecular interpretation of kinetic-ionic strength effects

Elastic bounded diffusion and electron propagation: dynamics of the wiring of a self-assembly of immunoglobulins bearing terminally attached ferrocene poly(ethylene glycol) chains according to a spatially controlled organization

Molecular monolayers of immunoglobulins bearing terminally attached ferrocene poly(ethylene glycol) chains (IgG-PEG-Fc) were self-assembled at an electrode surface in a step-by-step manner involving antigen-antibody recognition reactions. The total number N of assembled IgG-PEG-Fc monolayers and the number of spacers n(i) separating two successive IgG-PEG-Fc monolayers were controlled and varied. Electron transport through the protein assembly involves the dynamics of the terminally attached PEG chains and isotopic electron exchange between ferrocene heads belonging to successive IgG-PEG-Fc monolayers. The model of elastic bounded diffusion enabled us to analyze quantitatively the dependence of the rate of electron transport on N, n(i), and the rate constant (k(e)) of isotopic electron exchange. Wiring of a molecular monolayer of redox enzyme is also quantitatively characterized.

A "parallel plate" electrostatic model for bimolecular rate constants applied to electron transfer proteins

A "parallel plate" model describing the electrostatic potential energy of protein-protein interactions is presented that provides an analytical representation of the effect of ionic strength on a biomolecular rate constant. The model takes into account the asymmetric distribution of charge on the surface of the protein and localized charges at the site of electron transfer that are modeled as elements of a parallel plate condenser. Both monopolar and dipolar interactions are included. Examples of simple (monophasic) and complex (biphasic) ionic strength dependencies obtained from experiments with several electron transfer protein systems are presented, all of which can be accommodated by the model. The simple cases do not require the use of both monopolar and dipolar terms (i.e., they can be fit well by either alone). The biphasic dependencies can be fit only by using dipolar and monopolar terms of opposite sign, which is physically unreasonable for the molecules considered. Alternatively, the high ionic strength portion of the complex dependencies can be fit using either the monopolar term alone or the complete equation; this assumes a model in which such behavior is a consequence of electron transfer mechanisms involving changes in orientation or site of reaction as the ionic strength is varied. Based on these analyses, we conclude that the principal applications of the model presented here are to provide information about the structural properties of intermediate electron transfer complexes and to quantify comparisons between related proteins or site-specific mutants. We also conclude that the relative contributions of monopolar and dipolar effects to protein electron transfer kinetics cannot be evaluated from experimental data by present approximations.

Direct determination of macromolecular charge by equilibrium electrophoresis

Charge is a fundamental property of macromolecules in solution. However, estimation of the apparent charge on polyions has confounded science for decades. Presented here is a general method to determine directly the apparent charge on a polyion, regardless of its size or shape. This new method uses equilibrium electrophoresis, a procedure in which opposing solute flows from electrophoresis and from diffusion balance everywhere as the system reaches a steady-state distribution. The method uses only small quantities of materials, is nondestructive, and requires only simple, inexpensive instrumentation. Here we describe a prototype apparatus, demonstrate the phenomenon, and present experimental examples of the procedure.

The effect of complex formation upon the reduction rates of cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase compound II

The effect of complex formation between ferricytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase (Ferrocytochrome-c:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.5) on the reduction of cytochrome c by N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD), reduced N-methylphenazonium methosulfate (PMSH), and ascorbate has been determined at low ionic strength (pH 7) and 25 degrees C. Complex formation with the peroxidase enhances the rate of ferricytochrome c reduction by the neutral reductants TMPD and PMSH. Under all experimental conditions investigated, complex formation with cytochrome c peroxidase inhibits the ascorbate reduction of ferricytochrome c. This inhibition is due to the unfavorable electrostatic interactions between the ascorbate dianion and the negatively charged cytochrome c-cytochrome c peroxidase complex. Corrections for the electrostatic term by extrapolating the data to infinite ionic strength suggest that ascorbate can reduce cytochrome c peroxidase-bound cytochrome c faster than free cytochrome c. Reduction of cytochrome c peroxidase Compound II by dicyanobis(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) (Fe(phen)2(CN)2) is essentially unaffected by complex formation between the enzyme and ferricytochrome c at low ionic strength (pH 6) and 25 degrees C. However, reduction of Compound II by the negatively changed tetracyano-(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) (Fe(phen)(CN)4) is enhanced in the presence of ferricytochrome c. This enhancement is due to the more favorable electrostatic interactions between the reductant and cytochrome c-cytochrome c peroxidase Compound II complex then for Compound II itself. These studies indicate that complex formation between cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase does not sterically block the electron-transfer pathways from these small nonphysiological reductants to the hemes in these two proteins.

Kinetic analysis of metsulphmyoglobin and metmyoglobin reduction by Fe(EDTA)2-

Metsulphmyoglobin prepared from horse heart myoglobin was purified by ion-exchange chromatography to yield a product that on reduction with Fe(EDTA)2- has an A617/A561 ratio greater than 3.5:1. The kinetics of reduction of this purified metsulphmyoglobin and of native metmyoglobin by Fe(EDTA)2- were studied under various conditions of pH, ionic strength and temperature to compare the relative electron-transfer reactivities of a metallochlorin and a metalloporphyrin in identical protein environments. Although the rate of metsulphmyoglobin reduction is 2-7 times that of metmyoglobin under a variety of conditions, this difference can be more than compensated for by the reported difference in mid-point reduction potential between the two forms of the protein. The electrostatic and activation parameters observed for native metmyoglobin and metsulphmyoglobin are essentially identical, and small differences are found in the pH-dependence of the reduction reaction. These findings lead us to conclude that conversion of the porphyrin prosthetic group into a chlorin has relatively little effect on the electron-transfer reactivity of the central metal atom.

Kinetics of electron transfer between mitochondrial cytochrome c and iron hexacyanides

The reduction of horse and Candida krusei cytochromes c by ferrocyanide has been studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy and the reaction found to involve a precursor complex of ferrocyanide bound to ferricytochrome c (pH* 7.4, 2H2O, I = 0.12, and 25 degrees C). The electron transfer rate constants for the reduction of the two ferricytochromes by associated ferrocyanide were found to be the same at 780 +/- 80 sec-1 but the association constants for binding of ferrocyanide to ferricytochrome c were significantly different: horse, 90 +/- 20 M-1 and Candida, 285 +/- 30 M-1. The different association constants partly accounts for the previously observed reactivity difference between horse and Candida cytochromes c. Comparison of the NMR data with data obtained by other kinetic methods has allowed the electron transfer rate constant for the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c by associated ferricyanide to be determined. This was found to be 4.6 +/- 1 X 10(4) sec-1.

Association constants for metal hexacyanide binding to cytochrome c

The binding of [Co(CN)6]3-, and that of [Fe(CN)6]3- and [Ru(CN)6]4- using a competitive method, to horse cytochrome c has been studied by 59Co NMR spectroscopy. At I = 0.07 M, without added salt and in 2H2O at pH* 7.3 (measured in 2H2O) and 25 degrees C, there are at least two binding sites on ferricytochrome c and ferrocytochrome c for [Co(CN)6]3-. Association constants were determined to be 2.0 +/- 0.6 X 10(3) M-1 and 1.5 +/- 0.5 X 10(2) M-1, respectively, with no effect of the oxidation state of the cytochrome. At higher ionic strength (I = 0.12 M) adjusted with KCl the binding markedly decreased, and, although it was not possible to determine the precise binding stoichiometry and magnitude of association constants, it is clear that the association constants are less than or equal to 1.5 X 10(2) M-1. The binding of [Ru(CN)6]4- at I = 0.07, without added salt and in 2H2O at pH* 7.3 and 23 degrees C, was not precisely defined, but its binding strength relative to that of [Fe(CN)6]3- was determined. Extrapolating this to I = 0.12 (KCl) suggests that under these conditions the association constant for [Ru(CN)6]4- binding to ferricytochrome c is less than or equal to 3 X 10(2) M-1.