The heme prosthetic group of lactoperoxidase. Structural characteristics of heme l and heme l-peptides

Synthesis, delivery and regulation of eukaryotic heme and Fe-S cluster cofactors

In humans, the bulk of iron in the body (over 75%) is directed towards heme- or Fe-S cluster cofactor synthesis, and the complex, highly regulated pathways in place to accomplish biosynthesis have evolved to safely assemble and load these cofactors into apoprotein partners. In eukaryotes, heme biosynthesis is both initiated and finalized within the mitochondria, while cellular Fe-S cluster assembly is controlled by correlated pathways both within the mitochondria and within the cytosol. Iron plays a vital role in a wide array of metabolic processes and defects in iron cofactor assembly leads to human diseases. This review describes progress towards our molecular-level understanding of cellular heme and Fe-S cluster biosynthesis, focusing on the regulation and mechanistic details that are essential for understanding human disorders related to the breakdown in these essential pathways.

Disruption of heme-peptide covalent cross-linking in mammalian peroxidases by hypochlorous acid

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), lactoperoxidase (LPO) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) play a central role in oxidative damage in inflammatory disorders by utilizing hydrogen peroxide and halides/pseudo halides to generate the corresponding hypohalous acid. The catalytic sites of these enzymes contain a covalently modified heme group, which is tethered to the polypeptide chain at two ester linkages via the methyl group (MPO, EPO and LPO) and one sulfonium bond via the vinyl group (MPO only). Covalent cross-linking of the catalytic site heme to the polypeptide chain in peroxidases is thought to play a protective role, since it renders the heme moiety less susceptible to the oxidants generated by these enzymes. Mass-spectrometric analysis revealed the following possible pathways by which hypochlorous acid (HOCl) disrupts the heme-protein cross-linking: (1) the methyl-ester bond is cleaved to form an alcohol; (2) the alcohol group undergoes an oxygen elimination reaction via the formation of an aldehyde intermediate or undergoes a demethylation reaction to lose the terminal CH2 group; and (3) the oxidative cleavage of the vinyl-sulfonium linkage. Once the heme moiety is released it undergoes cleavage at the carbon-methyne bridge either along the δ-β or a α-γ axis to form different pyrrole derivatives. These results indicate that covalent cross-linking is not enough to protect the enzymes from HOCl mediated heme destruction and free iron release. Thus, the interactions of mammalian peroxidases with HOCl modulates their activity and sets a stage for initiation of the Fenton reaction, further perpetuating oxidative damage at sites of inflammation.

Essential functions of iron-requiring proteins in DNA replication, repair and cell cycle control

Eukaryotic cells contain numerous iron-requiring proteins such as iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins, hemoproteins and ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs). These proteins utilize iron as a cofactor and perform key roles in DNA replication, DNA repair, metabolic catalysis, iron regulation and cell cycle progression. Disruption of iron homeostasis always impairs the functions of these iron-requiring proteins and is genetically associated with diseases characterized by DNA repair defects in mammals. Organisms have evolved multi-layered mechanisms to regulate iron balance to ensure genome stability and cell development. This review briefly provides current perspectives on iron homeostasis in yeast and mammals, and mainly summarizes the most recent understandings on iron-requiring protein functions involved in DNA stability maintenance and cell cycle control.

Rational heme protein design: all roads lead to Rome

Heme proteins are among the most abundant and important metalloproteins, exerting diverse biological functions including oxygen transport, small molecule sensing, selective C-H bond activation, nitrite reduction, and electron transfer. Rational heme protein designs focus on the modification of the heme-binding active site and the heme group, protein hybridization and domain swapping, and de novo design. These strategies not only provide us with unique advantages for illustrating the structure-property-reactivity-function (SPRF) relationship of heme proteins in nature but also endow us with the ability to create novel biocatalysts and biosensors.

Differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence study of lactoperoxidase as a function of guanidinium-HCl, urea, and pH

The stability of bovine lactoperoxidase to denaturation by guanidinium-HCl, urea, or high temperature was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tryptophan fluorescence. The calorimetric scans were observed to be dependent on the heating scan rate, indicating that lactoperoxidase stability at temperatures near Tm is controlled by kinetics. The values for the thermal transition, Tm, at slow heating scan rate were 66.8, 61.1, and 47.2 degrees C in the presence of 0.5, 1, and 2 M guanidinium-HCl, respectively. The extrapolated value for Tm in the absence of guanidinium-HCl is 73.7 degrees C, compared with 70.2 degrees C obtained by experiment; a lower experimental value without a denaturant is consistent with distortion of the thermal profile due to aggregation or other irreversible phenomenon. Values for the heat capacity, Cp, at Tm and Ea for the thermal transition decrease under conditions where Tm is lowered. At a given concentration, urea is less effective than guanidinium-HCl in reducing Tm, but urea reduces Cp relatively more. Both fluorescence and DSC indicate that thermally denatured protein is not random coil. A change in fluorescence around 35 degrees C, which was previously reported for EPR and CD measurements (Boscolo et al. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1774 (2007) 1164-1172), is not seen by calorimetry, suggesting that a local and not a global change in protein conformation produces this fluorescence change.

Tuning the formation of a covalent haem-protein link by selection of reductive or oxidative conditions as exemplified by ascorbate peroxidase

Previous work [Metcalfe, Ott, Patel, Singh, Mistry, Goff and Raven (2004) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 16242-16248] has shown that the introduction of a methionine residue (S160M variant) close to the 2-vinyl group of the haem in ascorbate peroxidase leads to the formation of a covalent haem-methionine linkage under oxidative conditions (i.e. on reaction with H2O2). In the present study, spectroscopic, HPLC and mass spectrometric evidence is presented to show that covalent attachment of the haem to an engineered cysteine residue can also occur in the S160C variant, but, in this case, under reducing conditions analogous to those used in the formation of covalent links in cytochrome c. The data add an extra dimension to our understanding of haem to protein covalent bond formation because they show that different types of covalent attachment (one requiring an oxidative mechanism, the other a reductive pathway) are both accessible within same protein architecture.

Mechanism of formation of the ester linkage between heme and Glu310 of CYP4B1: 18O protein labeling studies

Cytochrome P450s in the CYP4 family covalently bind their heme prosthetic group to a conserved acidic I-helix residue via an autocatalytic oxidation. This study was designed to evaluate the source of oxygen atoms in the covalent ester link in CYP4B1 enzymes labeled with [18O]glutamate and [18O]aspartate. The fate of the heavy isotope was then traced into wild-type CYP4B1 or the E310D mutant-derived 5-hydroxyhemes. Glutamate-containing tryptic peptides of wild-type CYP4B1 were found labeled to a level of 11-13% 18O. Base hydrolysis of labeled protein released 5-hydroxyheme which contained 12.8 +/- 1.9% 18O. Aspartate-containing peptides of the E310D mutant were labeled with 6.0-6.5% 18O, but as expected, no label was transmitted to recovered 5-hydroxyheme. These data demonstrate that the oxygen atom in 5-hydroxyheme derived from wild-type CYP4B1 originates in Glu310. Stoichiometric incorporation of the heavy isotope from the wild-type enzyme supports a perferryl-initiated carbocation mechanism for covalent heme formation in CYP4B1.

Horseradish peroxidase embedded in polyacrylamide nanoparticles enables optical detection of reactive oxygen species

We have synthesized and characterized new nanometer-sized polyacrylamide particles containing horseradish peroxidase and fluorescent dyes. Proteins and dyes are encapsulated by radical polymerization in inverse microemulsion. The activity of the encapsulated enzyme has been examined and it maintains its ability to catalyze the oxidation of guaiacol with hydrogen peroxide as the electron acceptor, although at a slightly lower rate compared to that of the free enzyme in solution. The embedded enzyme is also capable of catalyzing the peroxidase-oxidase reaction. However, the rate is decreased by a factor of 2-3 compared to that of the free enzyme. The reduced rate is probably due to limitation of diffusion of substrates and products into and out of the particles. The catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase in the polyacrylamide matrix demonstrates that the particles have pores which are large enough for substrates to enter and products to leave the polymer matrix containing the enzyme. The polymer matrix protects the embedded enzyme from proteolytic digestion, which is demonstrated by treating the particles with a mixture of the two proteases trypsin and proteinase K. The particles allow for quantification of hydrogen peroxide and other reactive oxygen species in microenvironments, and we propose that the particles may find use as nanosensors for use in, e.g., living cells.

CYP4B1: an enigmatic P450 at the interface between xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism

CYP4B1 belongs to the mammalian CYP4 enzyme family that also includes CYP4A, 4F, 4V, 4X, and 4Z subfamilies. CYP4B1 shares with other CYP4 proteins a capacity to omega-hydroxylate medium-chain fatty acids, which may be related to an endogenous role for the enzyme. CYP4B1 also participates in the metabolism of certain xenobiotics that are protoxic, including valproic acid, 3-methylindole, 4-ipomeanol, 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene, and numerous aromatic amines. Although these compounds have little in common structurally or chemically, their metabolism by CYP4B1 leads to tissue-specific toxicities in several experimental animals. The bioactivation capabilities of rabbit CYP4B1 have also attracted attention in the cancer community and form the basis of a potential therapeutic strategy involving prodrug activation by the CYP4B1 transgene. The metabolic capabilities of human CYP4B1 are less clear due to difficulties in heterologous expression and existence of alternatively spliced products. Also, many CYP4B1 enzymes covalently bind their heme, a posttranslational modification unique to the CYP4 family of P450s, but common to the mammalian peroxidases. These varied characteristics render CYP4B1 an interesting and enigmatic investigational target.

Role of Heme-Protein Covalent Bonds in Mammalian Peroxidases

Oxidation of SCN-, Br-, and Cl- (X-) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and other plant and fungal peroxidases results in the addition of HOX to the heme vinyl group. This reaction is not observed with lactoperoxidase (LPO), in which the heme is covalently bound to the protein via two ester bonds between carboxylic side chains and heme methyl groups. To test the hypothesis that the heme of LPO and other mammalian peroxidases is protected from vinyl group modification by the hemeprotein covalent bonds, we prepared the F41E mutant of HRP in which the heme is attached to the protein via a covalent bond between Glu41 and the heme 3-methyl. We also examined the E375D mutant of LPO in which only one of the two normal covalent heme links is retained. The prosthetic heme groups of F41E HRP and E375D LPO are essentially not modified by the HOBr produced by these enzymes. The double E375D/D225E mutant of LPO that can form no covalent bonds is inactive and could not be examined. These results unambiguously demonstrate that a single heme-protein link is sufficient to protect the heme from vinyl group modification even in a protein (HRP) that is normally highly susceptible to this reaction. The results directly establish that one function of the covalent heme-protein bonds in mammalian peroxidases is to protect their prosthetic group from their highly reactive metabolic products.

Heme-protein covalent bonds in peroxidases and resistance to heme modification during halide oxidation

Plant peroxidases, as typified by horseradish peroxidase (HRP), primarily catalyze the one-electron oxidation of phenols and other low oxidation potential substrates. In contrast, the mammalian homologues such as lactoperoxidase (LPO) and myeloperoxidase primarily oxidize halides and pseudohalides to the corresponding hypohalides (e.g., Br(-) to HOBr, Cl(-) to HOCl). A further feature that distinguishes the mammalian from the plant and fungal enzymes is the presence of two or more covalent bonds between the heme and the protein only in the mammalian enzymes. The functional roles of these covalent links in mammalian peroxidases remain uncertain. We have previously reported that HRP can oxidize chloride and bromide ions, but during oxidation of these ions undergoes autocatalytic modification of its heme vinyl groups that virtually inactivates the enzyme. We report here that autocatalytic heme modification during halide oxidation is not unique to HRP but is a general feature of the oxidation of halide ions by fungal and plant peroxidases, as illustrated by studies with Arthromyces ramosus and soybean peroxidases. In contrast, LPO, a prototypical mammalian peroxidase, is protected from heme modification and its heme remains intact during the oxidation of halide ions. These results support the hypothesis that the covalent heme-protein links in the mammalian peroxidases protect the heme from modification during the oxidation of halide ions.

Structural and functional aspects of thyroid peroxidase

Thyroperoxidase (TPO) is the enzyme involved in thyroid hormone synthesis. Although many studies have been carried out on TPO since it was first identified as being the thyroid microsomal antigen involved in autoimmune thyroid disease, previous authors have focused more on the immunological than on the biochemical aspects of TPO during the last few years. Here, we review the latest contributions in the field of TPO research and provide a large reference list of original publications. Given this promising background, scientists and clinicians will certainly continue in the future to investigate the mechanisms whereby TPO contributes to hormone synthesis and constitutes an important autoantigen involved in autoimmune thyroid disease, and the circumstances under which the normal physiological function of this enzyme takes on a pathological role.

Cytochrome P450s: creating novel ligand sets

Cytochromes P450 are a ubiquitous group of hemoproteins that perform vital cellular reactions in all lifeforms. Until recently, it was thought that P450s contained non-covalently bound heme. However, it was established that covalent linkage of the heme macrocycle occurs naturally in one major group of the P450 superfamily. The reaction involves heme linkage to a conserved amino acid and is autocatalytic, occurring as a consequence of P450 turnover. This finding presents opportunities to engineer biotechnologically important P450s to covalently link the heme, in order to stabilize cofactor binding and to enhance operational stability of these P450s. This opportunity has been taken in studies on two important bacterial P450s and has produced variants with intriguingly different properties. In this article we survey the developments in the field, the relationships with heme macrocycle ligations in other proteins and the important impact that recent studies of heme ligation have had on our general appreciation of P450 structure and mechanism.

Preparation and reactivity studies of synthetic microperoxidases containing b-type heme

In order to create a heme environment that permits biomimicry of heme-containing peroxidases, a number of new hemin-peptide complexes--hemin-2(18)-glycyl-L-histidine methyl ester (HGH), hemin-2(18)-glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine methyl ester (HGGH), and hemin-2,18-bis(glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine methyl ester) (H2GGH)--have been prepared by condensation of glycyl-L-histidine methyl ester or glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine methyl ester with the propionic side chains of hemin. Characterization by means of UV/vis- and 1H NMR spectroscopy as well as cyclic- and differential pulse voltammetry indicates the formation of five-coordinate complexes in the case of HGH and HGGH, with histidine as an axial ligand. In the case of H2GGH, a six-coordinate complex with both imidazoles coordinated to the iron center appears to be formed. However, 1H NMR of H2GGH reveals the existence of an equilibrium between low-spin six-coordinate and high-spin five-coordinate species in solution. The catalytic activity of the hemin-peptide complexes towards several organic substrates, such as p-cresol, L-tyrosine methyl ester, and ABTS, has been investigated. It was found that not only the five-coordinate HGH and HGGH complexes, but also the six-coordinate H2GGH, catalyze the oxidation of substrates by H2O2. The longer and less strained peptide arm provides the HGGH complex with a slightly higher catalytic efficiency, as compared with HGH, due to formation of more stable intermediate complexes.

Autocatalytic mechanism and consequences of covalent heme attachment in the cytochrome P4504A family

The prosthetic heme group in the CYP4A family of cytochrome P450 enzymes is covalently attached to an I-helix glutamic acid residue. This glutamic acid is conserved in the CYP4 family but is absent in other P450 families. As shown here, the glutamic acid is linked, presumably via an ester bond, to a hydroxyl group on the heme 5-methyl group. Mutation of the glutamic acid to an alanine in CYP4A1, CYP4A3, and CYP4A11 suppresses covalent heme binding. In wild-type CYP4A3 68% of the heme is covalently bound to the heterologously expressed protein, but in the CYP4A3/E318D mutant, 47% of the heme is unchanged, 47% is present as noncovalently bound 5-hydroxymethylheme, and only 6% is covalently bound to the protein. In the CYP4A3/E318Q mutant, the majority of the heme is unaltered, and <2% is covalently linked. The proportion of covalently bound heme in the recombinant CYP4A proteins increases with time under turnover conditions. The catalytic activity is sensitive in some, but not all, CYP4A enzymes to the extent of covalent heme binding. Mutations of Glu(318) in CYP4A3 decrease the apparent k(cat) values for lauric acid hydroxylation. The key conclusions are that (a) covalent heme binding occurs via an ester bond to the heme 5-methyl group, (b) covalent binding of the heme is mediated by an autocatalytic process, and (c) fatty acid oxidation is sensitive in some CYP4A enzymes to the presence or absence of the heme covalent link.

Asp-225 and glu-375 in autocatalytic attachment of the prosthetic heme group of lactoperoxidase

The heme in lactoperoxidase is attached to the protein by ester bonds between the heme 1- and 5-methyl groups and Glu-375 and Asp-275, respectively. To investigate the cross-linking process, we have examined the D225E, E375D, and D225E/E375D mutants of bovine lactoperoxidase. The heme in the E375D mutant is only partially covalently bound, but exposure to H(2)O(2) results in complete covalent binding and a fully active protein. Digestion of this mutant shows that the heme is primarily bound through its 5-methyl group. Excess H(2)O(2) increases the proportion of the doubly linked species without augmenting enzyme activity. The D225E mutant has little covalently bound heme and a much lower activity, neither of which are significantly increased by the addition of heme and H(2)O(2). The heme is linked to this protein through a single bond to the 1-methyl group. The D225E/E375D mutant has no covalently bound heme and no activity. A small amount of iron 1-hydroxymethylprotoporphyrin IX is obtained from the wild-type enzyme along with the predominant dihydroxylated derivative. The results establish that a single covalent link suffices to achieve maximum catalytic activity and suggest that the 5-hydroxymethyl bond may form before the 1-hydroxymethyl bond.

Identification of hemes and related cyclic tetrapyrroles by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has proven to be a powerful technique applicable on trace amounts for the identification of known hemes and cyclic tetrapyrroles, and for providing critical information for the structure of new and novel versions. This report describes investigations of the practical limits of detection for such bioinorganic prosthetic groups, primarily by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), including a survey of the utility of common matrices. The lower limit of detection under favorable conditions extends to low picomole amounts. Certain derivatization techniques, such as methyl esterification and chelation to zinc, both increase the sensitivity of analyses and provide spectroscopic signatures that enable heme/cyclic tetrapyrrole ions to be identified in the presence of contaminants.

Covalently linked heme in cytochrome p4504a fatty acid hydroxylases

Three independent experimental methods, liquid chromatography, denaturing gel electrophoresis with heme staining, and mass spectrometry, establish that the CYP4A class of enzymes has a covalently bound heme group even though the heme is not cross-linked to the protein in other P450 enzymes. Covalent binding has been demonstrated for CYP4A1, -4A2, -4A3, -4A8, and -4A11 heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. However, the covalent link is also present in CYP4A1 isolated from rat liver and is not an artifact of heterologous expression. The extent of heme covalent binding in the proteins as isolated varies and is substoichiometric. In CYP4A3, the heme is attached to the protein via an ester link to glutamic acid residue 318, which is on the I-helix, and is predicted to be within the active site. This is the first demonstration that a class of cytochrome P450 enzymes covalently binds their prosthetic heme group.

Surfactant-lactoperoxidase complex catalytically active in organic media

A surfactant-lactoperoxidase (LPO) complex catalytically active in organic solvents was developed by the emulsion coating method. The oxidation of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP) was conducted by the surfactant-LPO complex in organic media. The LPO complex efficiently catalyzed the oxidation of 2,6-DMP in various organic solvents, although lyophilized LPO did not display the catalytic activity at all. To optimize the preparation and reaction conditions for the surfactant-LPO complex, we examined the effects of pH value in the water pools of W/O emulsions, kinds of oxidants, and the nature of organic solvents on the oxidation reaction. Its optimum activity was obtained when the pH value of the aqueous enzyme solution was adjusted to ca. 8 at the preparation stage. The LPO complex exhibited the highest catalytic activity in chloroform when H(2)O(2) was employed as the oxidant. Furthermore, the storage stability of the surfactant-LPO complex was far better than that of the surfactant-horseradish peroxidase complex. This high storage stability of the LPO complex will be a benefit for industrial usage of peroxidases.

Bovine lactoperoxidase and its recombinant: comparison of structure and some biochemical properties

Biochemical properties of bovine lactoperoxidase isolated from milk and recombinant bovine lactoperoxidase expressed by Chinese hamster ovary cells were compared. The natural and recombinant lactoperoxidases showed the same conformational features as determined by circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The alpha-helix, beta-structure, and unordered structure contents were found to be 17. 8, 54.2, and 28.0% for the natural lactoperoxidase and 18.6, 50.1, and 31.3% for the recombinant lactoperoxidase, respectively. The microenvironments of aromatic amino acid residues in both lactoperoxidases seemed to be the same, although the CD spectral band due to the Soret band differed slightly. A difference in the pH-dependent spectral changes of absorbance at 413 nm was observed. From a pepsin hydrolysate of lactoperoxidase, a heme-binding peptide was isolated by reverse-phase HPLC and its amino acid sequence was examined.

EPR spin-trapping of a myeloperoxidase protein radical

Incubation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) with H(2)O(2) in the presence of the spin trap DBNBS (3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzenesulfonic acid) results in the EPR-detectable formation of a partially immobilized protein radical. The radical was only formed in the presence of both MPO and H(2)O(2), indicating that catalytic turnover of the protein is required. The changes in the EPR spectrum of the adduct upon treatment with pronase confirm that the spin trap is bound to a protein residue. These results establish that MPO, like lactoperoxidase [Lardinois, O. M., Medzihradszky, K. F., and Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 35441-35448], reacts with H(2)O(2) to give a protein radical intermediate. The protein radical may have a catalytic role, may be related to covalent binding of the prosthetic heme group to the protein, or may reflect a process that leads to inactivation of the enzyme.

Determination of the carbohydrate composition and the disulfide bond linkages of bovine lactoperoxidase by mass spectrometry

The extent and distribution of N-glycosylation and the nature of most of the disulfide bond linkages were determined for bovine lactoperoxidase through proteolytic and glycolytic digestions combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis. In addition, 98% of the primary sequence of the protein was confirmed. All five of the asparagines present in sequons were found to be glycosylated, predominantly by high mannose and complex structures. Six disulfide bonds were assigned, including Cys 32-Cys 45, Cys 146-Cys 156, Cys 150-Cys 174, Cys 254-Cys 265, Cys 473-Cys 530 and Cys 571-Cys 596.

Heme Peroxidases: Structure, Function, Mechanism and Involvement in Activation of Carcinogens. A Review

Peroxidases are enzymes playing an important role in large and diverse numbers of physiological processes in organisms including human. We have attempted in this article to summarize and review the important structural and catalytic properties of principal classes of heme peroxidases as well as their biological functions. Major reactions catalyzed by these enzymes (a conventional peroxidase cycle, reactions using O2and halogenations) and their mechanism are reviewed, too. Moreover, the reaction mechanisms by which peroxidases are implicated in bioactivation of xenobiotic chemicals are presented. Numerous chemicals including protoxicants and procarcinogens are metabolized by equally numerous chemical reactions catalyzed by peroxidases. The unifying theme is the radical nature of the oxidations. The direct conventional peroxidase reaction forming reactive species is generally responsible for the activation of procarcinogenic substrates of peroxidases. The subsequent formation of a superoxide anion radical and peroxy radicals is necessary for activation of chemicals that are poor substrates for peroxidases. The significance of studies concerning the reactions catalyzed by peroxidases is underlined in the present review article. A review with 166 references.

Spin trapping and protein cross-linking of the lactoperoxidase protein radical

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) reacts with H(2)O(2) to sequentially give two Compound I intermediates: the first with a ferryl (Fe(IV)=O) species and a porphyrin radical cation, and the second with the same ferryl species and a presumed protein radical. However, little actual evidence is available for the protein radical. We report here that LPO reacts with the spin trap 3,5-dibromo-4-nitroso-benzenesulfonic acid to give a 1:1 protein-bound radical adduct. Furthermore, LPO undergoes the H(2)O(2)-dependent formation of dimeric and trimeric products. Proteolytic digestion and mass spectrometric analysis indicates that the dimer is held together by a dityrosine link between Tyr-289 in each of two LPO molecules. The dimer retains full catalytic activity and reacts to the same extent with the spin trap, indicating that the spin trap reacts with a radical center other than Tyr-289. The monomeric protein recovered from incubations of LPO with H(2)O(2) is fully active but no longer forms dimers when incubated with H(2)O(2), clear evidence that it has also been structurally modified. Myeloperoxidase, a naturally dimeric protein, and eosinophil peroxidase do not undergo H(2)O(2)-dependent oligomerization. Analysis of the interface in the LPO dimers indicates that the same protein surface is involved in LPO dimerization as in the normal formation of myeloperoxidase dimers. Oligomerization of LPO alters its physical properties and may alter its ability to interact with macromolecular substrates.

Characterization of the Asp94 and Glu242 mutants in myeloperoxidase, the residues linking the heme group via ester bonds

The heme group of all mammalian peroxidases is covalently linked to the protein matrix via two esterbonds, as we have recently shown by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy [Kooter, I. M., Pierik, A.J., Merkx, M., Averill, B.A., Moguilevsky, N., Bollen, A. & Wever, R. (1997) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119, 11542-11543]. We have examined the effects of mutation of Asp94 and Glu242, responsible for those ester bonds in myeloperoxidase, on the spectroscopic properties and catalytic activity of this enzyme. Mutation of Asp94 in myeloperoxidase results in two species. The first species has spectroscopic characteristics similar to that of wild-type myeloperoxidase. The second species has spectroscopic characteristics similar to that of Met243-->Gln mutant, and it is therefore concluded that, besides loss of the ester bond involving Asp94, this species also has lost the sulfonium ion linkage that is also characteristic of myeloperoxidase. The Asp94-->Asn mutant still has about 30% residual peroxidase activity while for the Asp94-->Val mutant only a few percentage activity is left. When Glu242 is mutated the sulfonium ion linkage is not affected, but this residue together with its neighbouring residue Met243, according to resonance Raman spectra, is responsible for the low symmetry of the heme group. Mutation of either of these residues results in loss of the bowed distortion from the planar conformation, and in a heme group with higher symmetry. For the Glu242-->Gln mutant 8% residual peroxidase activity is found.

Biochemical evidence for heme linkage through esters with Asp-93 and Glu-241 in human eosinophil peroxidase. The ester with Asp-93 is only partially formed in vivo

The covalent heme attachment has been extensively studied by spectroscopic methods in myeloperoxidase and lactoperoxidase (LPO) but not in eosinophil peroxidase (EPO). We show that heme linkage to the heavy chain is invariably present, whereas heme linkage to the light chain of EPO is present in less than one-third of EPO molecules. Mass analysis of isolated heme bispeptides supports the hypothesis of a heme b linked through two esters to the polypeptide. Mass analysis of heme monopeptides reveals that >90% have a nonderivatized methyl group at the position of the light chain linkage. Apparently, an ester had not been formed during biosynthesis. The light chain linkage could be formed by incubation with hydrogen peroxide, in accordance with a recent hypothesis of autocatalytic heme attachment based on studies with LPO (DePillis, G. D., Ozaki, S., Kuo, J. M., Maltby, D. A., and Ortiz de Montellano P. R. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 8857-8860). By sequence analysis of isolated heme peptides after aminolysis, we unambiguously identified the acidic residues, Asp-93 of the light chain and Glu-241 of the heavy chain, that form esters with the heme group. This is the first biochemical support for ester linkage to two specific residues in eosinophil peroxidase. From a parallel study with LPO, we show that Asp-125 and Glu-275 are engaged in ester linkage. The species with a nonderivatized methyl group was not found among LPO peptides.