Circular Dichroism Studies on Conformation of Cellobiohydrolase and Endoglucanase from Trichoderma pseudokiningii S-38: Effects of pH and Ligand Binding

Effects of pH and ligand binding upon the conformation of Cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) and endoglucanase I (EGI) from Trichoderma pseudokiningii S-38 have been studied by circular dichroism measurements. In the high-pH range (6–9), increasing pH resulted in a similar conformational change occurring in free CBHI and EGI, while such treatment gave different changes of the two enzyme conformations in the presence of cellobiose. On the other hand, in the low-pH region, with both CBHI an EGI in the active form, decreasing pH resulted in a large conformational change of free EGI compared to that of free CBHI, whereas ligand binding resulted in a similar change of both CBHI and EGI, independent of pH change.     

Expression of Trichoderma reesei cellulases CBHI and EGI in Ashbya gossypii

To explore the potential of Ashbya gossypii as a host for the expression of recombinant proteins and to assess whether protein secretion would be more similar to the closely related Saccharomyces cerevisiae or to other filamentous fungi, endoglucanase I (EGI) and cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) from the fungus Trichoderma reesei were successfully expressed in A. gossypii from plasmids containing the two micron sequences from S. cerevisiae, under the S. cerevisiae PGK1 promoter. The native signal sequences of EGI and CBHI were able to direct the secretion of EGI and CBHI into the culture medium in A. gossypii. Although CBHI activity was not detected using 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-lactoside as substrate, the protein was detected by Western blot using monoclonal antibodies. EGI activity was detectable, the specific activity being comparable to that produced by a similar EGI producing S. cerevisiae construct. More EGI was secreted than CBHI, or more active protein was produced. Partial characterization of CBHI and EGI expressed in A. gossypii revealed overglycosylation when compared with the native T. reesei proteins, but the glycosylation was less extensive than on cellulases expressed in S. cerevisiae.     

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the cellulase genes of Humicola grisea var. thermoidea

We have cloned an endoglucanase (EGI) gene and a cellobiohydrolase (CBHI) gene of Humicola grisea var. thermoidea using a portion of the Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I gene as a probe, and determined their nucleotide sequences. The deduced amino acid sequence of EGI was 435 amino acids in length and the coding region was interrupted by an intron. The EGI lacks a hinge region and a cellulose-binding domain. The deduced amino acid sequence of CBHI was identical to the H. grisea CBHI previously reported, with the exception of three amino acids. The H. grisea EGI and CBHI show 39.8% and 37.7% identity with the T. Reesei EGI, respectively. In addition to TATA box and CAAT motifs, putative CREA binding sites were observed in the 5′ upstream regions of both genes. The cloned cellulase genes were expressed in Aspergillus oryzae and the gene products were purified. The optimal temperatures of CBHI and EGI were 60 °C and 55–60 °C, respectively. The optimal pHs of these enzymes were 5.0. CBHI and EGI had distinct substrate specificities: CBHI showed high activity toward Avicel, whereas EGI showed high activity toward carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).     

Detection and characterization of the specific and nonspecific endoglucanases of Trichoderma reesei: Evidence demonstrating endoglucanase activity by cellobiohydrolase II

The cellulase enzyme system of Trichoderma reesei RUT C-30 has been separated by DEAE ion exchange chromatography into four fractions. Their specificity towards substituted cellulose and cellooligosaccharides was revealed by analytical IEF and activity stains. Fraction EGI (26% of the total protein) exhibited mainly endoglucanase activity on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) whereas endoglucanases EGII and EGIII (15% of the total protein) showed high activity towards CMC as well as xylan, 4-methylumbelliferyl cellobioside [MeUmb(Glc)₂] and p-nitrophenyl lactoside (pNPL). A subfraction of EGI (pI 5.9) which has been described in the literature as a cellobiohydrolase (CBHII) was isolated by preparative isoelectric focusing, and was shown to have only 3 U CMCase activity per milligram. Turbidimetric measurements and phase contrast microscopy demonstrated differences between endoglucanase and cellobiohydrolase behaviour during the hydrolysis of purified cellulose (Solka Floc BW-40). Treatment of the purified cellulose with endoglucanases resulted in fibre breakdown into small particles. This was contrasted with no morphological change to the fibres when contacted with the cellobiohydrolase. By this technique it was revealed that the EGI subfraction (pI 5.9) behaves as an endoglucanase and not as a cellobiohydrolase. Incubation of this enzyme with acid-swollen cellulose resulted in cellotriose production, as it did with other endoglucanases which exhibited CMCase activities >; 100 U mg⁻¹. Cellotriose was not present during the hydrolysis of acid-swollen cellulose with the CBHI fraction.     

Reversibility and competition in the adsorption of Trichoderma reesei cellulase components

Adsorption reversibility and competition between fractionated components of the Trichoderma reesei cellulase system were studied. Specific endoglucanase (EGI), nonspecific endoglucanases (EGII, EGIII), and cellobio-hydrolase (CBHI) were previously grouped according to their hydrolytic function. At 5 degrees C, direct evidence of exchange between adsorbed and free enzyme was obtained for each component using [(3)H] and [(14)C] radiolabeled tracers. No release of bound enzymes was detected upon dilution of the free enzyme solution. In simultaneous adsorption of enzyme pairs, CBHI was shown to predominate adsorption. Endoglucanase EGI was preferentially adsorbed over EGII and EGIII. Sequential adsorption studies have shown that interaction between enzyme components largely determines the degree of their adsorption. Evidence suggests that both common and distinct adsorption sites exist and that their occupation depends on which components are involved. Predominance in adsorption by any one of the enzyme components is decreased at 50 degrees C. Light microscopy and monitoring of sugar production during cellulose hydrolysis provided evidence that reduction in the ionic strength decreases the adsorption predominance of CBHI and enhances the synergism between the cellulase components.     

Enhanced production of cellobiohydrolases in Trichoderma reesei and evaluation of the new preparations in biofinishing of cotton

In the search for suitable cellulase combinations for industrial biofinishing of cotton, five different types of Trichoderma reesei strains were constructed for elevated cellobiohydrolase production: CBHI overproducers with and without endoglucanase I (EGI), CBHII overproducers with and without endoglucanase II (EGII) and strains overproducing both CBHI and CBHII without the major endoglucanases I and II. One additional copy of cbh1 gene increased production of CBHI protein 1.3-fold, and two copies 1.5-fold according to ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The level of total secreted proteins was increased in CBHI transformants as compared to the host strain. One copy of the cbh2 expression cassette in which the cbh2 was expressed from the cbh1 promoter increased production of CBHII protein three- to four-fold when compared to the host strain. T. reesei strains producing elevated amounts of both CBHI and CBHII without EGI and EGII were constructed by replacing the egl1 locus with the coding region of the cbh1 gene and the egl2 locus with the coding region of cbh2. The cbh1 was expressed from its own promoter and the cbh2 gene using either the cbh1 or cbh2 promoter. Production of CBHI by the CBH-transformants was increased up to 1.6-fold and production of CBHII up to 3.4-fold as compared with the host strain. Approximately similar amounts of CBHII protein were produced by using cbh1 or cbh2 promoters. When the enzyme preparation with elevated CBHII content was used in biofinishing of cotton, better depilling and visual appearance were achieved than with the wild type preparation; however, the improvement was not as pronounced as with preparations with elevated levels of endoglucanases (EG).     

Method for characterization of the enzyme profile and the determination of CBH I (Cel 7a) core protein in Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparations

Summary Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to characterize a commercial cellulase preparation (Celluclast 1.5L, Novozymes) in relation to its protein profile and activity against hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and other substrates. Co-elution of CBHII (Cel 6A) with other enzyme components of the cellulase system was characterized by immunochemical assays using monoclonal antibodies, whereas the occurrence of EGII (Cel 5A) was assessed based on its ability to cleave the heterosidic bond of 4-methylumbellyferyl-β-d-cellotrioside (MUmbG₃). The main cellulase constituents of Celluclast 1.5L were pooled into six fractions containing EGII (Cel 5A) and EGIII (Cel 12A) (F1), EGII and CBHII (Cel 6A) (F2), CBHII and EGI (Cel 7B) (F3), EGI (F4), and CBHI (Cel 7A) (F5). The occurrence of CBHI core protein within the CBHI fraction of the FPLC profile was determined by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Using this method, we were able to demonstrate that the batch of Celluclast 1.5L used in this study contained 10.9–18.8% of CBHI as its corresponding free core protein.     

Structural changes of cellobiohydrolase I (1,4-β-<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-glucan-cellobiohydrolase I,CBHI) and PNPC (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-nitrophenyl-β-<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-cellobioside) during the binding process

Conformational changes to 1,4-β-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) in response to its binding with p-nitrophenyl β-D-cellobioside (PNPC) were analyzed by second-derivative fluorescence spectrometry at the saturation binding point. Irreversible changes to the configuration of PNPC during the course of the binding process were characterized by UV spectral analysis. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to determine the stoichiometry of binding (i.e. the number of molar binding sites) of PNPC to CBHI. Two points on the surface of the CBHI molecule interact with PNPC, and irreversible changes to the configuration of PNPC occur during its conversion to p-nitrophenyl (PNP). The ITC studies demonstrated that the binding of PNPC to CBHI is an irreversible process, in which heat is released, but where there is no reversible equilibrium between PNPC-CBHI and CBHI and PNPC. On the other hand, PNP and cellobiose need to be released from the PNPC-CBHI complex to facilitate the repeated binding of new PNPC molecules to the renewable CBHI molecules. Therefore, we speculate that the energy, which powers the configurational change of PNPC as it is converted to PNP, is generated from cyclic changes in the conformation of CBHI during the binding/de-sorption process. These new insights may provide a basis for a better understanding of the binding mechanism in enzyme-substrate interactions.     

Structural changes of cellobiohydrolase I (1,4-beta-D-glucan-cellobiohydrolase I, CBHI) and PNPC (p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-cellobioside) during the binding process

Conformational changes to 1,4-β-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) in response to its binding with p-nitrophenyl β-D-cellobioside (PNPC) were analyzed by second-derivative fluorescence spectrometry at the saturation binding point. Irreversible changes to the configuration of PNPC during the course of the binding process were characterized by UV spectral analysis. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to determine the stoichiometry of binding (i.e. the number of molar binding sites) of PNPC to CBHI. Two points on the surface of the CBHI molecule interact with PNPC, and irreversible changes to the configuration of PNPC occur during its conversion to p-nitrophenyl (PNP). The ITC studies demon-strated that the binding of PNPC to CBHI is an irreversible process, in which heat is released, but where there is no reversible equilibrium between PNPC-CBHI and CBHI and PNPC. On the other hand, PNP and cellobiose need to be released from the PNPC-CBHI complex to facilitate the repeated binding of new PNPC molecules to the renewable CBHI molecules. Therefore, we speculate that the energy, which powers the configurational change of PNPC as it is converted to PNP, is generated from cyclic changes in the conformation of CBHI during the binding/de-sorption process. These new insights may provide a basis for a better understanding of the binding mechanism in enzyme-substrate interactions.     

Enhanced Production of Trichoderma reesei Endoglucanases and Use of the New Cellulase Preparations in Producing the Stonewashed Effect on Denim Fabric

Trichoderma reesei strains were constructed for production of elevated amounts of endoglucanase II (EGII) with or without cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI). The endoglucanase activity produced by the EGII transformants correlated with the copy number of the egl2 expression cassette. One copy of the egl2 expression cassette in which the egl2 was under the cbh1 promoter increased production of endoglucanase activity 2.3-fold, and two copies increased production about 3-fold above that of the parent strain. When the enzyme with elevated EGII content was used, an improved stonewashing effect on denim fabric was achieved. A T. reesei strain producing high amounts of EGI and -II activities without CBHI and -II was constructed by replacing the cbh2 locus with the coding region of the egl2 gene in the EGI-overproducing CBHI-negative strain. Production of endoglucanase activity by the EG-transformant strain was increased fourfold above that of the host strain. The filter paper-degrading activity of the endoglucanase-overproducing strain was lowered to below detection, presumably because of the lack of cellobiohydrolases.     

Quantitative estimate of the effect of cellulase components during degradation of cotton fibers

A comprehensive mechanistic kinetic model for enzymatic degradation of cotton fibers has been established based on a complete factorial experiment in combination with multivariate stepwise regression analysis. The analysis of the statistical parameter value in the model suggests that the enzymatic degradation of cotton fiber is a progressive and heterogeneous process that includes, at least, two courses that occur sequentially and then progress in parallel. Cellulose fibers were first depolymerized or solubilized by the synergism between cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) and endoglucanase I (EGI), and then the oligomers obtained were randomly hydrolyzed into glucose by EGI and beta-glucosidase. The proposed model can be applied to the quantitative estimation of the effects of three cellulase components, CBHI, EGI, and beta-glucosidase separately, or in combination during the entire process of cellulose degradation. The validity of the proposed model has been verified by a filter paper activity assay. Its other applicability was also discussed.     

The diversity of glycosylation of cellobiohydrolase I from Trichoderma reesei determined with mass spectrometry

Cellulases are glycosylated enzymes that have wide applications in fields like biofuels. It has been widely accepted that glycosylation of cellulases impact their performance. Trichoderma reesei is the most important cellulase-producer and cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) is the most important cellulase from T. reesei. Therefore, the glycosylation of T. reesei CBHI has been a focus of research. However, investigations have been focused on N-glycosylation of three of the four potential glycosylation sites, as well as O-glycosylation on the linker region, while a full picture of glycosylation of T. reesei CBHI is still needed. In this work, with extensive mass spectrometric investigations on CBHI from two T. reesei strains grown under three conditions, several new discoveries were made: 1) N45 and N64 are N-glycosylated with high mannose type glycans; 2) the catalytic domain of CBHI is extensively O-glycosylated with hexoses and N-acetylhexosamines; 3) experimental evidence on the mannosylation of carbohydrate binding domain (other than the linker adjacent region) was found. With structural analysis, we found several glycosylation sites (such as T383, S8, and S46) are located at the openings of the substrate-binding tunnel, and potentially involve in the binding of cellulose. These investigations provide a full and comprehensive picture on the glycosylation of CBHI from T. reesei, which benefits the engineering of CBHI by raising potential sites for modification.     

Multiscale computational study of ligand binding pathways: Case of p38 MAP kinase and its inhibitors

Protein kinases are one of the most important drug targets in the past 10 years. Understanding the inhibitor association processes will profoundly impact new binder designs with preferred binding kinetics. However, after more than a decade of effort, a complete atomistic-level study of kinase inhibitor binding pathways is still lacking. As all kinases share a similar scaffold, we used p38 kinase as a model system to investigate the conformational dynamics and free energy transition of inhibitor binding toward kinases. Two major kinase conformations, Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG)-in and DFG-out, and three types of inhibitors, type I, II, and III, were thoroughly investigated in this work. We performed Brownian dynamics simulations and up to 340 μs Gaussian-accelerated molecular dynamics simulations to capture the inhibitor binding paths and a series of conformational transitions of the p38 kinase from its apo to inhibitor-bound form. Eighteen successful binding trajectories, including all types of inhibitors, are reported herein. Our simulations suggest a mechanism of inhibitor recruitment, a faster ligand association step to a pre-existing DFG-in/DFG-out p38 protein, followed by a slower molecular rearrangement step to adjust the protein-ligand conformation followed by a shift in the energy landscape to reach the final bound state. The ligand association processes also reflect the energetic favor of type I and type II/III inhibitor binding through ATP and allosteric channels, respectively. These different binding routes are directly responsible for the fast (type I binders) and slow (type II/III binders) kinetics of different types of p38 inhibitors. Our findings also echo the recent study of p38 inhibitor dissociation, implying that ligand unbinding could undergo a reverse path of binding, and both processes share similar metastates. This study deepens the understanding of molecular and energetic features of kinase inhibitor-binding processes and will inspire future drug development from a kinetic point of view.     

X-Ray crystallographic structural characteristics of Arabidopsis hemoglobin I and their functional implications

Genome of the model dicot flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, a popular tool for understanding molecular biology of plant physiology, encodes all three classes of plant hemoglobins that differ in their sequence, ligand binding and spectral properties. As such these globins are of considerable attention. Crystal structures of few members of plant class I nonsymbiotic hemoglobin have been described earlier. Here we report the crystal structure of Arabidopsis class I hemoglobin (AHb1) to 2.2 ? and compare its key features with the structures of similar nonsymbiotic hemoglobin from other species. Crystal structure of AHb1 is homologous to the related members with similar globin fold and heme pocket architecture. The structure is homodimeric in the asymmetric unit with both distal and proximal histidines coordinating to the heme iron atom. Residues lining the dimeric interface are also conserved in AHb1 with the exception of additional electrostatic interaction between H112 and E113 of each subunit and that involving Y119 through two water molecules. In addition, differences in heme pocket non-covalent interactions, a novel Ser residue at F7 position, Xe binding site variability, internal cavity topology differences, CD loop conformation and stability and other such properties might explain kinetic variability in AHb1. Detailed cavity analysis of AHb1 showed the presence of a novel long tunnel connecting the distal pockets of both the monomers. Presence of such tunnel, along with conformational heterogeneity observed in the two chains, might suggest cooperative ligand binding and support its role in NO scavenging. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins.     

Exploration of human serum albumin binding sites by docking and molecular dynamics flexible ligand–protein interactions

Five‐nanosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on human serum albumin (HSA) to study the conformational features of its primary ligand binding sites (I and II). Additionally, 11 HSA snapshots were extracted every 0.5 ns to explore the binding affinity (K_d) of 94 known HSA binding drugs using a blind docking procedure. MD simulations indicate that there is considerable flexibility for the protein, including the known sites I and II. Movements at HSA sites I and II were evidenced by structural analyses and docking simulations. The latter enabled the study and analysis of the HSA–ligand interactions of warfarin and ketoprofen (ligands binding to sites I and II, respectively) in greater detail. Our results indicate that the free energy values by docking (K_d observed) depend upon the conformations of both HSA and the ligand. The 94 HSA–ligand binding K_d values, obtained by the docking procedure, were subjected to a quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) study by multiple regression analysis. The best correlation between the observed and QSAR theoretical (K_d predicted) data was displayed at 2.5 ns. This study provides evidence that HSA binding sites I and II interact specifically with a variety of compounds through conformational adjustments of the protein structure in conjunction with ligand conformational adaptation to these sites. These results serve to explain the high ligand‐promiscuity of HSA. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 161–170, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com     

The Biochemistry of Parasites

HPLC-analysis of the reaction products of a series of 4-methylumbelliferyl glycosides from cello-oligosaccharides, used as substrates of a cellobiohydrolase from Trichoderma reesei, proves the lack of specificity for terminal cellobiosyl groups. Also, different reaction patterns are observed for this CBHI and for an endocellulase, when acting on these same substrates. 4-Methylumbelliferyl β-D-lactoside is an unexpected substrate for CBHI, yielding only lactose and phenol as reaction products. The binding characteristics of p-nitrobenzyl 1-thio-β-D-lactoside for this enzyme are determined by a dia-filtration technique, yielding 1 binding site and an association constant of 4.0 × 10⁴ M^?1.     

The Solution Structure,Binding Properties,and Dynamics of the Bacterial Siderophore-binding Protein FepB

The periplasmic binding protein (PBP) FepB plays a key role in transporting the catecholate siderophore ferric enterobactin from the outer to the inner membrane in Gram-negative bacteria. The solution structures of the 34-kDa apo- and holo-FepB from Escherichia coli, solved by NMR, represent the first solution structures determined for the type III class of PBPs. Unlike type I and II PBPs, which undergo large “Venus flytrap” conformational changes upon ligand binding, both forms of FepB maintain similar overall folds; however, binding of the ligand is accompanied by significant loop movements. Reverse methyl cross-saturation experiments corroborated chemical shift perturbation results and uniquely defined the binding pocket for gallium enterobactin (GaEnt). NMR relaxation experiments indicated that a flexible loop (residues 225–250) adopted a more rigid and extended conformation upon ligand binding, which positioned residues for optimal interactions with the ligand and the cytoplasmic membrane ABC transporter (FepCD), respectively. In conclusion, this work highlights the pivotal role that structural dynamics plays in ligand binding and transporter interactions in type III PBPs.     

Structural Basis for Difference in Heat Capacity Increments for Ca Binding to Two α-Lactalbumins

Thermodynamic parameters for the unfolding of as well as for the binding of Ca²⁺ to goat α-lactalbumin (GLA) and bovine α-lactalbumin (BLA) are deduced from isothermal titration calorimetry in a buffer containing 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5 near 25°C. Among the different parameters available, the heat capacity increments (ΔC_p) offer the most direct information for the associated conformational changes of the protein variants. The ΔC_p values for the transition from the native to the molten globule state are rather similar for both proteins, indicating that the extent of the corresponding conformational change is nearly identical. However, the respective ΔC_p values for the binding of Ca²⁺ are clearly different. The data suggest that a distinct protein region is more sensitive to a Ca²⁺-dependent conformational change in BLA than is the case in GLA. By analysis of the tertiary structure we observed an extensive accumulation of negatively charged amino acids near the Ca²⁺-binding site of BLA. In GLA, the cluster of negative charges is reduced by the substitution of Glu-11 by Lys. The observed difference in ΔC_p values for the binding of Ca²⁺ is presumably in part related to this difference in charge distribution.     

Structural insight into the antagonistic action of diarylheptanoid on human estrogen receptor alpha

Estrogen receptor α (ER α) is an important therapeutic target in the regulation of ligand dependent signaling in breast cancer. The current study investigates the anti-estrogenic potential of the Diarylheptanoid, 5-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3 methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (DAH) in silico. Rigid Docking analysis of DAH at the ligand binding domain (LBD) of ER α showed hydrogen bond interactions with Arg394 and Glu353 at the active site, similar to the positive controls 4-Hydroxy Tamoxifen (4-OHT) and Fulvestrant (FUL). The protein and the protein–DAH complexes were further analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations for a time scale of 50 ns using GROMACS. Root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis showed large fluctuations at the N-terminal region of Helices (H) 3, 9 and at the C-terminal region of H11, which could be involved in the antagonistic conformational change. Interestingly, H12 appeared to move away from the ligand binding pocket and occupy the co-activator binding groove at the LBD of ER α. Secondary structure analysis of the protein upon binding of DAH and CUR showed structural change from α-helix to Turn conformation at H4. We hypothesize that this structural change at H4, similar to the positive control, could hinder the activity of AF-2 by blocking the binding of co-activator. These conformational changes in ER α indicate an anti-estrogenic and therapeutic potential of the DAH.     

Equilibrium and kinetic measurements of the redox potentials of cytochromes c2 in vitro and in vivo

The equilibrium oxidation-reduction mipoint potential (E_m) of isolated Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides cytochrome c₂ exhibits a pH-dependent behavior which can be ascribed to a pK on the oxidized form at pH 8.0 (Pettigrew et al. (1975) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 430, 197–208). However, as with mammalian cytochrome c (Brandt, K.G., Parks, P.C., Czerlinski, G.H. and Hess, G.P. (1966) J. Biol. Chem. 241, 4180–4185) this pK can more properly be attributed to the combination of a pK beyond pH 11, and a slow conformational change of the ferricytochrome. This has been demonstrated by resolving the E_m of cytochrome c₂ before and after the conformational change. The E_m of the unaltered form is essentially pH independent between pH 7 and 11.5, and the lower equilibrium E_m is due solely to the conformational change. In vivo the conformational change is prevented by the binding of the cytochrome c₂ to the photochemical reaction center, and the cytochrome exhibits an essentially pH-independent E_m from pH 5 to 11. The alkaline transition thus has little physiological significance, and it is unlikely that the redox reactions of cytochrome c₂ in vivo involve protons.