Electron spin resonance spectra of penta- and hexacoordinated nitrosyl iron protoporphyrin IX complexes

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of frozen aqueous solutions of NO · haem · base complexes and NO · haem intercalated into dodecyl sulfate micelles have been measured at 77 K and analyzed for the hyperfine components of ¹⁵NO,¹⁴N-base, ¹⁴N-pyrroles and ⁵⁷Fe which coincide with the principal directions of the g tensor. The influence of the basicity of the nitrogen base on the spin distribution and geometry of the Fe-N-O grouping has been demonstrated by replacing imidazole for pyridine and by comparing the ESR spectra with those obtained for the monomeric insect haemoglobin CTT IV.The comparison of the hyperfine parameters described for the so-called pentacoordinated nitrosyl complex of CTT IV with those of the NO · haem intercalated into detergent micelles has furnished evidence that the ESR spectrum of this conformation state of haemoglobin has to be definitely assigned to a pentacoordinated nitrosyl complex.The a_zz values increase with the following orders: CTT IV (2.98 mT) < imidazole complex (3.04mT) < pyridine complex (3.15mT) for ¹⁵NO, and pyridine complex (0.59 mT) < imidazole complex (0.67 mT) < CTT IV (0.70 mT) for the ¹⁴N-base. This result is in conformity with an increase of the donor and the acceptor strengths of the nitrogen base in trans-position to ¹⁵NO. The a_yy and a_xx components of ¹⁵NO and the ¹⁴N-base are strongly nonequivalent in the nitrosyl haemoglobin CTT IV, and less nonequivalent in the NO · haem · pyridine complex, indicating bending of the Fe-N-O grouping. The hyperfine components of the axial ligands coinciding with the x and y component of the g tensor are nearly equal for the NO · haem · imidazole complex.     

Bohr-effect and pH-dependence of electron spin resonance spectra of a cobalt-substituted monomeric insect haemoglobin

The monomeric haemoglobin IV from Chironomus thummi thummi (CTT IV) exhibits an alkaline Bohr-effect and therefore it is an allosteric protein. By substitution of the haem iron for cobalt the O₂ half-saturation pressure, measured at 25 C, increases 250-fold. The Bohr-effect is not affected by the replacement of the central atom. The parameters of the Bohr-effect of cobalt CTT IV for 25 C are: inflection point of the Bohr-effect curve at pH 7.1, number of Bohr protons -log p_1/2 (O₂)/gDpH=0.36 mol H⁺/mol O₂ and amplitude of the Bohr-effect curve log p_1/2 (O₂)=0.84. The substitution of protoporphyrin for mesoporphyrin causes a 10 nm blue-shift of the visible absorption maxima in both, the native and the cobalt-substituted forms of CTT IV. Furthermore, the replacement of vinyl groups by ethyl groups at position 2 and 4 of the porphyrin system leads to an increase of O₂ affinities at 25 C which follows the order: proto < meso < deutero for iron and cobalt CTT IV, respectively. Again, the Bohr-effect is not affected by the replacement of protoporphyrin for mesoporphyrin or deuteroporphyrin. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of both, deoxy cobalt proto- and deoxy cobalt meso-CTT IV, are independent of pH. The stronger electron-withdrawing effect by protoporphyrin is reflected by the decrease of the cobalt hyperfine constants coinciding with g=2.035 and by the low-field shift of g. The ESR spectra of oxy cobalt proto- and oxy cobalt meso-CTT IV are dependent of pH. The cobalt hyperfine constants coinciding with g=2.078 increase during transition from low to high pH. The pH-induced ESR spectral changes correlate with the alkaline Bohr-effect. Therefore, the two O₂ affinity states can be assigned to the low-pH and high-pH ESR spectral species. The low-pH form (low-affinity state) is characterized by a smaller, the high-pH form (high-affinity state) by a larger cobalt hyperfine constant in g. The correlation of the cobalt hyperfine constants of the oxy forms with the O₂ affinities is discussed for several monomeric haemoglobins. The Co-O-O bond angle in cobalt oxy CTT IV is characterized by an ozonoid type of binding geometry and varies little during the pH-induced conformation transition. Due to the lack of the distal histidine in CTT IV no additional interaction via hydrogen-bonding with dioxygen is possible; this is reflected by the cobalt hyperfine constants.     

Bohr-effect and pH-dependence of electron spin resonance spectra of a cobalt-substituted monomeric insect haemoglobin

The monomeric haemoglobin IV from Chironomus thummi thummi (CTT IV) exhibits an alkaline Bohr-effect and therefore it is an allosteric protein. By substitution of the haem iron for cobalt the O2 half-saturation pressure, measured at 25 degrees C, increases 250-fold. The Bohr-effect is not affected by the replacement of the central atom. The parameters of the Bohr-effect of cobalt CTT IV for 25 degrees C are: inflection point of the Bohr-effect curve at pH 7.1, number of Bohr protons -- deltalog p1/2 (O2)/deltapH = 0.36 mol H+/mol O2 and amplitude of the Bohr-effect curve deltalogp1/2 (O2) = 0.84. The substitution of protoporphyrin for mesoporphyrin causes a 10 nm blue-shift of the visible absorption maxima in both, the native and the cobalt-substituted forms of CTT IV. Furthermore, the replacement of vinyl groups by ethyl groups at position 2 and 4 of the porphyrin system leads to an increase of O2 affinities at 25 degrees C which follows the order: proto less than meso less than deutero for iron and cobalt CTT IV, respectively. Again, the Bohr-effect is not affected by the replacement of protoporphyrin for mesoporphyrin or deuteroporphyrin. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of both, deoxy cobalt proto- and deoxy cobalt meso-CTT IV, are independent of pH. The stronger electron-withdrawing effect by protoporphyrin is reflected by the decrease of the cobalt hyperfine constants coinciding with gparallel = 2.035 and by the low-field shift of gparallel. The ESR spectra of oxy cobalt proto- and oxy cobalt meso-CTT IV are dependent of pH. The cobalt hyperfine constants coinciding with gparallel - 2.078 increase during transition from low to high pH. The pH-induced ESR spectral changes correlate with the alkaline Bohr-effect. Therefore, the two O2 affinity states can be assigned to the low-pH and high-pH ESR spectral species. The low-pH form (low-affinity state) is characterized by a smaller, the high-pH form (high-affinity state) by a larger cobalt hyperfine constant in gparallel. The correlation of the cobalt hyperfine constants of the oxy forms with the O2 affinities is discussed for several monomeric haemoglobins. The Co-O-O bond angle in cobalt oxy CTT IV is characterized by an ozonoid type of binding geometry and varies little during the pH-induced conformation transition. Due to the lack of the distal histidine in CTT IV no additional interaction via hydrogen-bonding with dioxygen is possible; this is reflected by the cobalt hyperfine constants.     

pH Dependence of oxy and deoxy cobalt-substituted leghemoglobin from soybean

In leghemoglobin a, which is the major hemoglobin component in soybean root nodules, the haem iron has been replaced by cobalt. The electron spin resonance (ESR) of frozen solutions of the cobalt-substituted leghemoglobin has been studied at 77 K in the deoxy and oxy forms respectively. Both ligation states exhibit rhombic g tensors. The hyperfine constants of ⁵⁹Co, ¹⁴N-imidazole (residue of the proximal histidine) and ¹⁴N-pyrroles are determined for the three principal directions of the g tensor. Both, the oxy and the deoxy state exhibit pH-dependent changes of the hyperfine structures. For oxy cobalt leghemoglobin a quantitative analysis of the pH titration and of the ESR parameters of the low and high-pH forms respectively are performed. The interconversion of the low and the high-pH forms is controlled by a proton-dissociating group with pK=6.4 which is most probably the distal histidine. g tensors and hyperfine constants are compared with those described for oxy cobalt myoglobin crystal spectra [34] allowing assignments of the low and high-pH species of leghemoglobin to stereoelectronic structures with non-equivalent and equivalent dioxygen atoms respectively. Hydrogen-bonding of the distal histidine with dioxygen favours the structure with equivalent oxygen atoms. The pH dependence of the deoxy form is interpreted as interaction of the proximal imidazole with the central cobalt atom.     

Selected carboxymethylation of ferri-hemoglobin from insect larvae Chironomus thummi thummi]

Specific modification of the monomeric fraction III of ferri-hemoglobin from insect larvae Chironomus thummi thummi (Hb CTT) was studied on histidyl residues His-G19 (pK 4,8), His-E5 (pK 7,3) and Met-H22 at different pH using iodacetamide and spin label 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-bromacethyl-piperidin-1-oxyl, an analogue of bromacetate. The analysis of the products of carboxymethylation (CM) showed that at pH 5,0 two products of modification CM-(His-G19)-Hb CTT, and CM-(Met-H22)-Hb CTT were obtained. In the case of modification at pH 7,2 with a spin label dicarboxymethylatid product CM-(His-G19)-CM (His-E5)-Hb CTT is obtained. In all products the degree of modification was one spin label per mole protein. Based on the data on the primery and tertiary structures Hb CTT and the results of the investigation, different reactivity of His-G19 and His-E5, as well as the cause of the absence of the product of carboxymethylation on His-G2 have been discussed. By analizing the absorption spectra of carboxymethylated derivatives of hemoglobin in the ultraviolet and visible region, as well as from the pH dependence curves of the absorption at Soret band in the interval pH 5,5-11,5 it has been shown that carboxymethylation of His-G19 and His E5 is not accompanied by any substantial disturbance of the structures of aquous-complexes Hb CTT. Modification of Met-H22 leads to strong changes in the absorption spectrum and to the absence of pH dependence of the absorption at Soret band, which indicates a change in the aquous-complexes Hb CTT structure.     

ENDOR and ESEEM investigation of the Ni-containing superoxide dismutase

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) protect cells against oxidative stress by disproportionating O₂ ⁻ to H₂O₂ and O₂. The recent finding of a nickel-containing SOD (Ni-SOD) has widened the diversity of SODs in terms of metal contents and SOD catalytic mechanisms. The coordination and geometrical structure of the metal site and the related electronic structure are the keys to understanding the dismutase mechanism of the enzyme. We performed Q-band ¹⁴N,^1/2H continuous wave (CW) and pulsed electron–nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and X-band ¹⁴N electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) on the resting-state Ni-SOD extracted from Streptomyces seoulensis. In-depth analysis of the data obtained from the multifrequency advanced electron paramagnetic resonance techniques detailed the electronic structure of the active site of Ni-SOD. The analysis of the field-dependent Q-band ¹⁴N CW ENDOR yielded the nuclear hyperfine and quadrupole coupling tensors of the axial N_δ of the His-1 imidazole ligand. The tensors are coaxial with the g-tensor frame, implying the g-tensor direction is modulated by the imidazole plane. X-band ¹⁴N ESEEM characterized the hyperfine coupling of N_ε of His-1 imidazole. The nuclear quadrupole coupling constant of the nitrogen suggests that the hydrogen-bonding between N_ε–H and O_Glu-17 present for the reduced-state Ni-SOD is weakened or broken upon oxidizing the enzyme. Q-band ¹H CW ENDOR and pulsed ²H Mims ENDOR showed a strong hyperfine coupling to the protons(s) of the equatorially coordinated His-1 amine and a weak hyperfine coupling to either the proton(s) of a water in the pocket at the side opposite the axial N_δ or the proton of a water hydrogen-bonded to the equatorial thiolate ligand.     

The physical chemistry of Hemes II. Electron paramagnetic resonance study of the interaction of some iron(III)-porphyrins with fluoride ion in dimethylformamide

The interaction of F⁻ with high and low spin ferric deuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester and a low spin model compound, bis(histidine methyl ester) deuterohemin IX has been studied in dimethylformamide solution by low-temperature EPR. The reaction of F⁻ with these complexes leads to high spin compounds. The structure of the EPR line at g = 2 is due to superhyperfine interactions with axial fluoride ligands. It allows their identification as mono- or difluoride complexes. Their optical absorption spectra are reported. In the particular cases of bis(imidazole) deuterohemin IX dimethyl ester and of the model compound, the variations of the EPR spectra as functions of concentration of ionic ligand are reported. Three new low spin complexes are thus obtained. They are characterized by a specific interaction of F⁻ with the NH group of the imidazole ring. This is proved following a second independent study in which we report the changes in g tensor principal values of low spin ferric porphyrins with the basicity (pK_a) of various nitrogenous bases.     

Structure and spin density of ferric low-spin heme complexes determined with high-resolution ESEEM experiments at 35 GHz

The wide use of the heme group by nature is a consequence of its unusual “electronic flexibility.” Major changes in the electronic structure of this molecule can result from small perturbations in its environment. To understand the way the electronic distribution is dictated by the structure of the heme site, it is extremely important to have methods to reliably determine both of them. In this work we propose a way to obtain this information in ferric low-spin heme centers via the determination of g, A, and Q tensors of the coordinated nitrogens using electron spin echo envelope modulation experiments at Q-band microwave frequencies. The results for two bisimidazole heme model complexes, namely, PPIX(Im)₂ and CPIII(Im)₂, where PPIX is protoporphyrin IX, CPIII is coproporphyrin III, and Im is imidazole, selectively labeled with ¹⁵N on the heme or imidazole nitrogens are presented. The planes of the axial ligands were found to be parallel and oriented approximately along one of the N–Fe–N directions of the slightly ruffled porphyrin ring (approximately 10°). The spin density was determined to reside in an iron d orbital perpendicular to the heme plane and oriented along the other porphyrin N–Fe–N direction, perpendicular to the axial imidazoles. The benefit of the method presented here lies in the use of Q-band microwave frequencies, which improves the orientation selection, results in no/fewer combination lines in the spectra, and allows separation of the contributions of hyperfine and quadrupole interactions due to the fulfillment of the exact cancellation condition at g _Z and the possibility of performing hyperfine decoupling experiments at the g _X observer position. These experimental advantages make the interpretation of the spectra straightforward, which results in precise and reliable determination of the structure and spin distribution.     

Chelation of copper(II) by daunomycin and 5-iminodaunomycin and interaction of the complexes with mononucleotides: An ESR study

Coordination of copper(II) ions by daunomycin and 5-iminodaunomycin has been studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, at various values of pH and r, the anthracycline-to-Cu(II) molar ratio. At r = 1–5, polymeric complexes are formed in the case of daunomycin. At r = 5, a mononuclear complex is predominant and at r = 10, this is the only one formed with the ⁶³Cu and ⁶⁵Cu hyperfine interaction being clearly defined in the g_∥ region (g_∥ = 2.26, ⁶³A_∥ = 175; ⁶⁵A_∥ = 190 G). For 5-iminodaunomycin both chelation sites are involved in the coordination and a polymeric structure (in which exchange interactions between Cu(II) centers operate) is stable in the range r = 1–3. At r = 3, the triplet state of a dinuclear Cu(II) complex is observed and 5-iminodaunomycin behaves as both a bridging and a terminal ligand. For r = 5–10, the dinuclear complex coexists with the mononuclear one. In the presence of mononucleotides dGMP, dAMP, dCMP and thymidine, no ternary complex such as mononucleotide/Cu(II)/anthracycline was observed.     

An unusual hemoprotein capable of reversible binding of nitric oxide from the gram-positive Bacillus halodenitrificans

A green protein from the soluble extract of anaerobically grown Bacillus halodenitrificans cells was purified and determined by non-denaturing procedures or SDS-PAGE to have a molecular mass of 64 kDa. The pyridine hemochromogen was shown to be that of a b-type cytochrome prosthetic group that was soluble in ether. The protein contained 6.2mol protoheme per mol protein^-1. Photoreduction of the native protein yielded a product with an electronic absorption spectrum retaining the 559 nm maximum and the 424-nm Soret band displayed in the dithionite-reduced sample. Incubation of a reduced sample in the presence of air failed to return it to the original oxidation state. Electronic spin was not affected by pH. The reduced but not the oxidized form of the cytochrome bound cyanide, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide, providing spectra resembling those of cytochromes c from several sources. Addition of nitroprusside to the reduced protein yielded a spectrum similar to that of the NO reacted protein. Nitric oxide failed to reduce the green protein. The position of the Soret band in the spectrum of the nitric oxide derivative of the green protein suggested a fifth-coordinate nitrosylheme structure. EPR studies provided g values with the triplet spectral pattern consistent with a five-coordinate ferrous nitrosyl heme. Flushing of the NO-derivative with argon and overnight exposure to air returned the nitrosylheme to the ferric form, and EPR values confirmed the reversion. All these spectral characterizations are strikingly similar to those of soluble guanylate cyclase, including the observation that NO was reversibly bound to the protein. EPR spectra of whole cells also displayed the hyperfine lines typical of a nitrosyl-ferrous heme, accentuated when dithionite was added. In the absence of a definitive physiological role because of its unusual properties, the green protein was named a nitric oxide-binding protein.Abbreviations PMS Phenazine methosulfate - PMSF Phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride - SOD Super oxide dismutase - EPR Electron paramagnetic resonance - GP Green protein Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland Univeristy, Rochester, MI 48309-4401     

Axial ligand complexes of the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rhodnius</Emphasis> nitrophorins: reduction potentials,binding constants,EPR spectra,and structures of the 4-iodopyrazole and imidazole complexes of NP4

Previously, we utilized 4-iodopyrazole (4IPzH) as a heavy atom derivative for the initial solution of the crystal structure of the nitrophorin from Rhodnius prolixus, NP1, where it was found to bind to the heme with the iodo group disordered in two positions. We have now determined the structure of the 4IPzH complex of NP4 at pH 7.5 and find that the geometry and bond lengths at the iron center are extremely similar to those of the imidazole (ImH) complex of the same protein (structure determined at pH 5.6), except that the G–H loop is not in the closed conformation. 4IPzH binds to the heme of NP4 in an ordered manner, with the iodo substituent pointed toward the opening of the heme pocket, near the surface of the protein. In order to understand the solution chemistry in terms of the relative binding abilities of 4IPzH, ImH, and histamine (Hm, a physiological ligand for the nitrophorins), we have also investigated the equilibrium binding constants and reduction potentials of these three ligand complexes of the four Rhodnius nitrophorins as a function of pH. We have found that, unlike the other Lewis bases, 4IPzH forms less stable complexes with the Fe(III) than the Fe(II) oxidation states of NP1 and NP4, and similar stability for the two oxidation states of NP2 and NP3, suggesting that this ligand is a softer base than ImH or Hm, for both of which the Fe(III) complexes are more stable than those of Fe(II) for all four nitrophorins. Surprisingly, in spite of this and the much lower basicity of 4IPzH than imidazole and histamine, the EPR g-values of all three ligand complexes are very similar.Abbreviations NP1–4 nitrophorins 1–4 from Rhodnius prolixus - 4IPzH 4-iodopyrazole - ImH imidazole - Hm histamine - NO nitric oxide - NOS nitric oxide synthase     

The trans-labilization of nitric oxide in RuII complexes by C-bound imidazoles

The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of trans-[NO(L)(NH₃)₄Ru]Cl₃ (L=imidazole, theophylline and caffeine) are presented. ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicates that the imidazole ligands are coordinated to the Ru^II through a carbon atom (imκ²_, 1,3Me₂Xanκ⁸ and 1,3,7Me₃Xanκ⁸). The nitrosyl stretching frequencies (ν_NO≅1913 cm⁻¹) suggest the coordinated nitrosyl has substantial NO⁺ character. The complexes undergo a single-electron reduction (E°≅−0.50 V versus Ag/AgCl), which involves the coordinated nitrosyl. Dissociation of NO^· in the reduced species is facilitated by the trans-imidazolylidene ligand. The lower than expected reduction potentials of these complexes may account for their inactivity in evoking neuronal firing in the hippocampus by releasing NO following reduction.     

Reactions of Cr(III) tetraphenylporphyrin complex with superoxide ion: ESR evidence for the formation of a new superoxide adduct of Cr(IV) porphyrinate and its reactive character

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum of the reaction product of superoxide ion, O₂⁻, with chloro-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinatochromium(III) [Cr(III)(TPP)Cl] shows strong hyperfine interactions with the metal nucleus and the metal ligand, indicating the formation of a superoxide adduct, Cr(IV)(TPP)(Cl)(O₂⁻). The formation of this superoxide adduct was also confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The reactive character of this superoxide adduct was investigated by ESR spectrometry. It was found that Cr(IV)(TPP)(Cl)(O₂⁻) can oxidize t-butylamine and triphenylphosphine to give the corresponding radical species, respectively, but not pyridine, 4-cyanopyridine or imidazole. These results indicate that the reactive character of Cr(IV)(TPP)- (Cl)(O₂⁻) resembles that of the free superoxide ion.     

Comparison of insect hemoglobins (Erythrocruorins) from Chironomus thummi thummi and Chironomus thummi piger (Diptera). The primary structure of the monomeric hemoglobin CTP III

The monomeric hemoglobin fractions of Chironomus thummi thummi (CTT) and Chironomus thummi piger (CTP) differ in the ratio of their components. The determination of the primary structure of the component CTP III was achieved by automatic Edman degradation of the native chain, the tryptic peptides and the C-terminal fragment, obtained by cleavage at the single tryptophan residue. It revealed two chains in the ratio 1:1 which share the ambiguity threonine/isoleucine in position 57 with CTT III. Whereas one chain is identical to the CTT III hemoglobin, the other differs in having isoleucine in position 105 and alanine in position 134. The CTP monomeric hemoglobin fraction comprises 8% of a component (CTP IV A) with a more negative charge than CTT IV but with an identical sequence up to position 44. This study reveals a very high polymorphism within Chironomus species and points out the need for more data at the gene level in order to provide better understanding of this striking phenomenon.     

The Nature of Conformational Correlations in α- and β-Anomers of Nucleic Acid Components in Aqueous Solution by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Abstract

The solution distribution of combinations of the sugar ring puckering domains, C2′endo(S), C3′endo(N), and C4′-C5′ rotamers, +sc(g⁺), ap(t), -sc(g^?), in α and β-anomers in ribo- and deoxyribo- pyrimidine nucleic acid components can be determined from vicinal coupling constants (M. Remin, J. Biomol. Str. Dyn. 2, 211 (1984). A general correlation pattern with a conformational constant λ, reflecting an intrinsic physical property of the sugar - side chain ensemble, is developed and expressed in terms of four principles:

I) The +sc rotamer contributes to the C3′endo population to a higher extent (1 - Y_t) than to C2′endo,(l-Y_t-Y_g-/X_s).

II) The ap rotamer contributes to both C2′endo and C3′endo populations to the same extent (Y_t).

III) The—sc rotamer contributes only to the C2′endo population, (Y_g-/X_s).

IV) The molar fractions X_s, Y_t and Y_g- of conformations C2′endo, ap and—sc, respectively, are strongly correlated, λ = (Y_g-/X_s)/Y_t ≈ 0.5, and therefore Y_t is a basic variable parameter which determines all others in the correlation pattern.

In α-anomers, regardless of the type and conformation of the sugar ring and base, the molar fraction Y_t = 0.37 ± 0.02. This finding means that different α-anomers show one correlation pattern free of the influence of the base. In β-anomers, structure and conformation of the base are important factors which modulate (through Y_t) the correlation pattern, conserving its fundamental features. Y_t is considerably increased by a syn-oriented pyrimidine base, but decreases when the base is anti. The transition from anti to syn orientation of the base is followed by destabilization of (C2′endo, +sc) in favor of (C3′endo, ap). The principles of conformational correlations rationalize a variety of correlations observed in the past.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of lactoperoxidase complexes: clarification of hyperfine splitting for the NO adduct of lactoperoxidase

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of the nitrosyl adduct of ferrous lactoperoxidase (LPO) confirm that the fifth axial ligand in LPO is bound to the iron via a nitrogen atom. Complete reduction of the ferric LPO sample is required in order to observe the nine-line hyperfine splitting in the ferrous LPO/NO EPR spectrum. The ferrous LPO/NO complex does not exhibit a pH or buffer system dependence when examined by EPR. Interconversion of the ferrous LPO/NO complex and the ferric LPO/NO2- complex is achieved by addition of the appropriate oxidizing or reducing agent. Characterization of the low-spin LPO/NO2- complex by EPR and visible spectroscopy is reported. The pH dependence of the EPR spectra of ferric LPO and ferric LPO/CN- suggests that a high-spin anisotropic LPO complex is formed at high pH and an acid-alkaline transition of the protein conformation near the heme site does occur in LPO/CN-. The effect of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer on the LPO EPR spectrum is also examined.     

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.     

Tc(NX)Y3(Me2PhP)2 complexes (X = O or S; Y = Cl or Br). Preparation,characterization and EPR studies

The d⁵-‘low-spin’ Tc(II) complexes tribromonitrosyl-bis(dimethylphenylphosphine)technetium(II) and tribromo-thionitrosyl-bis(dimethylphenylphosphine)technetium(II) were prepared by ligand exchange starting from the analogous chloro compounds. The complexes were characterized chemically and IR, UVVis and EPR spectroscopically.In the room temperature EPR spectra a well-resolved ⁹⁹Tc hyperfine splitting is observed inidicating a ground state of the unpaired electron which is well separated from the other orbit states. The general features of the spectra at low temperatures are characteristic for an axially symmetric spin Hamiltonian. Analysis of the ⁹⁹Tc and ³¹P hfs (hfs = hyperfine splittings) shows a marked covalency of the Tcligand bonds. A comparison is given between the chloro and bromo, as well as between the nitrosyl and thionitrosyl complexes.     

Further Characterization of Ferredoxin Nitrite Reductase and the Relationship between the Enzyme and Methyl Viologen-dependent Nitrite Reductase

Ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase of spinach has been further characterized and the relationship between this enzyme and methyl viologen-dependent nitrite reductase studied.

Purified ferredoxin nitrite reductase, having a molecular weight of 86,000, showed 2.5 times higher ferredoxin-dependent activity than methyl viologen-linked activity. Besides 4 mol of labile sulfide the enzyme contained about 2 mol of siroheme per mol. When dithionite, methyl viologen and nitrite were added, ESR signals of a heme nitrosyl complex at g = 2.14, 2.07 and 2.02 were observed. Moreover, hyperfine splitting of the signal due to ¹⁴N nuclear spin was also observed at 2.033, 2.023 and 2.013. The sole addition of hydroxylamine to the ferric enzyme also caused the same but much less intense signals with the hyperfine splitting.

On treatment of the ferredoxin nitrite reductase (native enzyme) with DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography, a modified nitrite reductase having a molecular weight of 61,000 and a protein fraction having an apparent molecular weight of 24,000 were separated. The modified enzyme contained about one mol of siroheme and 4 mol of labile sulfide per mol and showed essentially the same heme ESR signals as the native enzyme. Contrary to the native enzyme, this modified enzyme accepted electrons more efficiently from methyl viologen than ferredoxin and the reduction of nitrite to ammonia catalyzed by the modified enzyme was not stoichiometric. The observed nitrite to ammonia ratio was 1 to less than 0.6. Cyanide at concentrations between 0.02 to 0.2 mm inhibited the activity of the native enzyme almost completely but the modified enzyme was inhibited only partially.

From the results obtained, it is suggested that the native ferredoxin-linked nitrite reductase consists of two components (or subunits) and removal of the light component results in formation of a modified enzyme with increased relative affinity to methyl viologen.     

Yolk protein in the pharaoh's ant: Influence of larvae and workers on vitellogenin and vitellin content in queens

Summary Vitellin from the pharaoh's ant,Monomorium pharaonis (L.), was found to contain a single apoprotein with aM _r of 198.3 kDa. The protein is a glycoprotein exposing mannose containing carbohydrate groups.Antibodies to pharaoh's ant vitellin (v _t), raised in rabbits, were used to determine the head-, thorax-, and abdominal contents of vitellogenin and vitellin (v _g+v_t) in queens in relation to the presence or absence of larvae and workers using an ELISA test. Thev _g+v_t contents were also compared to the egg-laying rate and the weight of the queens.The results confirm the existence of a positive correlation betweenv _g+v_t contents in the queens and their access to larvae, probably related to the queens' preferential feeding on larval secretions. In queens without larvae the abdominalv _g+v_t contents declined in concordance with a low oviposition rate of 6–8 eggs/day. In spite of cessation of egg-laying within 24 hours after removal of both larvae and workers, the queens maintained basal contents ofv _g+vt. This may indicate that the presence of larvae is not only essential for the nutrition of the queens, but also for the uptake of vitellogenin in the growing oocytes. This additional stimultive factor may be based on the queens' response to primer pheromones liberated by the larvae. v _g+v_t could not be demonstrated in workers or larvae with the ELISA test. If anyv _g+vt is present in larvae and workers the amount is lower than the detection limit (1–2 ng/individual). This seems to rule out the possibility of transfer of proteins of this kind to the queens.