Formation of 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin E1 during intravenous infusions of prostaglandin E1 in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Formation of 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin (PG) E1 during intravenous infusions of PGE1 in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease was investigated. Using both high performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) combined with radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography/triple stage quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) basal levels of 13,14-dihydro-PGE1 were found to be close to or below the detection limits of the assay methods. Levels of the PGE1 metabolite increased significantly during the infusion periods and decreased after their end. Since 13,14-dihydro-PGE1, in contrast to its precursors 15-keto-PGE1 and 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGE1, is biologically active, its formation could contribute to the beneficial effects of PGE1 administered intravenously in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.     

Glucose metabolism in the trophectoderm and inner cell mass of the rabbit embryo

The metabolism of glucose in the intact Day-6 and -7 post coitum (p.c.) rabbit blastocyst and in the separated trophectoderm and inner cell mass (ICM) of the Day-7 p.c. embryo was investigated. At Day-6 p.c., glucose traversed the trophectoderm with a half-time of 39 +/- 9.3 min, and was metabolized to CO2 at a rate of 25.5 +/- 1.6 nmol.cm-2.h-1. Neither the Na+ ionophore, amphotericin B, nor cyclic AMP had an effect on glucose metabolism to CO2. Lactate production by the Day-6 blastocyst was largely independent of glucose. At Day-7 p.c. in the intact embryo, CO2 production from glucose significantly decreased to 7.76 +/- 2.8 nmol.cm-2.h-1. Per unit surface area, the metabolism of glucose to CO2 was similar in the separated Day-7 p.c. trophectoderm and ICM. We conclude that the rabbit blastocyst is not highly dependent on glucose, and that the ICM does not utilize glucose as a metabolite to a greater extent than does the trophectoderm, at least in the Day-7 p.c. embryo.     

Direct and fast capillary zone electrophoretic method for the determination of Gleevec and its main metabolite in human urine

A capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) method was investigated for the determination of Gleevec and its main metabolite (N-demethylated piperazine derivative) in human urine using a fused-silica capillary (75 microm I.D.x60 cm total length, 10 cm effective length). The separation was performed with an hydrodynamic injection time of 10 s (0.5 p.s.i.) a voltage of -25 kV, a capillary temperature of 25 degrees C and a 100 mM phosphoric acid adjusted to pH 2 with the addition of triethanolamine. Under these conditions, the analysis takes about 5 min. A linear response over the 0.4-30.0 mg l(-1) concentration range was investigated for two compounds. A dilution of the sample was the only step necessary before the electrophoresis analysis. Detection limits of 0.1 mg l(-1) for Gleevec and its metabolite (S/N=3) were obtained. The developed method is easy, rapid and sensitive and has been applied to determine Gleevec and its main metabolite in clinical urine samples.     

pH-dependent forms of the ferryl haem in myoglobin peroxide analysed by variable-temperature magnetic circular dichroism.

The reaction product of myoglobin and H2O2 exists in two different forms according to the external pH. Varied-temperature magnetic-circular dichroism (m.c.d.) spectroscopy demonstrates that both contain the oxyferryl ion Fe(IV) = O. Alkaline myoglobin peroxide has often been used as a model for oxidized intermediates in the catalytic cycles of haem-containing peroxidases, but absorption and m.c.d. spectra show that the acid form is much more closely related to species such as horeradish peroxidase Compound II. The differences are tentatively ascribed to ionization of the proximal histidine ligand in alkaline myoglobin peroxide. It is also shown that the m.c.d. method allows an estimate of the zero-field splitting parameter of both forms, values of D = 28.0 +/- 3 cm-1 and 35.0 +/- 5 cm-1 being obtained for the alkaline and acid forms respectively.     

Air movement and heat loss from sheep. II. Thermal insulation of fleece in wind

Penetration of an animal's coat by wind reduces its thermal insulation and increases heat loss to the environment. From studies of the sensible heat loss from a life-sized model sheep covered with fleece, the average fleece resistance -rf(s cm-1) was related to windspeed u (m s-1) by 1/-rf(u) = 1/-rf(0)+cu, where c is a dimensionless constant. As c is expected to be inversely proportional to coat depth l, the more general relation -k(u) = -k(0)+c'u was evaluated, where -k = l/-rf is the thermal diffusivity (cm2 s-1) of the fleece and c' = cl is another constant (cm). The orientation of the model to the wind had little effect on the bulk resistance of the fleece, but the resistance on the windward side was substantially lower than on the leeward side.     

Determination of antrafenine and its main acid metabolite, 2-{[7-(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinyl]amino}-benzoic acid,in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography with large volume automatic injection and gas—liquid chromatography with derivative formation

Specific and sensitive analytical methods have been developed for the measurement of antrafenine and its main acid metabolite, 2-{[7-(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinyl]amino} benzoic acid (FQB), at therapeutic concentrations in plasma and urine.Following the addition of internal standards (the methyl ester of FQB and 2-{[8-(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinyl]amino}benzoic acid) the parent drug and the metabolite were extracted from biological material with diethyl ether at a weakly acid pH. Drug extracts were evaporated to dryness prior to chromatographic analysis.Antrafenine was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography using a Spherisorb 5-μm ODS column with acetonitrile—0.1 M sodium acetate as the mobile phase. Samples were injected automatically using a 500-μl injection loop. The detector wavelength was 353 nm corresponding to the maximum UV absorption of both drug and internal standard. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) for the determination of antrafenine concentrations between 5 and 250 ng/ml ranged between 24 and 3%, respectively.The acid metabolite of antranine was measured by gas—liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection using a 1-m column packed with 3% OV-225 on Gas-Chrom Q (100–120 mesh) at 240°C and on-column methylation with trimethylphenyl ammonium hydroxide. The C.V. of the methd for the analysis of metabolite concentrations between 10 and 500 ng/ml ranged between 3 and 9%, respectively.     

Dynamic interactions of CO with a3Fe and CuB in cytochrome c oxidase in beef heart mitochondria studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at low temperatures

Carbon monoxide bound to cytochrome c oxidase has been observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy between 10 K and 280 K in the dark and during and after continuous photolysis. CO bound to a3Fe absorbs near 1963 cm-1, with minor bands at lower frequencies. Photolysis at low temperatures transfers CO to CuB, with the major component near 2062 cm-1 and a minor one near 2043 cm-1. Vibrational absorptions are assigned by comparison with heme and copper carbonyls, by frequency dependence of all bands on the isotopic mass of CO, and by similar behavior of major and minor components with photolysis and relaxation kinetics as a function of temperature. Reformation of a3FeCO after photolysis is an apparent first order process below 210 K with a distribution of rate constants. The kinetics are well described by a power law. Arrhenius behavior is followed between 140 K and 180 K to yield a peak activation enthalpy of 40.3 kJ/mol and a distribution in g(H) = 2.56 kJ/mol (full width at half-maximum). The major component of a3FeCO shows a very narrow CO absorption band (full width at half-maximum = 2.4 cm-1), while that of CuBCO shows a broader CO absorption (full width at half-maximum = 6 cm-1). These data indicate that in the reduced carbon monoxide complex, a3FeCO is in highly ordered nonpolar surroundings sufficiently separated from CuB that it is not perturbed by motion of the latter, while CuBCO is in less ordered, more flexible surroundings.     

Measurement of total mirtazapine and normirtazapine in plasma/serum by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the measurement of the new antidepressant mirtazapine and its N-demethyl metabolite, normirtazapine, in human plasma or serum during low dose mirtazapine therapy has been developed. A Waters Spherisorb S5 SCX column was used with ammonium perchlorate (50 mmol/l) in methanol/water (95 + 5 (v/v)), apparent pH 6.7, as eluent, and fluorescence detection. Only small volumes of sample (0.2 ml) and extraction solvent are used. An interference study found no significant co-elution with drug or metabolite, although paroxetine co-elutes with the internal standard. The recovery of mirtazapine and normirtazapine (mean +/- S.D.) was 79 +/- 2, and 64 +/- 3%, respectively. The LOD was estimated as 0.5 microg/l, LLOQ was 1 microg/l, with a linear response over the concentration range 4-1000 microg/l (both analytes). The analytes were stable in serum for at least 10 months when stored at -20 degrees C. Intra- and inter-day accuracy were in the range 91-107 and 93-103%, respectively. In clinical samples (n = 14, median mirtazapine dose 45 mg per day, range 15-45 mg per day) the median (range) mirtazapine and normirtazapine concentrations were 26 (8-40) and 21 (8-32) microg/l, respectively.     

Cytochrome c'''' isolated from Methylophilus methylotrophus. An example of bis-histidine-co-ordinated Fe3+ haem, with near-perpendicular orientation of the ligands.

Cytochrome c' (Methylophilus methylotrophus) is a soluble protein, Mr 15,000, possessing one haem which is high-spin in the reduced state but switches to a low-spin form on oxidation. Low-temperature electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy of the oxidized state shows a low-spin signal at gz = 3.65 with a folded line-shape typical of a haem of low rhombicity, and the near-infrared magnetic-circular-dichroism (m.c.d.) spectra reveal an unusually intense (delta epsilon = 400 M-1.cm-1 at 5 T, 4.2 K) charge-transfer band at 1560 nm, establishing that the oxidized haem is co-ordinated by two His residues in a near-perpendicular orientation. This conformation is well established for transmembrane b cytochromes, but this appears to be the first example in a water-soluble cytochrome. The low-temperature m.c.d. spectra of the reduced form of the protein confirms that the haem contains a high-spin Fe2+ ligated by one His residue. The redox-linked spin-state change releases a His group. Since this residue is likely to bind a proton at pH values less than 6.5, this cytochrome may provide a useful model of a molecular mechanism of a redox-linked proton uptake and release process.     

Estimation of polyhydroxy alcohols in fermentation broths. 2. Quantitative analysis based on t.l.c/f.i.d

A simple and rapid method for the quantitative analysis of polyhydroxy alcohols in fermentation broths has been developed. The method is based on thin layer chromatography (t.l.c.) coupled with a flame ionization detector (f.i.d.) and has been found to be useful in the screening of cultures for fermentative glycerol production.     

Glucuronoxylomannan of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype B: structural analysis by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The major extracellular polysaccharide (glucuronoxylomannan, GXM) from six strains of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype B was characterized by gas-liquid chromatography (g.l.c.), g.l.c.-mass spectrometry (g.l.c.-m.s.), and nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy. Ultrasonic irradiation (u.i.) was used to reduce the mol.wt. of native GXM from 9.75 x 10(5) to 1.15 x 10(5) without apparent change in its composition (GXM-S). The Xylp:Manp:GlcpA molar ratio of the GXM and GXM-S from the six strains of C. neoformans serotype B is approximately 3.5:3.0:0.6. GXM-S was O-deacetylated (GXM-D) by treatment with NH4OH. The 13C-n.m.r. analysis of GXM-D gave spectra that served as characteristic fingerprints of the structure and also facilitated the assignment of the anomeric carbon resonances to specific structural moieties present in GXM-D. The GXM-D from each serotype B strain was found to be similar by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The structure contains a linear (1----3)-alpha-D-Manp backbone substituted with 2-O-beta-GlcpA and 2-O-beta-Xylp. beta-Xylp is also O-4 linked to the Manp substituted with GlcpA. In addition, a model for the disposition of the Xylp and GlcpA side chain substituents along the mannopyranan backbone is proposed, based upon results from the combination of g.l.c.-m.s. and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Efficient and sensitive detection of residues of nine coccidiostats in egg and muscle by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

We present a method based on electrospray liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for determining in muscle and eggs the following nine coccidiostats: halofuginone, diclazuril, dinitrocarbanilide (the main metabolite of nicarbazin), robenidine, monensin, lasalocid, narasin, salinomycin, and maduramicin. Dinitrocarbanilide-d8, nigericin, and diclazuril-bis were used as internal standards. The method uses extraction in acetonitrile followed by a clean-up on an SiOH solid-phase extraction column. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation was performed on a Purospher C(18) column (125 mm x 3 mm i.d.) protected by a guard column, the mobile phase being a water-acetonitrile gradient (each gradient component containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1). For unequivocal identification of each analyte, two ions were detected and chosen for multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Validation was carried out on spiked muscle and egg samples. The method described meets all the criteria of Decision 2002/657/EC and is easy to use in routine analysis. Validation results are presented with the measured CCalpha and CCbeta values. This whole method allows extraction and analysis of up to 24 samples per day.     

Determination of midazolam and its major metabolite 1'-hydroxymidazolam by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry in plasma from children

We have developed a sensitive, selective and reproducible reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) for the simultaneous quantification of midazolam (MDZ) and its major metabolite, 1'-hydroxymidazolam (1'-OHM) in a small volume (200 microl) of human plasma. Midazolam, 1'-OHM and 1'-chlordiazepoxide (internal standard) were extracted from alkalinised (pH 9.5) spiked and clinical plasma samples using a single step liquid-liquid extraction with 1-chlorobutane. The chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed-phase HyPURITY Elite C18 (5 microm particle size; 100 mm x 2.1mm i.d.) analytical column using an acidic (pH 2.8) mobile phase (water-acetonitrile; 75:25% (v/v) containing formic acid (0.1%, v/v)) delivered at a flow-rate of 200 microl/min. The mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion mode at the protonated-molecular ions [M+l]+ of parent drug and metabolite. Calibration curves in spiked plasma were linear (r2 > or = 0.99) from 15 to 600 ng/ml (MDZ) and 5-200 ng/ml (1'-OHM). The limits of detection and quantification were 2 and 5 ng/ml, respectively, for both MDZ and 1'-OHM. The mean relative recoveries at 40 and 600 ng/ml (MDZ) were 79.4+/-3.1% (n = 6) and 84.2+/-4.7% (n = 8), respectively; for 1'-OHM at 30 and 200 ng/ml the values were 89.9+/-7.2% (n = 6) and 86.9+/-5.6% (n = 8), respectively. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) for MDZ were less than 8%, and for 1'-OHM were less than 13%. There was no interference from other commonly used antimalarials, antipyretic drugs and antibiotics. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of MDZ and 1'-OHM in children with severe malaria and convulsions following administration of MDZ either intravenously (i.v.) or intramuscularly (i.m.).     

Isolation and characterization of a trypsin-like serine proteinase from the membranes of Walker 256 carcino-sarcoma cells.

A serine proteinase was isolated from Walker-256-carcino-sarcoma plasma-membrane-enriched preparations by affinity chromatography employing soya-bean trypsin inhibitor as the ligand. This enzyme was termed 'memsin' owing to its membrane location and trypsin-like substrate specificity. Analysis of this preparation by steric-exclusion high-pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) resulted in a single peak of enzyme activity. Calculations of the rates of inactivation of memsin by peptidyl-chloromethanes and comparison with rate constants obtained with other serine proteinases indicated that memsin closely resembled trypsin and acrosin. Digestion of oxidized ribonuclease by memsin and analysis of the resulting peptides by h.p.l.c. yielded a chromatogram that was very similar to one generated by a tryptic digest of oxidized ribonuclease. This enzyme could possibly play a role in tumour-cell invasion.     

Isolation and analysis of human parathyrin in parathyroid tissue and plasma. Use of reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography techniques have been used to extract and purify human parathyrin from parathyroid adenomas and to analyse the circulating forms of human parathyrin in plasma. Both the supernatant from tissue homogenates, and plasma were extracted with octadecylsilyl-silica (ODS-silica) in a batch procedure. Extracts were subjected to reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) employing solvent systems composed of aqueous acetonitrile containing trifluoroacetic acid or heptafluorobutyric acid as hydrophobic ion-pairing reagents. The volatile solvents facilitated the radioimmunoassay, bioassay in vitro and amino acid analysis of column fractions and permitted monitoring for u.v. absorbance at 210nm. Isolated glandular parathyrin was found to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulphate/urea/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, to have an amino acid composition conforming to that of human parathyrin-(1--84)-tetraoctacontapeptide and to be bioactive in both renal adenylate cyclase and cytochemical bioassays. ODS-silica extraction permitted examination of large plasms samples by reversed-phase h.p.l.c., facilitating the resolution of the various circulating molecular forms of parathyrin according to their hydrophobic character. Because of its rapidity, excellent recovery and high resolving power, the methodology utilized is uniquely suited to the purification and analysis of parathyrin in tissues and body fluids.     

Metabolism of the vitamin D3 derivative (24R)-hydroxycalcidiol by human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). Isolation and identification of (5Z) and (5E)-(24R)-19-nor-10-oxo-24-hydroxycalcidiol

Human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60 cells) incubated with (24R)-hydroxy[26,27-methyl-3H]calcidiol (0.2 microCi) or non-radioactive (24R)-hydroxycalcidiol (370 micrograms) produced significant quantities of two new vitamin D3 (calciol) metabolites. The metabolites were isolated from HL-60 cell culture media by methanol/chloroform extraction and a series of chromatographic procedures. The two new metabolites were identified as (5Z)- and (5E)-(24R)-19-nor-10-oxo-24-hydroxycalcidiol by HPLC analysis, ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry. According to the isolation and purification procedures, the total amounts of 3.04 micrograms (5Z)-(24R)-19-nor-10-oxo-24-hydroxycalcidiol (lambda max = 310 nm, epsilon = 17070 M-1 cm-1) and 8.89 micrograms (5E)-(24R)-19-nor-10-oxo-24-hydroxycalcidiol (lambda max = 312 nm, e = 24,500 M-1 cm-1) were calculated, assuming an Mr of 418. The activity of 19-nor-10-oxo-(24R)-hydroxycalcidiol to promote HL-60 cell differentiation was higher than the activity of the precursor (24R)-hydroxycalcidiol suggesting a possible biological action of this metabolite in HL-60 cells.     

DNA melting investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy.

Thermal denaturation of the B form of double-stranded DNA has been probed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy of 160 base pair (bp) fragments of calf thymus DNA. The DSC results indicate a median melting temperature Tm = 75.5 degrees C with calorimetric enthalpy change delta Hcal = 6.7 kcal/mol (bp), van't Hoff enthalpy change delta HVH = 50.4 kcal/mol (cooperative unit), and calorimetric entropy change delta Scal = 19.3 cal/deg.mol (bp), at the experimental conditions of 55 mg DNA/ml in 5 mM sodium cacodylate at pH 6.4. The average cooperative melting unit (nmelt) comprises 7.5 bp. The Raman signature of 160 bp DNA is highly sensitive to temperature. Analyses of several conformation-sensitive Raman bands indicate the following ranges for thermodynamic parameters of melting: 43 < delta HVH < 61 kcal/mol (cooperative unit), 75 < Tm < 80 degrees C and 6 < (nmelt) < 9 bp, consistent with the DSC results. The changes observed in specific Raman band frequencies and intensities as a function of temperature reveal that thermal denaturation is accompanied by disruption of Watson-Crick base pairs, unstacking of the bases and disordering of the B form backbone. These three types of structural change are highly correlated throughout the investigated temperature range of 20 to 93 degrees C. Raman bands diagnostic of purine and pyrimidine unstacking, conformational rearrangements in the deoxyribose-phosphate moieties, and changes in environment of phosphate groups have been identified. Among these, bands at 834 cm-1 (due to a localized vibration of the phosphodiester group), 1240 cm-1 (thymine ring) and 1668 cm-1 (carbonyl groups of dT, dG and dC), are shown by comparison with DSC results to be the most reliable quantitative indicators of DNA melting. Conversely, the intensities of Raman marker bands at 786 cm-1 (cytosine ring), 1014 cm-1 (deoxyribose ring) and 1092 cm-1 (phosphate group) are largely invariant to melting and are proposed as appropriate standards for intensity normalizations.     

Narrowbore high-performance liquid chromatography for the simultaneous determination of sildenafil and its metabolite UK-103,320 in human plasma using column switching

A fully automated narrowbore high-performance liquid chromatography method with column switching was developed for the simultaneous determination of sildenafil and its active metabolite UK-103,320 in human plasma samples without pre-purification. Diluted plasma sample (100 μl) was directly introduced onto a Capcell Pak MF Ph-1 column (20×4 mm I.D.) where primary separation occurred to remove proteins and concentrate target substances using 15% acetonitrile in 20 mM phosphate solution (pH 7). The drug molecules eluted from the MF Ph-1 column were focused in an intermediate column (35×2 mm I.D.) by a valve switching step. The substances enriched in the intermediate column were eluted and separated on a phenyl-hexyl column (100×2 mm I.D.) using 36% acetonitrile in 10 mM phosphate solution (pH 4.5) when the valve status was switched back. The method showed excellent sensitivity (detection limit of 10 ng/ml), good precision (RSD≤2.3%) and accuracy (bias: ±2.0%) and speed (total analysis time 17 min). The response was linear (r²≥0.999) over the concentration range 10–1000 ng/ml.     

Cytochrome c peroxidase mutant active site structures probed by resonance Raman and infrared signatures of the CO adducts

Vibrational frequencies associated with FeC and CO stretching and FeCO bending modes have been determined via resonance Raman (RR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy for cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) mutants prepared by site-directed mutagenesis. These include the bacterial "wild type", CCP(MI), and mutations involving groups on the proximal (Asp-235----Asn; Trp-191---Phe) and distal (Trp-51----Phe; Arg-48----Leu and Lys) side of the heme. The data were analyzed with the aid of a recently established correlation between nu FeC and nu CO, which can be used to distinguish between back-bonding and axial ligand donor effects. At high pH all adducts showed essentially the same vibrational pattern (form I') with nu FeC approximately 505 cm-1, nu CO approximately 1948 cm-1, and delta FeCO (weak RR band) approximately 576 cm-1. These frequencies are very similar to those shown by the myoglobin CO adduct and imply a "normal" H-bond of the proximal histidine. At pH 7 (pH 6 for Asn-235 and Leu-48), different forms are seen for different proteins: form I (nu FeC approximately 500 cm-1, nu CO = 1922-1941 cm-1, and delta FeCO approximately 580 cm-1, very weak) in the case of CCP(MI) and Phe-191, as well as bakers' yeast CCP, or form II (nu FeC approximately 530 cm-1, nu CO = 1922-1933 cm-1, and delta FeCO = 585 cm-1, moderately strong) for Asn-235 and Phe-51.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Raman and infrared spectra of cytochrome c peroxidase-carbon monoxide adducts in alternative conformational states

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra are reported for CO-bound cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP). At low pH, two forms are observed: form II, with nu Fe-C = 530 cm-1 and delta FeCO = 585 cm-1, and form I, with nu Fe-C = 495 cm-1 and no detectable delta FeCO. They appear to have coincident nu CO infrared bands, at 1922 cm-1. These low-pH forms, similar to those observed for horseradish peroxidase (HRP), are attributed to tilted, H-bonded CO and perpendicular CO, respectively. The frequencies differ between the two proteins, a weaker H bond to CO being indicated for CCP. As with HRP, the equilibrium between forms I and II is shifted toward the latter at increasing CO concentrations, suggesting that secondary binding of CO perturbs the distal residues. At high pH [8.4, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer] the form II fraction converts to another form, II', with nu FeC = 503 cm-1, delta FeCO = 575 cm-1, and nu CO = 1948 cm-1; a tilted, non-H-bonded geometry is suggested. If phosphate buffer is used, however, form II (H bonded) persists at pH 8.4. This result establishes a role for phosphate in stabilizing the H-bonded form of the enzyme; it is suggested that phosphate binds near the distal imidazole and substantially increases its pKa. The conformational state is also influenced by aging. Fresh protein contains purely high spin FeIII heme, as monitored by the high-frequency RR spectrum, and yields form II almost exclusively at elevated CO concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)