Isolation and characterization of a novel haemoprotein b-559 from Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum).

A haemoprotein was purified to apparent homogeneity from Bengal-gram seeds. The purified protein exhibited an absorption maximum at 412 nm (Soret band) that upon reduction with dithionite gave rise to a shift in the Soret band to 426 nm with concomitant appearance of an alpha-band at 559 nm and a beta-band at 530 nm. In the reduced state the Bengal-gram haemoprotein showed reactivity towards CO, nitrite and hydroxylamine. SDS/polyacrylamide-slab-gel electrophoresis showed that the haemoprotein has Mr 78,000. Gel-filtration and ultracentrifugal analyses suggest that the Bengal-gram haemoprotein is oligomeric in nature. Since it differs from photosynthetic membrane cytochrome b-559 in solubility in buffer, in reactivity towards CO and in molecular size, it appears to be a novel haemoprotein b-559.     

Haemoprotein b-590 (Escherichia coli); redesignation of a bacterial 'cytochrome a1'

A 'soluble' fraction from anaerobically grown Escherichia coli contains a haemoprotein with spectral properties, notably an alpha-band in the reduced form at 585 to 595 nm, similar to cytochrome a1. Haem extraction of either the soluble preparation or whole cells yields haem b, but not haem a. In view of this, and the spectral similarities of the a1-like component to well-known high-spin haem b proteins, we propose that the name 'haemoprotein b-590' be used to describe cytochrome a1-like pigments in bacteria.     

Characterization of a soluble catalase-peroxidase hemoprotein b-590, previously identified as 'cytochrome alpha 1' from Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids.

The cytochrome "a1" or P-428, previously proposed to be a high affinity terminal oxidase in nitrogen-fixing bacteroids of Bradyrhizobium japonicum has been purified. The water-soluble native hemoprotein has an Mr of 136,000, lacks heme a and is a high-spin ferric protohemoprotein: It is slowly reduced with dithionite to give a species with an optical spectrum like that of hemoprotein b-590 (Escherichia coli; peak at 555 nm, shoulder at 590 nm), and which reacts slowly with CO. It has catalase and peroxidase activities, again resembling the E. coli b-590. Neither hemoprotein forms a stable oxy complex under conditions in which dithionite-reduced horseradish peroxidase reacts with oxygen to form such a complex. The hemoprotein, which we name hemoprotein b-590 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum), may play a role in removal of peroxides generated during respiration in the bacteroids of several Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species. The high-affinity terminal oxidase under nitrogen-fixing conditions remains to be identified.     

The cytochromes of anaerobically grown Escherichia coli. An electron-paramagnetic-resonance study of the cytochrome bd complex in situ.

The e.p.r. signals attributable to a cytochrome bd-type ubiquinol:O2 oxidoreductase (cytochrome b-558-b-595-d) were studied in a cytoplasmic membrane preparation of Escherichia coli that had been grown on glycerol with fumarate as respiratory-chain oxidant. Two major high-spin ferric haem signals were resolved on the basis of their potentiometric behaviour: a rhombic high-spin species (gx = 6.25, gy = 5.54) was assigned to haem b-595, and an axial high-spin (gx = 5.97, gy = 5.96) species was assigned to the haem d. These signals titrated with Em.7 values of 154 and 261 mV respectively, corresponding closely to optically determined values for haem b-595 and haem d. At high potentials (greater than 300 mV) the rhombic species attributable to haem b-595 underwent a partial transition to a second rhombic species with g-values of 6.24 (gx) and 5.67 (gy). The high-spin ferric haem spectra were affected by O2, CO, cyanide and pH. A low-spin ferric haem signal was observed at g = 3.3 (gz), which titrated with an Em.7 of 226 mV, and this was assigned to haem b-558. The data support a model for cytochrome bd with two ligand-binding sites, a single haem d and a single haem b-595.     

The partial characterization of purified nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine oxidase from Nitrosomonas europaea

Nitrite reductase has been separated from cell-free extracts of Nitrosomonas and partially purified from hydroxylamine oxidase by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. In its oxidized state the enzyme, which did not contain haem, had an extinction maximum at 590nm, which was abolished on reduction. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate was a potent inhibitor of nitrite reductase. Enzyme activity was stimulated 2.5-fold when remixed with hydroxylamine oxidase, but was unaffected by mammalian cytochrome c. The enzyme also exhibited a low hydroxylamine-dependent nitrite reductase activity. The results suggest that this enzyme is similar to the copper-containing ;denitrifying enzyme' of Pseudomonas denitrificans. A dithionite-reduced, 465nm-absorbing haemoprotein was associated with homogeneous preparations of hydroxylamine oxidase. The band at 465nm maximum was not reduced during the oxidation of hydroxylamine although the extinction was abolished on addition of hydroxylamine, NO(2) (-) or CO. These last-named compounds when added to the oxidized enzyme precluded the appearance of the 465nm-absorption band on addition of dithionite. Several properties of 465nm-absorbing haemoprotein are described.     

A comparative study of the low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism spectra of horse heart metmyoglobin and bovine liver catalase derivatives

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of three horse heart metmyoglobin compounds, the cyanide, azide and hydroxide forms, have been measured in the visible and near infrared spectral regions at temperatures down to 1.5 K. The three compounds are all virtually completely low-spin at low temperatures with ground g factors of decreasing rhombicity in the order CN- greater than N3- greater than OH-. The MCD magnetization curves have been constructed at selected wavelengths throughout the visible and near infrared regions. The curves are independent of wavelength, showing that all the bands studied are x,y polarized and can, moreover, be satisfactorily fitted to the g factors determined by EPR spectroscopy with theoretical expressions (Thomson, A.J. and Johnson, M.K. (1980) Biochem. J. 191, 411-420). This confirms the assignment and polarizations of the near infrared region low-spin ferric haem charge-transfer bands. The energies of these transitions are markedly dependent upon the added axial ligand, ranging from 1595 to 1295, and 1050 nm for the compounds CN-, N3- and OH-. The MCD spectra of bovine liver catalase and its cyanide adduct have been recorded in the Soret, visible and near infrared regions. Catalase is know to have phenolate anion as the proximal ligand of the haem group. The forms of the spectra make an interesting comparison with those of the analogous metmyoglobin derivatives, in which histidine is the proximal ligand. The MCD spectra of catalase at 4.2 K is an example of a fully high-spin haemoprotein. The cyanide compound is completely low-spin at 4.2 K. The near infrared charge-transfer band is at 1300 nm, showing the effect on the energy of this band of changing from imidazole to phenolate ion as the proximal ligand to haem.     

Stepwise reduction of cytochromes b-562, b-566 and b-558 in rat liver mitochondria.

1. Addition of KCN to aerobic, rotenone-inhibited rat liver mitochondria with out addition of substrate caused reduction of cytochromes b-562 (having an alpha-band at 562 nm at room temperature), c + c1, and a + a3. The effect of KCN on cytochrome b-562 was reversed by pentachlorophenol, though the effect of KCN on cytochromes c+c1 and a+a3 was not reversed by this uncoupler.2. Addition of ATP to aerobic, rat liver mitochondria inhibited with 500 muM KCN under conditions were cytochromes b-562, c+c1 and a+a3 were reduced, caused reduction of cytochrome b-566. The absorbance spectrum of cytochrome b-566 had an alpha-band at 565.5 nm, a beta-band at 538 nm and a gamma-band at 431 nm, but no shoulder around 558 nm at room temperature. 3. Addition of succinate to rotenone-KCN-inhibited and ATP-treated rat liver mitochondria under conditions where cytochromes b-566, b-562, c+c1 and a+a3 were already fully reduced, caused reduction of cytochrome b-558 (having an alpha-band at 558 nm, a beta-band at 527 nm and a gamma-band at 426 nm at room temperature) after exhaustion of molecular oxygen in the reaction medium, without any contribution from a long-wavelength species (cytochrome b-566). 4. It was concluded that the 558-nm band is not a short-wavelength shoulder of cytochrome b-566, but is due to a different species from cytochrome b-566.     

The respiratory chain of anaerobically grown Escherichia coli: reactions with nitrite and oxygen

The reactions of nitrite and oxygen with the cytochrome d oxidase of Escherichia coli were studied, following growth of cells on glycerol with fumarate as respiratory oxidant. Optical difference spectroscopy was used to investigate the kinetics of product formation during the reaction of the respiratory chain with nitrite. Two kinetically distinct species were formed in the reaction with nitrite; these had spectral features at 438 nm and 630 nm. These observations indicate that the cytochrome d does not contribute significantly to absorbance in the Soret region, and that changes elicited by ligand binding in the Soret region are largely attributable to haemoprotein b-590. Inhibition of respiratory oxidase activity by nitrite was also investigated. The inhibition was competitive with oxygen (Ki 0.83 mM, pH 7), which allowed analysis of the reaction of the oxidase with oxygen itself. The reaction with oxygen was cooperative with an apparent number of oxygen-binding sites, n, of 1.26 at pH 7, increasing to 1.72 at pH 6. We propose a model for the oxidase in which there are two ligand-binding sites.     

Mutations affecting the cytochrome d-containing oxidase complex of Escherichia coli K12: identification and mapping of a fourth locus, cydD

A mutant of Escherichia coli K12 has been isolated affected in a gene, designated cydD, distinct from the three previously described loci involved in the synthesis of assembly of the cytochrome bd oxidase complex. The mutant, obtained by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis, lacks the spectroscopically detectable components of this oxidase, namely cytochromes b558, b595 and d. Cytochrome oxidase o is the sole CO-binding cytochrome in membranes of the mutant, but the soluble haemoprotein b-590 and catalase activity appear unaffected. Discrimination between Cyd+ and Cyd- strains is facilitated by the development of a defined low-phosphate medium that allows the inclusion of Zn2+ as well as azide, inhibitors of respiratory electron transfer particularly via cytochrome o. Mapping with F-prime factors and by P1 cotransductional frequencies shows the mutation to map near 19.3 min on the E. coli chromosome, distinct from cydC, which maps at 18.9 min. The gene order in this region was tested in a three-factor cross and demonstrates the order zbj::Tn10(YYC199)-cydD-aroA, consistent with cotransduction frequencies.     

Purification and Spectral Characteristics of Cytochrome b-559 from Oxygen-evolving Photosystem ￠ò Core Complexes of Spinach and Rice

Cytochrome b-559 in photosystem Ⅱ reaction center was purified from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) by a rapid and simple procedure. Their low temperature fluorescence emission and excitation spectra, ultraviolet fluorescence spectra and absolute absorption spectra were presented. The author's purification methods, which enhanced the yield of pure protein and shorted the time for isolation, have several advantages: 1. use of oxygen-evolving PSⅡ core complexes as the starting material in order to avoid disturbing from other cytochromes; 2. isocratic elution of cytochrome b-559 from a DEAE-Sephacel column for eliminating the impurity and yielding the protein in pure state; 3. a simple column procedure for removal of excess Triton X-100. Purified cytochromes b-559 from these species have similar optical spectra and mobility during gel electrophoresis under native conditions. From the results of novel electrophoresis (Tricine-SDS-PAGE), cytochrome b-559 from both spinach and rice reveal two polypeptide bands (apparent molecular weight 9 kD and 4 kD, respectively). By measuring of 77 K fluorescence spectra, it was shown that for the purified cytochrome b-559 there were two excitation peaks at 439 nm and 413 nm, and two emission peaks at 563 nm and 668 nm. This is the first indication that Cyt b-559 is able to emit fluorescence and also transfer excited electrons to chlorophyll. By the use of ultraviolet fluorescence spectra, it was demonstrated for the first time that the location of Trp residue could be in the hydrophobic transmembrane region of cytochrome b-559.     

Near-infrared magnetic and natural circular dichroism of cytochrome c oxidase.

A detailed study is presented of the room-temperature absorption, natural and magnetic circulation-dichroism (c.d. and m.c.d.) spectra of cytochrome c oxidase and a number of its derivatives in the wavelength range 700-1900 nm. The spectra of the reduced enzyme show a strong negative c.d. band peaking at 1100nm arising from low-spin ferrous haem a and a positive m.c.d. peak at 780nm assigned to high-spin ferrous haem a3. Addition of cyanide ion doubles the intensity of the low-spin ferrous haem c.d. band and abolishes reduced carbonmonoxy derivative the haem a32+-CO group shows no c.d. or m.c.d. bands at wavelengths longer than 700nm. A comparison of the m.c.d. spectra of the oxidized and cyanide-bound oxidized forms enables bands characteristic of the high-spin ferric form of haem a33+ to be identified between 700 and 1300nm. At wavelengths longer than 1300nm a broad positive m.c.d. spectrum, peaking at 1600nm, is observed. By comparison with the m.c.d. spectrum of an extracted haem a-bis-imidazole complex this m.c.d. peak is assigned to one low-spin ferric haem, namely haem a3+. On binding of cyanide to the oxidized form of the enzyme a new, weak, m.c.d. signal appears, which is assigned to the low-spin ferric haem a33+-CN species. A reductive titration, with sodium dithionite, of the cyanide-bound form of the enzyme leads to a partially reduced state in which low-spin haem a2+ is detected by means of an intense negative c.d. peak at 1100 nm and low-spin ferric haem a33+-CN gives a sharp positive m.c.d. peak at 1550nm. The c.d. and m.c.d. characteristics of the 830nm absorption band in oxidized cytochrome c oxidase are not typical of type 1 blue cupric centres.     

Circular dichroic spectroscopy of membrane haemoproteins. The molecular determinants of the dichroic properties of the b cytochromes in various ubiquinol:cytochrome c reductases

The circular dichroism (CD) of dihaem cytochrome b from mitochondrial and bacterial ubiquinol:cytochrome-c reductase (bc1 complex) has been characterized. The dichroic properties of the yeast purified cyt b are very similar to those of the native cyt b within the mitochondrial bc1 complex. The CD spectra in the Soret region of the native cytochrome b present in all species studied show an intense bisignate Cotton effect having a zero-crossing wavelength close to the absorbance maximum. In preparations partially or completely depleted of the low-potential b haem (b1) the CD spectra exhibit a single positive Cotton effect resembling the corresponding absorption spectrum. This is particularly evident in the purified cytochrome b-562 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26, which contains only the high-potential b haem (bh). These spectral features together with the reconstitution of the cytochrome b1 haem have been used to resolve the CD contribution of each haem to the CD spectra of cytochrome b. The mechanisms which might be responsible for the optical activity have been examined. It appears that the CD spectra of cytochrome b derive from both the mutual interaction of its two haems (giving rise to exciton coupling) and to the interaction of each haem with nearby aromatic residues, other than the pairs of histidines which coordinate the iron. The dipole coupling between haem and aromatic residues appears to be more important than exciton coupling in the CD spectra of oxidized b cytochromes and correlations have been made between the CD features and the proposed structure of cytochrome b.     

Hepatic uroporphyrin accumulation and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity in cultured chick-embryo hepatocytes and in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and mice treated with polyhalogenated aromatic compounds.

A soluble cytochrome b was purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D. 79.41. On the basis of the alpha-band maximum of a reduced preparation, measured at 25 degrees C, it is designated as cytochrome b-562. This cytochrome is a basic monomeric protein (pI 10.2; Mr 18,000), containing one protohaem group per molecule. The reduced form, at 25 degrees C, showed absorption bands at 428, 532 and 562 nm. At 77 K the alpha-band shifted to 560 nm (with a shoulder at 558 nm). The reduced cytochrome did not react with CO. Cytochrome b-562 is most probably (loosely) attached to the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane, since substantial amounts of it, equimolar to quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), were present in the culture medium when cells were grown in the presence of low concentrations of Triton X-100. The midpoint potential at pH 7.0 was found to be +170 mV, a value that was lowered to +145 mV by the presence of GDH. Since the GDH was shown to have a midpoint potential of +50 mV, cytochrome b-562 could function as the natural primary electron acceptor. Arguments to substantiate this view and to propose a role of ubiquinone-9 as electron acceptor for cytochrome b-562 are presented.     

Prolonged induction of hepatic haem oxygenase and decreases in cytochrome P-450 content by organotin compounds.

The administration of organotin compounds to rats in single doses causes a significant and prolonged induction of haem oxygenase and a sustained decrease in haemoprotein content in the liver. The extent of induction of hepatic haem oxygenase varied between 3 and 5-fold at 72h after a single injection of water-insoluble organotins of differing structure. The alterations in haem metabolism produced by tricyclohexyltin hydroxide were studied in detail. The effects were dose-dependent, with doses as low as 3.75 mg/kg body wt. resulting in significant induction of haem oxygenase and a decrease in cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 contents at 72h in the liver. The effects with time of a single dose of tricyclohexyltin on various parameters of liver haem metabolism were also examined. The organotin produced a substantial and very prolonged induction of haem oxygenase accompanied by a steady decline in cytochrome P-450 content for periods up to 8 days. The long duration of action of these organotins with respect to induction of haem oxygenase and depletion of cellular haemoprotein content provides a highly sensitive metabolic system with which to define further the toxic potential of organometals as well as to study the adaptive responses in liver to long-term perturbations of haem metabolism by foreign chemicals.     

Occurrence of cytochrome aa3 in Anacystis nidulans

The cytochrome content of membrane fragments prepared from the bluegreen alga (cyanobacterium) Anacystis nidulans was examined by difference spectrophotometry. Two b-type cytochromes and a hitherto unknown cytochrome a could be characterized. In the reduced-minus-oxidised difference spectra the a-type cytochrome showed an α-band at 605 nm and a γ-band at 445 nm. These bands shifted to 590 and 430 nm, respectively, in CO difference spectra. NADPH, NADH and ascorbate reduced the cytochrome through added horse heart cytochrome c as electron mediator. In presence of KCN the reduced-minus-oxidised spectrum showed a peak at 600 nm and a trough at 604 nm. Photoaction spectra of O₂ uptake and of horse heart cytochrome c oxidation by CO-inhibited membranes showed peaks at 590 and 430 nm. These findings are consistent with cytochrome aa₃ being the predominant respiratory cytochrome c oxidase in Anacystis nidulans.     

The cytochrome c oxidase-azide-nitric oxide complex as a model for the oxygen-binding site

The complex of cytochrome c oxidase with NO and azide has been studied by EPR at 9.2 and 35 GHz. This complex which shows delta ms = 2 EPR triplet and strong anisotropic signals, due to the interaction of cytochrome a2+3 X NO (S = 1/2) and Cu2+B (S = 1/2), is photodissociable . Its action spectrum is similar to that of cytochrome a2+3 X NO with bands at 430, 560 and 595 nm, but shows an additional band in the near ultraviolet region. The quantum yield of the photodissociation process of cytochrome a2+3 X NO in the metal pair appears to depend on the redox state of CuB. When the photolysed sample was warmed to 77 K, a complex was observed with the EPR parameters of cytochrome a3+3 - N-3 - Cu1 +B (S = 1/2). This process of electron and ligand transfer can be reversed by heating the sample to 220 K. It is suggested that in the triplet species azide is bound to Cu2+B whereas NO is bridged between Cu2+B and the haem iron of the cytochrome a2+3. The complex has a triplet ground state and a singlet excited state with an exchange interaction J = -7.1 cm-1 between both spins. The anisotropy in the EPR spectra is mainly due to a magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between cytochrome a2+3 X NO and Cu2+B. From simulations of the triplet EPR spectra obtained at 9 and 35 GHz, a value for the distance between the nitroxide radical and Cu2+B of 0.33 nm was found. A model of the NO binding in the cytochrome a3-Cu pair shows a distance between the haem iron of cytochrome a3 and CuB of 0.45 nm. It is concluded that the cytochrome a3-CuB pair forms a cage in which the dioxygen molecule is bidentate coordinated to the two metals during the catalytic reaction.     

Apparent lack of correlation between the loss of cytochrome P-450 in hepatic parenchymal cell culture and the stimulation of haem oxygenase activity

The hypothesis that the stimulation of haem oxygenase activity in cultured adult rat liver parenchymal cells is intimately associated with the accelerated breakdown of the haemoprotein cytochrome P-450 was examined. Even though the time course of the loss of cytochrome P-450 and the stimulation of haem oxygenase activity were found to be compatible with this hypothesis, further work however showed that high levels of cytochrome P-450 could be maintained in liver cell culture in the face of high haem oxygenase activities.     

Metallocytochromes c: characterization of electronic absorption and emission spectra of Sn4+ and Zn2+ cytochromes c.

Tin (Sn4+) and zinc (Zn2+) derivatives of horse heart cytochrome c have been prepared and their optical spectra have been characterized. Zinc cytochrome c has visible absorption maxima at 549 and 585 nm and Soret absorption at 423 nm. Tin cytochrome c shows visible absorption maxima at 536 and 574 nm and Soret absorption at 410 nm. Unlike iron cytochrome c in which the emission spectrum of the porphyrin is almost completely quenched by the central metal, the zinc and tin derivatives of cytochrome c are both fluorescent and phosphorescent. The fluorescence maxima of zinc cytochrome c are at 590 and 640 nm and the fluorescence lifetime is 3.2 ns. The fluorescence maxima of Sn cytochrome are at 580 and 636 nm and the fluorescence lifetime is under 1 ns. The quantum yield of fluorescence is Zn greater than Sn while the quantum yield of phosphorescence is Sn greater than Zn. at 77 K the fluorescence and phosphorescence emission spectra of Sn and Zn cytochrome c show evidence of resolution into vibrational bands. The best resolved bands occur at frequency differences 750 cm-1 and 1540--1550 cm-1 from the O-O transition. These frequencies correspond with those obtained by resonance Raman spectroscopy for in-plane deformations of the porphyrin macrocycle.     

Effects of azide on gastric mucose

Sodium azide, a classical inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase, is an effective inhibitor of gastric acid secretion in bullfrog and skate gastric mucosae at low concentrations. While a portion of the oxygen uptake in these tissues is sensitive to azide (KI less than 2 mM), there remains a large fraction (25-60%) with a KI more than 10 times this value, suggesting the presence of a second oxidase. The spectra of cytochromes c and b change with oxygen-nitrogen alternation in the presence of high azide concentrations which essentially eliminate the reactivity of cytochrome oxidase. In both species two additional components are observed in the spectra. The first has a peak at 590 nm, is not the cytochrome oxidase-CO complex, is fully reactive in the presence of azide and accounts for the asymmetry of the oxidase peak. The second is a component at 557 nm which can only be separated from cytochromes c and b by spectral deconvolution, and seems to react in a manner similar to cytochrome c. It is suggested that the 590 compound may be the alternate cytochrome oxidase.     

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.