Thermally induced conformational changes in horseradish peroxidase.

Detailed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), steady-state tryptophan fluorescence and far-UV and visible CD studies, together with enzymatic assays, were carried out to monitor the thermal denaturation of horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme c (HRPc) at pH 3.0. The spectral parameters were complementary to the highly sensitive but integral method of DSC. Thus, changes in far-UV CD corresponded to changes in the overall secondary structure of the enzyme, while that in the Soret region, as well as changes in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence emission, corresponded to changes in the tertiary structure of the enzyme. The results, supported by data about changes in enzymatic activity with temperature, show that thermally induced transitions for peroxidase are irreversible and strongly dependent upon the scan rate, suggesting that denaturation is under kinetic control. It is shown that the process of HRPc denaturation can be interpreted with sufficient accuracy in terms of the simple kinetic scheme N -->k D where k is a first-order kinetic constant that changes with temperature, as given by the Arrhenius equation; N is the native state, and D is the denatured state. On the basis of this model, the parameters of the Arrhenius equation were calculated.     

Anion- and pH-linked conformational transition in horseradish peroxidase

In a previous study we have shown that bringing horseradish peroxidase to pH 3.0 induces a spectroscopic transition (G. Smulevich et al., Biochemistry 36 (1997) 640). We have extended the investigation on this pH-linked conformational change to different experimental conditions, such as (i) in phosphate alone, (ii) in HCl alone and (iii) in phosphate + NaCl. The data obtained allow a number of conclusions to be drawn, namely: (a) the exposure to pH 3.0 under all conditions brings about an alteration of the distal portion of the heme pocket, leading to the rapid formation of a hexa-coordinated species; (b) only in the presence of phosphate is the hexa-coordination followed by a slow cleavage (or severe weakening) of the proximal Fe-His bond, and (c) the rate of this second process is speeded up in the presence of Cl- ions. Such observations underline the presence of a communication pathway between the two opposite sides of the heme pocket, such that any alteration of the structural arrangement on one side of the heme cavity is transmitted to the other, inducing a corresponding conformational change.     

Inactivation and conformational changes of aminoacyclase in trifluoroethanol solutions

The inactivation and unfolding of aminoacyclase (EC 3.5.1.14) during denaturation by different concentrations of trifluoroethanol (TFE) have been studied. A marked decrease in enzyme activity was observed at low TFE concentrations. The kinetic theory of the substrate reaction during irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity described previously by Tsou [Tsou (1988),Adv. Enzymol. Related Areas Mol. Biol. 61, 381–436] was applied to study the kinetics of the inactivation course of aminoacyclase during denaturation by TFE. The inactivation rate constants for the free enzyme and substrate-enzyme complex were determined by Tsou's method. The inactivation reaction was a monophasic first-order reaction. The kinetics of the unfolding course were a biphasic process consisting of two first-order reactions. At 2% TFE concentration, the inactivation rate of the enzyme was much faster than the unfolding rate. At a higher concentration of TFE (10%), the inactivation rate was too fast to be determined by conventional methods, whereas the unfolding course remained as a biphasic process with fast and slow reactions occurring at measurable rates. The results suggest that the aminoacyclase active site containing Zn²⁺ ions is situated in a limited and flexible region of the enzyme molecule that is more fragile to the denaturant than the protein as a whole.     

Cobalt-substituted horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase can be reconstituted with cobalt porphyrin to give a cobaltic holoenzyme having physicochemical properties quite similar to those of the native ferric protein. The cobaltic protein (Co3+HRP) can be reduced to the cobaltous form (CoHRP), the analogue of ferroperoxidase and the reduced cobalt protein can bind O2 to form an analogue of oxyferroperoxidase (Compound III). Since both the CoHRP and oxy-CoHRP are EPR-visible, the cobalt has been used to probe the nature of the heme crevice in these two protein forms. The occurrence of a three-line 14N superhyperfine pattern in the spectrum of the former unambiguously shows that in the divalent state of the protein the proximal axial ligand is a nitrogenous base. The spectrum of the latter shows a uniquely large Aparallel(59Co) = 23.2 G. Although we confirm the reported failure of the Co3+HRP to catalyze peroxide-dependent oxidations of classical peroxidase substrates (Gjessing, E.C., and Sumner, J.B. (1942) Arch. Biochem. 1, 1), the oxy-CoHRP does undergo oxidation-reduction reactions analogous to those exhibited in the cytochrome P-450 catalytic cycle.     

Structural and conformational stability of horseradish peroxidase: effect of temperature and pH

Detailed circular dichroism and fluorescence studies at different pHs have been carried out to monitor thermal unfolding of horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme c (HRPc). The change in CD in the 222 nm region corresponds to changes in the overall secondary structure of the enzyme, while that in the 400 nm region (Soret region) corresponds to changes in the tertiary structure around the heme in the enzyme. The temperature dependence of the tertiary structure around the heme also affected the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence emission spectrum of the enzyme. The results suggested that melting of the tertiary structure to a pre-molten globule form takes place at 45 degrees C, which is much lower than the temperature (T(m) = 74 degrees C) at which depletion of heme from the heme cavity takes place. The melting of the tertiary structure was found to be associated with a pK(a) of approximately 5, indicating that this phase possibly involves breaking of the hydrogen-bonding network of the heme pocket, keeping the heme moiety still inside it. The stability of the secondary structure of the enzyme was also found to decrease at pH below 4.5. A 'high temperature' unfolding phase was observed which was, however, independent of pH. The stability of the secondary structure was found to drastically decrease in the presence of DTT (dithiothreitol), indicating that the 'high temperature' form is possibly stabilized due to interhelical disulfide bonds. Depletion of Ca(2+) ions resulted in a marked decrease in the stability of the secondary structure of the enzyme.     

Neuropeptide Y. Optimized solid-phase synthesis and conformational analysis in trifluoroethanol.

The 36-amino-acid neuropeptide Y (human), which is one of the most potent vasoconstrictors and which exhibits a number of other biological functions, has been synthesized using automated peptide synthesis. The optimized method, using 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl protecting and single-step coupling, yielded the crude product in 90% purity allowing for single-step reversed-phase HPLC purification to greater than 98% purity and a high overall yield (50%). The hormone was characterized by several chromatographic methods, ion-spray mass spectroscopy and Edman degradation. The conformation of human neuropeptide Y was examined by CD, NMR and computer simulations. The CD measurements in trifluoroethanol/water (9:1) show a large percentage of alpha-helix. Variation of concentration, from 0.5 microM increasing up to the 1 mM used for NMR measurements, indicates no evidence for aggregation. In the same solvent system, the NMR line widths were very broad and therefore the resonance assignment was achieved with the exclusive use of two-dimensional NOE spectra. The 248 clearly distinguishable NOEs from the NMR study were used in distance geometry calculations and the resulting structures were refined with restrained molecular dynamics. The results indicate an alpha-helix extending from Arg19 to Gln34. For the N-terminal half of the molecule no regular structure was observed.     

Calcium-related properties of horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase has been shown to be a metalloprotein in which calcium contributes to the structural stability of the protein. Isoenzyme C and A contain 2.0 and 1.4 moles calcium/mole enzyme, respectively, which can be removed by treatment with guanidine hydrochloride and EDTA. Calcium-free isoenzyme C, but not isoenzyme A, reconstitutes upon addition of calcium and regains enzymatic activity. Free calcium readily exchanges with isoenzyme C, but only to a small extent with isoenzyme A. In addition the role of calcium in maintaining molecular conformation is evidenced by the effects of calcium removal from the isoenzyme C on the thermal stability of the protein.     

Preparation and properties of matrix-supported horseradish peroxidase.

A new method of enzyme immobilization has been described using poly(4-methacryloxybenzoic acid) as the carrier. Activation of the polymer, prior to enzyme attachment, was achieved with N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline. The enzyme coupling step proceeded through nucleophilic attack by the protein on a mixed carbonic anhydride. The degree of polymer activation was determined by analysis for quinoline, a by-product of the reaction. The polymer-enzyme complex was compared to the enzyme in solution in terms of pH optimum, substrate kinetics, and thermal denaturation. Potential uses of the polymerenzyme system in chemical synthesis of benzoquinone derivatives are discussed.     

Conformational changes and activity alterations induced by nickel ion in horseradish peroxidase

Conformational changes induced by the binding of nickel to horseradish peroxidase C (HRPC) were studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Incubation of HRPC with various concentrations of Ni(2+) for 5 minutes resulted in changes in the enzyme absorption spectrum, including variations in the intensities of the Soret, beta and charge transfer (CT1) bands absorption, shift in the Soret, beta and CT1 bands maxima and absorption increase at 275 nm. Increases in the enzyme's intrinsic fluorescence as determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as changes in the alpha-helical content, as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy, were also found. Correlatively, alterations of the enzymatic activity by Ni(2+) were studied by following the H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of o-dianisidine and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazolinesulfonic acid) (ABTS) by HRPC. With both reducing substrates, it was found that in the presence of sufficient amount of enzyme, 1-10 mM nickel would enhance the enzymatic activity, while higher Ni(2+) concentrations (20-50 mM) would inhibit it. The enzyme was completely inhibited after 5 minutes incubation in 50 mM Ni(2+). Prolonged incubation would induce complete inhibition at lower Ni(2+) concentrations. Spectrophotometry investigations also showed that inhibitory concentrations of Ni(2+) altered compounds I and II formation, compound II being the first affected. Based on spectrophotometry, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, and data on compounds I and II formation, a scheme is suggested for HRPC conformational changes in different Ni(2+) concentrations. HRPC was found to have four potential attachment sites for Ni(2+) which were sequentially occupied in a dose- and time-dependent manner by the metallic ion.     

Controlled layer-by-layer immobilization of horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was biotinylated with biotinamidocaproate N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (BcapNHS) in a controlled manner to obtain biotinylated horseradish peroxidase (Bcap-HRP) with two biotin moieties per enzyme molecule. Avidin-mediated immobilization of HRP was achieved by first coupling avidin on carboxy-derivatized polystyrene beads using a carbodiimide, followed by the attachment of the disubstituted biotinylated horseradish peroxidase from one of the two biotin moieties through the avidin-biotin interaction (controlled immobilization). Another layer of avidin can be attached to the second biotin on Bcap-HRP, which can serve as a protein linker with additional Bcap-HRP, leading to a layer-by-layer protein assembly of the enzyme. Horseradish peroxidase was also immobilized directly on carboxy-derivatized polystyrene beads by carbodiimide chemistry (conventional method). The reaction kinetics of the native horseradish peroxidase, immobilized horseradish peroxidase (conventional method), controlled immobilized biotinylated horseradish peroxidase on avidin-coated beads, and biotinylated horseradish peroxidase crosslinked to avidin-coated polystyrene beads were all compared. It was observed that in solution the biotinylated horseradish peroxidase retained 81% of the unconjugated enzyme's activity. Also, in solution, horseradish peroxidase and Bcap-HRP were inhibited by high concentrations of the substrate hydrogen peroxide. The controlled immobilized horseradish peroxidase could tolerate much higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and, thus, it demonstrates reduced substrate inhibition. Because of this, the activity of controlled immobilized horseradish peroxidase was higher than the activity of Bcap-HRP in solution. It is shown that a layer-by-layer assembly of the immobilized enzyme yields HRP of higher activity per unit surface area of the immobilization support compared to conventionally immobilized enzyme.     

Stereospecificity of horseradish peroxidase

We report here on the stereospecificity observed in the action of horseradish peroxidase (HRPC) on monophenol and diphenol substrates. Several enantiomers of monophenols and o-diphenols were assayed: L-tyrosinol, D-tyrosinol, L-tyrosine, DL-tyrosine, D-tyrosine, L-dopa, DL-dopa, D-dopa, L-alpha-methyldopa, DL-alpha-methyldopa, DL-adrenaline, D-adrenaline, L-isoproterenol, DL-isoproterenol and D-isoproterenol. The electronic density at the carbon atoms in the C-1 and C-2 positions of the benzene ring were determined by NMR assays (delta1 and delta2). This value is related to the nucleophilic power of the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl groups and to its oxidation-reduction capacity. The spatial orientation of the ring substituents resulted in lower Km values for L- than for D-isomers. The kcat values for substrates capable of saturating the enzyme were lower for D- than for L-isomers, although both have the same delta1 and delta2 NMR values for carbons C-1 and C-2, and therefore the same oxidation-reduction potential. In the case of substrates that cannot saturate the enzyme, the values of the binding constant for compound II (an intermediate in the catalytic cycle) followed the order: L-isomer>DL-isomer>D-isomer. Therefore, horseradish peroxidase showed stereospecificity in its affinity toward its substrates (K m) and in their transformation reaction rates (k cat).     

辣根过氧化物酶的热稳定剂

保持酶的天然状态和高催化特性具有重要的意义。本研究筛选了辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)的稳定剂并研究了其作用机制。结果发现硫酸镁和明胶能够显著提高HRP的热稳定性,并且两者具有协同作用。在硫酸镁和明胶组成的酶稳定剂存在的条件下,HRP在50oC保温80h后仍能保持89%的活性,常温下存放90d后可保持57%的活性,而未加稳定剂的对照样品中HRP的残留活性分别为6%和小于1%。通过对HRP的Soret带吸收光谱,色氨酸内源荧光,ANS荧光进行分析,揭示酶稳定剂可以明显降低在加热条件下HRP的变性程度,从而维持较为稳定的天然构象。     

Activity,stability and conformational flexibility of seed coat soybean peroxidase

Seed coat soybean peroxidase (SBP) belongs to class III of the plant peroxidase superfamily that includes the classical peroxidase, namely horseradish peroxidase (HRP). We have measured the catalytic activity (k(cat)) and catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(M)) of SBP and that of HRP-C for the oxidation of ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate)] by hydrogen peroxide at 25 degrees C. We observed that the k(cat) and k(cat)/K(M) values for SBP are much higher than those for HRP-C at all pH values, rendering SBP a more potent peroxidase. This is attributed to the relatively more solvent exposed delta-meso heme edge in SBP. We observed that the maximum catalytic activity and conformational stability of SBP is at pH approximately 5.5. A pH maximum of 5.0 for the catalytic activity of SBP has recently been reported. Estimation of secondary structural elements at various pH values indicated that there is a maximal reduction of beta-strands and beta-turns at pH 5.5 causing the heme to be further exposed to the solvent and increasing the overall conformational flexibility of the protein.     

Activity, stability, and unfolding of reconstituted horseradish peroxidase with modified heme

Heme-propionates of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were esterified by p-nitrophenol, phenol and p-methylphenol to change its electron character and to increase its hydrophobicity. These synthetic hemes were inserted apo-HRP to give a novel HRP, respectively. Of the three reconstituted HRPs, reconstituted HRP with p-nitrophenol-modified heme derivative had a larger initial rate, affinity, catalytic efficiency and substrate-binding efficiency than native HRP in aqueous buffer and some solvents. The reconstituted HRPs showed higher thermostability and tolerance of DMF because of the increase of the hydrophobicity of the active site. Changing the electron character of the aromatic moieties linked at each terminal of the two heme-propionates can control activity and stability of HRP. The initial rate, affinity, catalytic efficiency and substrate-binding efficiency increased with the increases of electron-withdrawing efficiency of substituents at 4-position of the phenolic used to synthesize the heme derivatives, contrariwise, the stability decreased. The modifications resulted in the increase in the temperature (T_m) at the midpoint of thermal denaturation and the decreases in both enthalpy and entropy change at T_m. The changes of catalytic properties and stabilities are related to the changes of the conformation of HRP. The modification changed the environment of heme and tryptophan, increased α-helix content of HRP. The present work demonstrates that enhancement of the hydrophobicity and the electron-withdrawing efficiency of heme improves the activity and stability of HRP.     

Sensitized photooxidation of low spin horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase differs from most enzymes in that it is almost completely resistant to photodynamic action due to the paramagnetic ferric ion in the prosthetic group, heme. Chelation of horseradish peroxidase at the sixth coordination position of the iron with a cyanide or hydroxyl group converts it to a low spin diamagnetic state. Upon illumination with visible light with eosin Y, flavin mononucleotide or methylene blue as sensitizer, the low spin enzyme lost both peroxidative and oxidative activities with the same quantum yields. Several amino acid residues, including one histidine and one tyrosine were destroyed in the low spin enzyme after 60 min of illumination with eosin Y as sensitizer.     

Oxidation of NAD dimers by horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase catalyses the oxidation of NAD dimers, (NAD)2, to NAD+ in accordance with a reaction that is pH-dependent and requires 1 mol of O2 per 2 mol of (NAD)2. Horseradish peroxidase also catalyses the peroxidation of (NAD)2 to NAD+. In contrast, bacterial NADH peroxidase does not catalyse the peroxidation or the oxidation of (NAD)2. A free-radical mechanism is proposed for both horseradish-peroxidase-catalysed oxidation and peroxidation of (NAD)2.     

A spin label study of horseradish peroxidase.

The topography of the active sites of native horseradish peroxidase and manganic horseradish peroxidase has been studied with the aid of a spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid (N-(1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-3-carboxy)-p-aminobenzhydroxamic acid). The optical spectra of complexes between the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid and Fe3+ or Mn3+ horseradish peroxidase resembled the spectra of the corresponding enzyme complexes with benzhydroxamic acid. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement indicated that at pH 7 the nitroxide moiety of the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid became strongly immobilized when this label bound to either ferric or manganic horseradish peroxidase. The titration of horseradish peroxidase with the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid revealed a single binding site with association constant Ka approximately 4.7 . 10(5) M-1. Since the interaction of ligands (e.g. F-, CN-) and H2O2 with horseradish peroxidase was found to displace the spin label, it was concluded that the spin label did not indeed bind to the active site of horseradish peroxidase. At alkaline pH values, the high spin iron of native horseradish peroxidase is converted to the low spin form and the binding of the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid to horseradish peroxidase is completely inhibited. From the changes in the concentration of both bound and free spin label with pH, the pK value of the acid-alkali transition of horseradish peroxidase was found to be 10.5. The 2Tm value of the bound spin label varied inversely with temperature, reaching a value of 68.25 G at 0 degree C and 46.5 G at 52 degrees C. The dipolar interaction between the iron atom and the free radical accounted for a 12% decrease in the ESR signal intensity of the spin label bound to horseradish peroxidase. From this finding, the minimum distance between the iron atom and nitroxide group and hence a lower limit to the depth of the heme pocket of horseradish peroxidase was estimated to be 22 A.     

Comparison of lignin peroxidase, horseradish peroxidase and laccase in the oxidation of methoxybenzenes.

Lignin peroxidase oxidizes non-phenolic substrates by one electron to give aryl-cation-radical intermediates, which react further to give a variety of products. The present study investigated the possibility that other peroxidative and oxidative enzymes known to catalyse one-electron oxidations may also oxidize non-phenolics to cation-radical intermediates and that this ability is related to the redox potential of the substrate. Lignin peroxidase from the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor were chosen for investigation with methoxybenzenes as a homologous series of substrates. The twelve methoxybenzene congeners have known half-wave potentials that differ by as much as approximately 1 V. Lignin peroxidase oxidized the ten with the lowest half-wave potentials, whereas HRP oxidized the four lowest and laccase oxidized only 1,2,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene, the lowest. E.s.r. spectroscopy showed that this congener is oxidized to its cation radical by all three enzymes. Oxidation in each case gave the same products: 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone and 4,5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone, in a 4:1 ratio, plus 2 mol of methanol for each 1 mol of substrate. Using HRP-catalysed oxidation, we showed that the quinone oxygen atoms are derived from water. We conclude that the three enzymes affect their substrates similarly, and that whether an aromatic compound is a substrate depends in large part on its redox potential. Furthermore, oxidized lignin peroxidase is clearly a stronger oxidant than oxidized HRP or laccase. Determination of the enzyme kinetic parameters for the methoxybenzene oxidations demonstrated further differences among the enzymes.