The effect of some anions on the spectral properties of bovine ceruloplasmin

The effect of binding of N3-, SCN-, OCN-, and F- to bovine ceruloplasmin (Cp) has been studied in detail using absorption, circular dichroic (CD), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. With the addition of increasing amounts of N3-, SCN-, and OCN- to a Cp solution, the intensity of the band at 614 nm at first increased several percent and then decreased gradually as at least one type I copper was reduced and/or as the type I copper was changed to type II copper. Concomitantly, new bands appeared at 430 and 365 nm for N3-, 435 and 380 nm for SCN-, and about 390 nm for OCN-. A conformational change in the protein induced by the binding of N3-, SCN-, and OCN- to the type II and type III coppers led to the change in the CD spectra. The observed increase of the band at about 430 nm was attributed to the change occurring at the type I copper site. On the other hand, the band at about 370 nm may come from a charge transfer of coordinated anions to the Cu(II) ion. Fluoride ion did not induce the appearance of the band at around 430 and 370 nm, but the parallel component of the type II copper EPR signal was split upon the binding of two fluoride ions to the copper ion.     

The phenoloxidases of the ascomycete Podospora anserina. XI. The state of copper of laccases I, II and III.

1. Laccases I, II and III were (EC 1.14.18.1) prepared from the mycelium of the ascomycete Podospora anserina. The tetrameric laccase I(mol. wt 340 000, 16 copper atoms) and the monomeric laccases II and II (mol. wt 80 000, 4 copper atoms) have been studied by optical absorption-, circular dichroism-(CD)and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). 2. The visible and near ultraviolet difference absorption spectrum, which is apparently identical for all three laccases, shows two maxima at 330 and 610 nm and a shoulder at about 725 nm. The molar extinction coefficients of these bands are 4 times larger for the tetrameric laccase I compared to the monomeric laccases II and III which show values similar to other blue copper-containing oxidases. 3. CD spectra between 300 and 730 nm of the tree laccases are similar and contain at least 5-bands in the oxidized enzyme. If the enzyme is reduced, only a band at 307 nm remains. The molar ellipticity values of these bands are 4 times larger for laccase I than the corresponding bands of laccases II and III. It is inferred that the reducible bands are associated with the Type 1 Cu-2+. 4. In all three laccases the EPR-detectable copper accounts for only about 50% of the total copper content. The 9-GHz and 35-GHz spectra, which are identical for all three laccases, consist of two components of equal intensity. One component shows a rather small copper hyperfine coupling and a small deviation from axial symmetry. It is suggested that this copper is associated with the blue chromophore in analogy to Type 1 Cu-2+ in other blue copper proteins. The other component has a broader hyperfine coupling similar to Type 2 Cu-2+ as found in other copper proteins. The assumption that the experimental spectra result from a superposition of the spectra of equal amounts of Type 1 and Type 2 Cu-2+ has been verified by computer simulation. 5. It is suggested that the copper ions which are not detected by EPR are connected to the absorption band at 330 nm and that these ions are also essential for the function of these laccases.     

Distinction of the two type I coppers in bovine ceruloplasmin

Redox potentials of the two type I copper ions, ‘blue copper ions’, of bovine ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase, iron(II): oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.16.3.1) were determined to be 370 and 390 mV (vs. NHE). These two type I copper ions were clearly differentiated during the anaerobic reduction process of oxidized ceruloplasmin and the reoxidation process of completely reduced ceruloplasmin by using absorption, circular dichroic and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. One of the blue copper ions is reduced faster and reoxidized very slowly, and is assumed to be located away from the active site of ceruloplasmin. On the other hand, the other blue copper ion, which is reduced more slowly and reoxidized rapidly, is supposed to interact with other types of coppers, such as type II (non-blue) and type III (EPR undetectable) coppers. The active site of ceruloplasmin is considered to be comprised of one type I, one type II and a pair of type III copper ions.     

Type 2-depleted fungal laccase.

Although copper is quantitatively removed from fungal laccase (Polyporus versicolor) by extended dialysis against high concentrations of cyanide, we have been unable to reconstitute the protein by addition of Cu(I) ions. However, two new methods for reversibly removing the type 2 Cu centre have been developed. The visible absorption at 610 nm, which is attributable to type 1 Cu, is unaffected by the procedure, but the absorbance of the type 3 Cu at 330 nm is decreased by 60 +/- 10%. The decrease is due, at least in part, to partial reduction of the binuclear type 3 centre, although there may be some change in the molar absorptivity of the oxidized chromophore as well. The change in the c.d. spectrum that occurs at approx. 350 nm may be explained in the same way, but it may also reflect the loss of a signal due to the type 2 Cu. Upon removal of the type 2 Cu an absorbance increase appears at approx. 435 nm, and it is assigned to the semi-reduced form of the type 3 pair. In the e.p.r. spectrum of the type 2-depleted enzyme the type 1 Cu signal exhibits well-resolved ligand hyperfine splitting, which can be simulated on the basis of contributions from two N and two H nuclei (AH congruent to AN congruent to 25 MHz). The H atoms are assumed to be attached to the beta-carbon of the covalently bonded cysteine ligand. A signal from a semi-reduced form(s) of the type 3 site can also be resolved in the spectrum of the type 2-depleted enzyme, and on the basis of the second integral of the e.p.r. spectrum 40% of the type 3 pairs are believed to be in a partially reduced state. The semi-reduced type 3 site is remarkably stable and is not readily oxidized by H2O2 or IrCl6(2-) or reduced by Fe(CN)6(4-). Intramolecular electron transfer is apparently quite slow in at least some forms of the type 2-depleted enzyme, and this may explain why the activity is at best 5% of that of the native enzyme. Full activity returns when type 2 copper is restored.     

The reversible depletion and reconstitution of a copper ion in Coprinus cinereus laccase followed by spectroscopic techniques

The specific activities of crude and purified Coprinus cinereus laccase preparations could be enhanced by a factor of 10-12 by activation with copper ions. The copper to protein contents of purified non-activated laccase were 2.3 ± 0.1 compared to 3.3 ± 0.1 in purified activated laccase indicating that only a fraction of the laccase can be activated. Purified laccase not activated with copper ions shows in isoelectric focusing four bands in order of decreasing pI in a ratio 1/5/3/1 where only bands I and II had laccase activity. Purified activated laccase showed only three bands (I, II and III) in the ratio 5/4/1 all with some laccase activity. The pH profile of the activity for activated and non-activated laccase showed identical behavior indicating that the active forms were the same. The change in UV-Vis around 330 nm following the depletion and reconstitution of the enzyme combined with activity measurements supports the reversibility of the selective removal and insertion of copper ions at the type 2 site. The circular dichroism spectrum of activated purified laccase has characteristic changes around 350 nm relative to non-activated laccase indicative of changes at the type 2/type 3 sites. The difference between the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of non-activated and activated C. cinereus laccase indicates that a fraction of the non-activated purified laccase contained a copper(II) signal with a coupling constant between a type 1 and a type 2 copper(II). This electron paramagnetic resonance signal could be explained by an induced asymmetry in the type 3 site due to a missing type 2 copper ion.     

Quenching of bathocuproine disulfonate fluorescence by Cu(I) as a basis for copper quantification

In this paper we report the up to now ignored fluorescence properties of the specific Cu(I)-chelator bathocuproine disulfonate and their application in assays of total copper and Cu(I). The method is based on the linear quenching of the bathocuproine disulfonate emission at 770 nm (lambda(ex)580 nm) by increasing concentrations of Cu(I), at pH 7.5. Copper concentrations as low as 0.1 microM can be determined. Other metal ions (iron, manganese, zinc, cadmium, cobalt, nickel) do not interfere. The procedure for total copper determination in proteins includes HCl treatment to release the copper, neutralization to pH 7.5 in the presence of citrate to stabilize the copper, and reduction of the copper to Cu(I) by ascorbate in the presence of the chelator. This assay gave results coincident with the analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy in two selected proteins. In addition, conditions are described (omitting HCl treatment and reduction by ascorbate) for direct measurement of Cu(I) in native proteins, as illustrated for the Escherichia coli NADH dehydrogenase-2. Data show that the fluorometric assays described in this paper are simple and convenient procedures for total copper and direct Cu(I) quantification in determined biological samples.     

3-Keto-5alpha-steroid Delta(1)-dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus erythropolis SQ1 and its orthologue in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv are highly specific enzymes that function in cholesterol catabolism

In the present study the CotA laccase from Bacillus subtilis has been mutated at two hydrophobic residues in the vicinity of the type 1 copper site. The mutation of Leu(386) to an alanine residue appears to cause only very subtle alterations in the properties of the enzyme indicating minimal changes in the structure of the copper centres. However, the replacement of Ile(494) by an alanine residue leads to significant changes in the enzyme. Thus the major visible absorption band is upshifted by 16 nm to 625 nm and exhibits an increased intensity, whereas the intensity of the shoulder at approx. 330 nm is decreased by a factor of two. Simulation of the EPR spectrum of the I494A mutant reveals differences in the type 1 as well as in the type 2 copper centre reflecting modifications of the geometry of these centres. The intensity weighted frequencies , calculated from resonance Raman spectra are 410 cm(-1) for the wild-type enzyme and 396 cm(-1) for the I494A mutant, indicating an increase of the Cu-S bond length in the type 1 copper site of the mutant. Overall the data clearly indicate that the Ile(494) mutation causes a major alteration of the structure near the type 1 copper site and this has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure shows the presence of a fifth ligand, a solvent molecule, at the type 1 copper site leading to an approximate trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The redox potentials of the L386A and I494A mutants are shifted downwards by approx. 60 and 100 mV respectively. These changes correlate well with decreased catalytic efficiency of both mutants compared with the wild-type.     

Optical properties and a new epr signal from type 3 copper in metal-depleted Rhus vernicifera laccase

Due to conflicting reports on the properties of Rhus laccase depleted in type 2 copper a further investigation of this protein derivative has been undertaken. In contrast to most other reports it is shown that the type 3 copper site retains its absorbance at 330 nm when type 2 copper is removed. The type 3 copper ions are oxidized in the resting protein and part of the type 3 Cu(II) can be made electron paramagnetic resonance (epr) detectable on reduction by ascorbate. This new epr signal is highly rhombic and the epr parameters are comparable to those found in other metalloproteins containing Cu(II) in binuclear sites. Certain preparations of type 2 deficient protein exhibit lower extinction coefficients at 330 nm. Since these protein derivatives have lost some type 3 copper, it is inferred that the absorbance at 330 nm is dependent on a native type 3 copper site. Also in contrast to other reports, it is found that the extinction coefficient at 614 nm of the type 1 Cu(II) decreases from 5700 to 4700 M^?1cm^?1 when type 2 copper is removed. The oxidized-reduced difference spectrum also shows a substantial decrease in the absorbance between 700 and 800 nm. The changes in absorbance above 600 nm are probably due to a modification of the type 1 Cu(II) site on removal of type 2 copper. The present results also suggest some explanations to the apparent discrepancies among the earlier reports.     

An investigation on reduction process of cucumber ascorbate oxidase

Reduction process of cucumber ascorbate oxidase with L-ascorbate was investigated in detail through absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra under anaerobic condition. One of the three type I coppers (the type I copper which is oxidized rapidly (Sakurai, T. et al. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 131, 647-652)) and a pair of type III coppers only which contribute to the absorption at 330 nm were reduced faster than other two type I and the other pair of type III coppers, respectively. The principal active site of ascorbate oxidase was confirmed to be comprised of one type I, one type II and a pair of type III coppers. Type II copper seemed to be reduced after all type I and type III coppers have been reduced.     

Studies on the gamma-glutamyl Cu-binding peptide from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The gamma-glutamyl peptide induced in Schizosaccharomyces pombe in response to metal stress has been purified following exposure of the organism to cadmium and copper salts. Induction of the peptide enables S. pombe to proliferate in media containing high concentrations of cadmium and copper. Two Cd-gamma-Glu peptide complexes are produced which differ in the content of acid-labile sulfur. One Cu-gamma-Glu peptide complex is induced, and it lacks acid-labile sulfur in the metal-binding cluster. The peptides are composed of repeating dipeptide units of gamma-Glu-Cys with a carboxyl-terminal glycine with heterogeneity observed in the repeat unit n. The number of repeats averages 3.2 and 3.8 for the Cd-peptides I and II and 3.6 for the Cu-peptide, in the case of the Cu-complex peptides with n values from 2 to 4 were separated by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The Cu-gamma-Glu peptide complex is oligomeric, but the exact number of peptide units per complex is not known. The copper binding stoichiometry averages 2.3 g atoms of Cu/mol of peptide, whereas Cd-peptides I and II average 1.8 and 2.7 mol eq of Cd(II)/peptide unit. The pH of half-dissociation of Cu ions from the gamma-Glu peptide is near 1.3, whereas pH values of 4 and 5.4 are sufficient for half-displacement of Cd ions from the sulfide-containing and -lacking peptides II and I, respectively. In the Cu-peptide complex copper is bound as Cu(I) as the complex exhibits luminescence characteristic of Cu(I)-S chelation. The luminescence emission peaks at 619 nm with a corrected excitation peak centered at 290 nm. The luminescence of the Cu-complex indicates the clustering of Cu(I) ions within a solvent-inaccessible complex. The complex is air-labile as the luminescence emission is gradually lost upon air exposure.     

Spectroscopic and kinetic studies on the oxygen-centered radical formed during the four-electron reduction process of dioxygen by Rhus vernicifera laccase.

The oxygen-centered radical bound to the trinuclear copper center was detected as an intermediate during the reoxidation process of the reduced Rhus vernicifera laccase with dioxygen and characterized by using absorption, stopped-flow, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies and by super conducting quantum interface devices measurement. The intermediate bands appeared at 370 nm (epsilon approximately 1000), 420 nm (sh), and 670 nm (weak) within 15 ms, and were observable for approximately 2 min at pH 7.4 but for less than 5 s at pH 4.2. The first-order rate constant for the decay of the intermediate has been determined by stopped-flow spectroscopy, showing the isotope effect, k(H)/k(D) of 1.4 in D(2)O. The intermediate was found to decay mainly from the protonated form by analyzing pH dependences. The enthalpy and entropy of activation suggested that a considerable structure change takes place around the active site during the decay of the intermediate. The EPR spectra at cryogenic temperatures (<27 K) showed two broad signals with g approximately 1.8 and 1.6 depending on pH. We propose an oxygen-centered radical in magnetic interaction with the oxidized type III copper ions as the structure of the three-electron reduced form of dioxygen.     

Photoreduction of copper chromophores in blue oxidases.

The low temperature (77 K) irradiation of oxidized ceruloplasmin and Rhus vernicifera laccase at the 330 nm absorption which arises from type 3 copper leads to the reduction of type 1 copper as demonstrated by bleaching of the 610 nm chromophore and the decrease of the EPR signal associated with this species. Type 2 copper remains unaffected. Concomitant with the type 1 copper reduction, a new EPR signal which is possibly that of a biradical appears. Upon thawing, type 1 copper is reversibly oxidized and the radical signal disappears. Irradiation of oxidized protein at the absorption band of type 1 copper produces no spectral change. An EPR study at room temperature confirms the wave-length specificity and reversibility of the photoreduction of type 1 copper and radical formation. Radical appearance and disappearance at room temperature are extremely slow (tau1/2 approximately 30 min). Optical studies at room temperature show that upon anaerobic irradiation of laccase in the 330 nm absorption band, both type 3 and type 1 chromophores are slowly reduced. Upon return to the dark and in the presence of O2, both type 3 and type 1 centers are reoxidized. Oxidizing equivalents either from O2 or K3Fe(CN)6 are required for the reoxidation reaction. These studies demonstrate that there is a direct energy transfer between type 3 and type 1 copper sites in blue copper oxidases.     

Cytochrome aa3 from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. A single-subunit, quinol-oxidizing archaebacterial terminal oxidase

The thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (DSM 369) extrudes protons when expending respiratory energy [Moll, R. & Sch?fer, G. (1988) FEBS Lett. 232, 359-363]. Cytochromes of the membrane electron-transport systems are assumed to represent the proton pumps. Only a- and b-type cytochromes can be found; no c-type cytochromes are present. Of the two terminal oxidases [Anemüller, S. & Sch?fer, G. (1989) FEBS Lett. 244, 451-455] one shows an absorption band at 604-605 nm, typical of cytochromes of the aa3 type. This hemoprotein has been solubilized from the membrane and purified to homogeneity. It exhibits distinct differences from known aa3-type oxidases. (a) It consists of a single polypeptide subunit of 38-40 kDa apparent molecular mass with two heme-a molecules and two copper ions. (b) In the oxidized state, absorption maxima are found at 421 nm and 597 nm, and in the reduced state at 439 nm and 601 nm; CO difference spectra suggest one heme to be a heme-a3 centre. (c) The redox potentials of the heme centres are +220 mV and +370 mV, respectively. (d) A high-spin heme signal at g = 6 is present in EPR spectra, which is more prominent than the low-spin heme signal at g = 3, the former already being present in the oxidized state. A signal at g = 2.1 may be due to one of the copper ions and is superimposed upon a minor free radical signal at g = 2. (e) Caldariella quinone was also isolated from the plasma membrane of Sulfolobus. Its redox midpoint potential at pH 6.5 was determined to be +100 (+/- 5) mV; spectral properties have also been determined. (f) The isolated aa3 preparation does not oxidize cytochrome c; however, it oxidizes N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride as an artificial single-electron donor as well as reduced caldariella quinone, which is assumed to represent the natural substrate. The reaction is cyanide-sensitive and the product of oxygen reduction is water. (g) On the basis of the results obtained a novel type of cytochrome aa3 is postulated in this paper which oxidizes reduced quinones; its ability to act as a proton pump remains to be shown.     

Spectroscopic studies on Neurospora copper metallothionein

The spectral properties of Neurospora copper metallothionein were investigated and compared with those of the Cu(I)-2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid complex. In both cases, the absorption spectra are rather similar, showing a characteristic shoulder at approximately 250 nm. However, marked differences were observed in their emissive properties. Thus, only metallothionein emits detectable luminescence in solution, but both the copper protein and the Cu(I) complex are luminescent at 77 K. The circular dichroism spectrum of Neurospora copper metallothionein shows several Cotton extrema attributable to asymmetry in metal coordination. The influence of HgCl2 and p-(chloromercuri)benzoate on the spectral properties of metallothionein was also investigated. The two mercurials exerted a pronounced effect on the electronic absorption, chiroptical, and emissive properties of the protein. Spectroscopic titrations followed by gel filtration experiments indicate that two mercurials can be bound per metallothionein molecule without loss of copper. This binding is responsible for the disappearance of the emissive properties of metallothionein and for the distinct changes in its electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectra. From these data, it is suggested that the Cu(I) ions are coordinated to the cysteinyl residues in the form of a single metal cluster.     

Cu(I) analysis of blue copper proteins.

A simple colorimetric test for the Cu(I) content in blue copper proteins is described. The procedure is based on the formation of a complex between Cu(I) and 2,2'-biquinoline in an acetic acid medium. Analyses of spinach plastocyanin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin show that the cysteine residue in the type 1 site does not induce Cu(II) reduction under our conditions. There is evidence in laccase samples for the presence of an endogenous reductant that can reduce 0.14 +/- 0.04 mol of Cu(II)/mol of protein; however, the addition of EDTA eliminates the interference. The analysis shows that 25 +/- 2% of the type 3 copper ions are in the reduced form in the resting enzyme and that 80 +/- 15% of the type 3 copper ions are reduced in preparations of type-2-depleted laccase. There is growing interest in the development of chemically modified forms of laccase, and our method should be very useful for establishing the valence state of the metal centres in the various derivatives.     

Formation and spectral characterization of Cu(II)-poly(L-ornithine) complexes.

Cu(II)-Poly-(1-ornithine) complexes in aqueous solution have been studied using potentiometric titration and absorption and circular dichroism spectra. As in the case of Cu(II)-poly(L-arginine) complexes studied previously, two types of compounds have been detected, labeled complexes I and II. Complex I contains two amine nitrogens and two water molecules coordinated to the copper. Complex II, two amine and two amide nitrogens. Amide nitrogen coordination confers optical activity to the copper d-d transitions. Furthermore, amine and amide nitrogen coordination to the copper are characterized by charge transfer transitions at 250 and 320 nm respectively which were already identified in Cu(II)-poly(L-arginine) systems.     

Spectroscopic studies on the active site of Sepioteuthis lessoniana hemocyanin.

The absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra in the visible region have been measured for $\text{Sepioteuthis lessoniana}$ hemocyanin at 77, 198, and 293K. From the temperature dependence of the CD spectra of oxyhemocyanin, the bands observed at 450, 565, and 700 nm were resolved into those centered at 430, 490, 565, 600, and 700 nm. Since these five peaks are most probably due to the d-d transitions, the two copper ions at the oxygenated active center are inferred to be Cu(II) ions each in a non-equivalent coordination geometry of very low symmetry. The MCD spectral data confirm the view and reasonably explain the diamagnetism of oxyhemocyanin.     

Reduction of Copper(II) in Fungal Laccase by Hydrated Electrons

FUNGAL laccase is a copper oxidase which catalyses the electron transfer from p-diphenols and related reductants to molecular oxygen¹. It contains four copper ions per molecule of protein which are bound to three distinctly different sites^1–4. Redox titrations show the involvement of four electron accepting sites in the reduction phase of the oxidase⁵. Kinetic studies by stopped flow and relaxation methods have suggested that the Cu(II) ion designated type 1, with an intense absorption band at 610 nm and very small hyperfine splitting in its electron spin resonance signal, is the first site to accept the incoming electrons (ref. 6 and I. P., results to be published). From type 1 Cu(II) the electron is probably transferred to the other sites by an intramolecular process.