Coordination environment for the type 3 copper center of tree laccase and CuB of cytochrome c oxidase as determined by electron nuclear double resonance

A new rhombic EPR signal was recently discovered in the partially reduced type 2 copper-depleted Rhus vernicifera laccase (Reinhammar, B. (1983) J. Inorg. Biochem., in press). The signal originates from one of the type 3 Cu(II) ions that becomes EPR-detectable as a result of the selective reduction of the other copper ion in the exchange-coupled Cu(II)-Cu(II) pair. The 14N and 1H and 63,65Cu electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) of this uncoupled Cu(II) now have been collected and represent the first ENDOR measurements of a type 3 copper site. The data indicate that the copper is coordinated by at least three nitrogenous ligands, at least one of which is an imidazole. H/D exchange suggests a nearby H2O or OH-, perhaps as a fourth ligand. A similar EPR signal is seen for CuB of reduced cytochrome c oxidase under turnover conditions. The 14N ENDOR, and, therefore, the structure, of this site corresponds extremely closely to that of the laccase type 3 (Cu(II).     

The identity of a new copper(II) electron paramagnetic resonance signal in cytochrome c oxidase

In reoxidation experiments with cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) in the presence of both reducing substrate and molecular oxygen, a new EPR signal from Cu2+ has been observed. The new signal corresponds to 0.45 Cu per functional unit. It is concluded that the new EPR signal originates from CuB2+, the copper which is EPR-nondetectable in the resting enzyme. Optical absorption changes in the 500-700 nm region accompanies the decay of the new Cu2+ EPR signal. Based on the results in this investigation a catalytic cycle for cytochrome oxidase is proposed.     

The mechanism of electron transfer in laccase-catalysed reactions.

1. The reaction of the electron acceptors in Rhus vernicifera laccase (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) have been studied with stopped-flow and rapid-freeze EPR techniques. The studies have been directed mainly towards elucidation of the role of the type 2Cu2+ as a possible pH-sensitve regulator of electron transfer. 2. Anaerobic reduction experiments with Rhus laccase indicate that the type 1 and 2 sites contribute one electron each to the reduction of the two-electron-accepting type 3 site. There is also evidence that the reduction of the type 1 Cu2+ triggers the reduction of the type 2 Cu2+. 3. Only at pH values at which the reduction of the two-electron acceptor is limited by a slow intramolecular reaction can an OH- be displaced from the type 2 Cu2+ by the inhibitor F-. 4. A model describing the role of the electron-accepting sites in catalysis is formulated.     

EPR signals from cytochrome c oxidase.

1. The major EPR signals from native and cytochrome c-reduced beef heart cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) are characterized with respect to resonance parameters, number of components and total integrated intensity. A mistake in all earlier integrations and simulations of very anisotropic EPR signals is pointed out. 2. The so-called Cu2+ signal is found to contain at least three components, one "inactive" form and two nearly similar active forms. One of the latter forms, corresponding to about 20% of the total EPR detectable Cu, has not been observed earlier and can only be resolved in 35 GHz spectra. It is not reduced by cytochrome c and is thought to reflect some kind of inhomogeneity in the enzyme preparation. The 35 GHz spectrum of the cytochrome c reducible component shows a rhombic splitting and can be well simulated with g-values 2.18, 2.03 and 1.99. The origin of such a unique type of Cu2+ spectrum is discussed. 3. The low-spin heme signal in the oxidized enzyme (g = 3.03, 2.21, 1.45) is found to correspond closely to one heme and shows no signs of interaction with other paramagnetic centres. 4. The high-spin heme signals appearing in partly reduced oxidase are found to consist of at least three species, one axial and two rhombic types. An integration procedure is described that allows the determination of the total integral intensity of high-spin heme EPR signals only by considering the g = 6 part of the signals. In a titration with ascorbate and cytochrome c the maximum intensity of the g = 6 species corresponds to 23% of the enzyme concentration.     

The identity of a new copper(II) electron paramagnetic resonance signal in cytochrome c oxidase

In reoxidation experiments with cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) in the presence of both reducing substrate and molecular oxygen, a new EPR signal from Cu²⁺ has been observed. The new signal corresponds to 0.45 Cu per functional unit. It is concluded that the new EPR signal originates from Cu²⁺_B, the copper which is EPR-nondetectable in the resting enzyme.Optical absorption changes in the 500–700 nm region accompanies the decay of the new Cu²⁺ EPR signal.Based on the results in this investigation a catalytic cycle for cytochrome oxidase is proposed.     

Magnetic susceptibility of laccases and ceruloplasmin.

1. Recent magnetic susceptibility measurements on laccase (monophenol,dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) from the lacquer tree Rhus vernicifera showed a deviation from Curie behaviour above 50 K, which was taken as evidence for an antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II)-Cu(II) pair in the oxidized enzyme. The magnetic susceptibility of this protein has been reinvestigated. Further measurements on laccase from the fungus Polyporus versicolor and human ceruloplasmin (iron(II):oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.16.3.1) are presented. 2. The magnetic susceptibility of fungal laccase and lacquer tree laccase can be accounted for by the EPR detectable copper ions in the temperature range 40--300 K. 3. If an antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II)-Cu(II) pair exists in the laccases, then the coupling, expressed as --J, should be at least of the order of 300 cm-1, as deduced from the Curie dependence of the susceptibility and the sensitivity in our measurements. 4. If an analogy with the laccases is assumed for the EPR invisible copper in ceruloplasmin then a limiting value of the coupling may be deduced also in this case, with --J at least of the order of 200 cm-1.     

Kinetic studies of Rhus vernicifera laccase. Role of the metal centers in electron transfer.

The reactions of Rhus vernicifera (monophenol,dihydroxyphenylalanine: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) with the reducing substrates hydroquinone and ascorbic acid have been investigated with the stopped-flow technique. Rhus laccase appears to be present in two molecular forms with a pH-sensitive equilibrium constant regulating the relative concentrations of each species. A model for the reaction of Rhus laccase with reducing substrates has been formulated. The model is similar to one formulated earlier for the anaerobic reduction of laccase from Polyporus versicolor (Andréasson, L.-E., Malstr?m, B.G., Str?mberg, C. and V?nng?rd, T. (1973) Eur. J. Biochem. 34, 434-439) and accounts for the reduction also of this enzyme. The essentials of the model are as follows: Electrons are taken up from reductants one at a time. The type 1 Cu2+ has a central role in mediating the transfer of at least one of the electrons needed for the reduction of the co-operative two-electron acceptor. Intramolecular reactions determine the concentrations of two molecular forms of the enzyme and influence the rate of reduction of the two-electron acceptor. The model, which has been used for successful simulations of the anaerobic reduction of Rhus laccase, is capable of explaining the reduction of laccases also in the presence of the inhibitor F-. In addition, the model gives an explanation of the behaviour of the laccases when reducing substrates and O2 are simultaneously present and is consistent with earlier observations of the post-steady-state reduction of the type 1 Cu2+ and the two-electron accetor (Holwerda, R.A. and Gray, H.B. (1974) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96, 6008-6022).     

Azide binding to the trinuclear copper center in laccase and ascorbate oxidase.

Azide binding to the blue copper oxidases laccase and ascorbate oxidase (AO) was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopies. As the laccase : azide molar ratio decreases from 1:1 to 1:7, the intensity of the type 2 (T2) Cu(II) EPR signal decreases and a signal at g approximately 1.9 appears. Temperature and microwave power dependent EPR measurements showed that this signal has a relatively short relaxation time and is therefore observed only below 40 K. A g approximately 1.97 signal, with similar saturation characteristics was found in the AO : azide (1:7) sample. The g < 2 signals in both proteins are assigned to an S = 1 dipolar coupled Cu(II) pair whereby the azide binding disrupts the anti-ferromagnetic coupling of the type 3 (T3) Cu(II) pair. Analysis of the position of the g < 2 signals suggests that the distance between the dipolar coupled Cu(II) pair is shorter in laccase than in AO. The proximity of T2 Cu(II) to the S = 1 Cu(II) pair enhances its relaxation rate, reducing its signal intensity relative to that of native protein. The disruption of the T3 anti-ferromagnetic coupling occurs only in part of the protein molecules, and in the remaining part a different azide binding mode is observed. The 130 K EPR spectra of AO and laccase with azide (1:7) exhibit, in addition to an unperturbed T2 Cu(II) signal, new features in the g parallel region that are attributed to a perturbed T2 in protein molecules where the anti-ferromagnetic coupling of T3 has not been disrupted. While these features are also apparent in the AO : azide sample at 10 K, they are absent in the EPR spectra of the laccase : azide sample measured in the range of 6-90 K. Moreover, pulsed ENDOR measurements carried out at 4.2 K on the latter exhibited only a reduction in the intensity of the 20 MHz peak of the 14N histidine coordinated to the T2 Cu(II) but did not resolve any significant changes that could indicate azide binding to this ion. The lack of T2 Cu(II) signal perturbation below 90 K in laccase may be due to temperature dependence of the coupling within the trinuclear : azide complex.     

The EPR spectrum for CuB in cytochrome c oxidase

Incubation of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) in its resting state in saturated ammonium sulfate, at room temperature overnight, gave EPR signals characteristic of a single Cu(II) center. From the g// and A// values it is concluded that this is a square-planar type 2 copper center, and superhyperfine splitting shows the presence of three nearly equivalent 14N nuclei in the plane. It is suggested that this center, also formed by incubating the enzyme in 10% methanol followed by direct irradiation, must be the CuB center. This type 2 copper EPR spectrum is identical to the EPR spectrum of CuB reported for the isolated cytochrome bo3 complex from Escherichia coli; and to the EPR spectrum reported for the sulfobetaine 12 heat-treated cytochrome c oxidase complex. It is argued that a small perturbation in the system causes decoupling of the magnetic coupling of the heme a3-CuB binuclear center and the appearance of the type 2 EPR signal.     

An epr signal from the half-reduced type 3 copper pair in Rhus vernicifera laccase

A new type of Cu(II) epr signals have been produced in native and type 2 copper depleted Rhus vernicifera laccase. They are shown to originate from one of the type 3 copper ions that are epr silent in the resting enzyme. The new epr signals show high rhombicity in g tensor and are similar to those observed in other proteins, such as superoxide dismutase and half-met hemocyanin. The half-reduced type 3 copper pair is formed by reduction with an electron from type 1 Cu(I) but only after a reoxidation of the copper pair, either by peroxide or dioxygen. It is suggested that the half-reduction of the type 3 copper pair only occurs in molecules where type 2 copper ion is either reduced or absent.     

Electron spin relaxation of CuA and cytochrome a in cytochrome c oxidase. Comparison to heme, copper, and sulfur radical complexes

The method of continuous saturation has been used to measure the electron spin relaxation parameter T1T2 at temperatures between 10 and 50 K for a variety of S = 1/2 species including: CuA and cytochrome a of cytochrome c oxidase, the type 1 copper in several blue copper proteins, the type 2 copper in laccase, inorganic Cu(II) complexes, sulfur radicals, and low spin heme proteins. The temperature dependence and the magnitude of T1T2 for all of the species examined are accounted for by assuming that the Van Vleck Raman process dominates the electron spin-lattice relaxation. Over the entire temperature range examined, the relaxation of the type 1 coppers in six to seven times faster than that of type 2 copper, inorganic copper, and sulfur radicals, in spite of the similar g-anisotropies of these species. This result may indicate that the coupling of the phonon bath to the spin center is more effective in type 1 coppers than in the other complexes studied. The relaxation of CuA of cytochrome oxidase exhibits an unusual temperature dependence relative to the other copper complexes studied, suggesting that the protein environment of this center is different from that of the other copper centers studied and/or that CuA is influenced by a magnetic dipolar interaction with another, faster-relaxing paramagnetic site in the enzyme. A comparison of the saturation characteristics of the CuA EPR signal in native and partially reduced CO complexes of the enzyme also suggests the existence of such an interaction. The implications of these results with respect to the disposition of the metal centers in cytochrome oxidase are discussed.     

Which Copper is Paramagnetic in the Type 2/Type 3 Cluster of Laccase?

 Understanding the structure and function of the three copper atoms in the dioxygen reduction site of the blue oxidases such as laccase has been a long standing challenge. In the case of a widely studied derivative, known as type 2-depleted laccase, the removal of one copper from the cluster abolishes the EPR signal of the so-called type 2 copper. However, the present studies of isotopically enriched protein from Polyporus versicolor show that the readily replaceable copper is not active in the low-temperature EPR spectrum of fungal laccase or its difluoride adduct. The same is true for the difluoride adduct of the tree enzyme. Thus, in type 2-depleted laccase the pattern of antiferromagnetic coupling is quite different from that of the native protein or the difluoride adduct. Received: 5 October 1998 / Accepted: 13 January 1999     

Reaction of bovine cytochrome c oxidase with hydrogen peroxide produces a tryptophan cation radical and a porphyrin cation radical

Oxidized bovine cytochrome c oxidase reacts with hydrogen peroxide to generate two electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) free radical signals (Fabian, M., and Palmer, G. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 13802-13810). These radicals are associated with the binuclear center and give rise to two overlapped EPR signals, one signal being narrower in line width (DeltaHptp = 12 G) than the other (DeltaHptp = 45 G). We have used electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectrometry to identify the two different chemical species giving rise to these two EPR signals. Comparison of the ENDOR spectrum associated with the narrow signal with that of compound I of horseradish peroxidase (formed by reaction of that enzyme with hydrogen peroxide) demonstrates that the two species are virtually identical. The chemical species giving rise to the narrow signal is therefore identified as an exchange-coupled porphyrin cation radical similar to that formed in horseradish peroxidase compound I. Comparison of the ENDOR spectrum of compound ES (formed by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with cytochrome c peroxidase) with that of the broad signal indicates that the chemical species giving rise to the broad EPR signal in cytochrome c oxidase is probably an exchange coupled tryptophan cation radical. This is substantiated using H(2)O/D(2)O solvent exchange experiments where the ENDOR difference spectrum of the broad EPR signal of cytochrome c oxidase shows a feature consistent with hyperfine coupling to the exchangeable N(1) proton of a tryptophan cation radical.     

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.     

Angular dependences of perpendicular and parallel mode electron paramagnetic resonance of oxidized beef heart cytochrome c oxidase

Cytochrome c oxidase catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water with a concomitant conservation of energy in the form of a transmembrane proton gradient. The enzyme has a catalytic site consisting of a binuclear center of a copper ion and a heme group. The spectroscopic parameters of this center are unusual. The origin of broad electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals in the oxidized state at rather low resonant field, the so-called g' = 12 signal, has been a matter of debate for over 30 years. We have studied the angular dependence of this resonance in both parallel and perpendicular mode X-band EPR in oriented multilayers containing cytochrome c oxidase to resolve the assignment. The "slow" form and compounds formed by the addition of formate and fluoride to the oxidized enzyme display these resonances, which result from transitions between states of an integer-spin multiplet arising from magnetic exchange coupling between the five unpaired electrons of high spin Fe(III) heme a(3) and the single unpaired electron of Cu(B). The first successful simulation of similar signals observed in both perpendicular and parallel mode X-band EPR spectra in frozen aqueous solution of the fluoride compound of the closely related enzyme, quinol oxidase or cytochrome bo(3), has been reported recently (Oganesyan et al., 1998, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:4232-4233). This suggested that the exchange interaction between the two metal ions of the binuclear center is very weak (|J| approximately 1 cm(-1)), with the axial zero-field splitting (D approximately 5 cm(-1)) of the high-spin heme dominating the form of the ground state. We show that this model accounts well for the angular dependences of the X-band EPR spectra in both perpendicular and parallel modes of oriented multilayers of cytochrome c oxidase derivatives and that the experimental results are inconsistent with earlier schemes that use exchange coupling parameters of several hundred wavenumbers.     

EPR studies of the photodissociation reactions of cytochrome c oxidase-nitric oxide complexes

Three complexes of NO with cytochrome c oxidase are described which are all photodissociable at low temperatures as measured by EPR. The EPR parameters of the cytochrome a2+(3)-NO complex are the same both in the fully reduced enzyme and in the mixed-valence enzyme. The kinetics of photodissociation of cytochrome a2+(3)-NO and recombination of NO with cytochrome a2+(3) (in the 30-70 K region) revealed no differences in structure between cytochrome a2+(3) in the fully reduced and the mixed-valence states. The action spectrum of the photodissociation of cytochrome a2+(3)-NO as measured by EPR has maxima at 595, 560 and 430 nm, and corresponds to the absorbance spectrum of cytochrome a2+(3)-NO. Photodissociation of cytochrome a2+(3)-NO in the mixed-valence enzyme changes the EPR intensity at g 3.03, due to electron transfer from cytochrome a2+(3) to cytochrome a3+. The extent of electron transfer was found to be temperature dependent. This suggests that a conformational change is coupled to this electron transfer. The complex of NO with oxidized cytochrome c oxidase shows a photodissociation reaction and recombination of NO (in the 20-40 K region) which differ completely from those observed in cytochrome a2+(3)-NO. The observed recombination occurs at a temperature 15 K lower than that found for the cytochrome a2+(3)-NO complex. The action spectrum of the oxidized complex shows a novel spectrum with maxima at 640 and below 400 nm; it is assigned to a Cu2+B-NO compound. The triplet species with delta ms = 2 EPR signals at g 4 and delta ms = 1 signals at g 2.69 and 1.67, that is observed in partially reduced cytochrome c oxidase treated with azide and NO, can also be photodissociated.     

Characterization of the partially reduced cyanide-inhibited derivative of cytochrome c oxidase by optical, electron-paramagnetic-resonance and magnetic-circular-dichroism spectroscopy.

Optical. e.p.r. and near-infrared low-temperature m.c.d. (magnetic-circular-dichroism) spectroscopy were used to characterize the partially reduced cyanide-inhibited derivative of cytochrome c oxidase produced by anaerobic reductive titration with dithionite. The reductions of cytochrome a3+ and Cu2+a were followed by observation of the e.p.r. signals at g = 3.03, 2.21 and 1.5 and at g = 2.18, 2.03 and 1.99. As reduction proceeds new e.p.r. signals (g = 3.58 and 1.56) appear that quantify to give one haem per enzyme unit when a small excess of dithionite has been titrated in. The e.p.r. signal of the Cu2+a titrates in parallel with the disappearance of the band and 820nm in the optical absorption spectrum. The near-infrared m.c.d. spectrum shows the presence of the low-spin ferric haem, a3+, in the oxidized state of the enzyme, as a well-resolved positive peak at 1650nm. As reduction proceeds this band is replaced by one at 1550nm due to haem a3+(3)--CN in the partially reduced state. Hence as haem a3+(3)--CN becomes e.p.r.-detectable it also shows a near-infrared m.c.d. spectrum characteristic of a low-spin ferric haem. It is concluded that the partially reduced state of cyanide-inhibited cytochrome c oxidase contains a2+ . Cu+a . a3+(3)--CN . Cu+a3.     

Electron spin echo studies of cytochrome c oxidase

We have studied the linear electric field effect in pulsed EPR of the "EPR-detectable copper" signal of beef heart cytochrome c oxidase and have compared our results with those for a variety of square planar and tetrahedral Cu(II) model compounds and with Cu(II) proteins containing either type 1 or type 2 copper. The electric field induced g shifts (linear electric field effect) for cytochrome oxidase are comparable in magnitude to those for simple Cu(II) complexes and for some copper proteins containing type 2 sites. The shifts are smaller than those for tetrahedral copper complexes and for type 1 copper sites. However, the magnetic field dependence of the linear electric field effect does not resemble that observed for any Cu(II) complex studied nor for type 1 copper. These findings cannot be reconciled with the tetrahedral Cu(II) model proposed by Greenaway, Chan, and Vincow ((1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 490, 62-78, 1977) to explain the unusual EPR spectrum of cytochrome oxidase.     

Kinetic studies of Rhus vernicifera laccase. Evidence for multi-electron transfer and an oxygen intermediate in the reoxidation reaction.

1. The reoxidation of reduced Rhus vernicifera laccase (monophenol,dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) by molecular oxygen has been studied by optical absorption and EPR methods. 2. The reoxidation by oxygen of the type 1 Cu+ and the two-electron acceptor is characterized by a second-order rate constant of about 5-10(6) M-1-s-1. 3. The appearance of an optical intermediate (with an absorbance maximum around 360 nm) parallels the reoxidation of type 1 Cu+ and the two-electron acceptor. It disappears in a first-order reaction with a half-time of 20 s. A similar intermediate is formed during normal turnover. 4. The type 2 Cu+ appears to be reoxidized in an intramolecular reaction with a half-time of about 20 s, suggesting a correlation between the reoxidation of this site and the disappearance of the optical intermediate. 5. The results suggest that three electrons are rapidly transferred to oxygen leading to the formation of an enzyme-bound oxygen intermediate.     

Removal of type 2 Cu from ascorbate oxidase and laccase by reaction with n,n-diethyldithiocarbamate

The type 2 Cu of ascorbate oxidase from zucchini peelings can be rapidly removed by reaction with a tenfold excess N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) in air, while other chelating agents, such as EDTA, require anaerobic reducing conditions. The type 2 Cu of laccase from Rhus vernicifera is never removed under aerobic conditions. In anaerobiosis and in the presence of a reducing agent, EDTA is also unable to remove the copper unless a smaller lipophilic molecule (DDC or dimethylglyoxime) is present, acting as a mediator. Type 1 Cu is not involved in the reaction of ascorbate oxidase with DDC, but reduction of type 3 Cu is probably required for type 2 Cu depletion, suggesting interdependence of type 2 and type 3 copper. Type 2 Cu is less exposed in laccase, possibly because of the large carbohydrate content of this protein.