The role of entropy in the discrimination between CO and O2 in myoglobin

Using stopped-flow rapid mixing and flash photolysis techniques, the dissociation rate coefficients of horse carbonmonoxy myoglobin (hMbCO) and oxygenated myoglobin (hMbO₂) in aqueous solution have been determined as a function of temperature between 274 and 342 K. From the Arrhenius plot, an activation enthalpy for dissociation of 74 kJ/mol was obtained for both ligands. The pronounced kinetic differences arise from markedly different pre-exponentials. We compare the Arrhenius parameters with those of the association reaction, as measured at cryogenic temperatures. In our analysis we conclude that the entropy loss upon binding of O₂ is twice as large as that for CO. Taking reasonable estimates for the frequency factor, the transition state entropy in hMbO₂ is located roughly half way in between the entropies of the bound and unbound states. By contrast, the entropy of the transition state in hMbCO appears to be identical to that of the bound state. Possible structural reasons for the different behavior are discussed. Received: 13 January 1997 / Accepted: 24 April 1997