Domains in bovine serum amine oxidase

Analysis of the thermal unfolding of bovine serum amine oxidase by differential scanning calorimetry reveals for the dimeric protein a four domain structure consisting of two sets of domains. Each set contains two domains of similar size. The two smaller domains, in contrast with the larger ones, greatly differ in thermostability. Removal of copper changes the calorimetric pattern dramatically. The findings confirm that the metal cofactor plays a structural role. Since the enzyme contains two copper atoms and only one titratable carbonyl group, the calorimetric pattern suggests that the difference in thermostability of the two small domains might be due to the presence of a single organic cofactor.