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K G Welinder

Publications and source records attributed to K G Welinder.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of calcium, other ions, and pH on the reactions of barley peroxidase with hydrogen peroxide and fluoride. Control of activity through conformational change.

Transient-state kinetic analysis of compound I formation for barley grain peroxidase (BP 1) has revealed properties that are highly unusual for a heme peroxidase but which may be relevant to its biological function. The enzyme shows very little reaction with H2O2 at pH > 5 and exhibited saturation kinetics at higher H2O2 concentrations (kcatapp increases from 1.1 s-1 at pH 4.5 to 4.5 s-1 at pH 3.1 with an enzyme-linked pKa < 3.7 (Rasmussen, C.B., Bakovic, M., Welinder, K. G., and Dunford, H. B. (1993) FEBS Lett. 321, 102-105)). In the present paper, it is shown that the presence of Ca2+ gives rise to biphasic kinetics for compound I formation, with a slow phase as described above and a fast phase that exhibits a second order rate constant more typical of a classical peroxidase (K1app = 1.5 x 10(7) M-1 S-1, which is pH-independent between 3.3 and 5.0). The amount of enzyme reacting in the fast phase increases with Ca2+ concentration (Kd = 4 +/- 1 mM at pH 4.0), although it is also moderately inhibited by Cl-. The absorption spectrum of BP 1, which appears to be a five-coordinate high spin ferric in the resting state changes insignificantly in the presence of Ca2+. In the presence of Cl-, it becomes six-coordinate high spin (Kd approximately 60 mM at pH 4.0) but only if Ca2+ is also present. Fluoride binds to BP 1 with monophasic kinetics in the presence of 0-5 mM Ca2+. The activating effect of Ca2+ can be mimicked only by replacing it with Sr2+ and Ba2+ ions. Comparing these data with the crystal structure of the inactive neutral form of BP 1 (Henriksen, A., Welinder, K. G., and Gajhede, M. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 2241-2248) and similar data for wild-type and mutant peroxidases of plant and fungal origin suggests (i) a proton-induced conformational change from an inactive BP 1 at neutral pH to a low activity BP 1 form with a functional distal histidine and (ii) a Ca(2+)-induced slow conformational change (at least compared with compound I formation) of this low activity form to a high activity BP 1 with a typical peroxidase reactivity. BP 1 is the first example of a plant peroxidase whose activity can be reversibly controlled at the enzyme level by pH- and Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes.

Calcium↗

Structure of barley grain peroxidase refined at 1.9-A resolution. A plant peroxidase reversibly inactivated at neutral pH.

The crystal structure of the major peroxidase of barley grain (BP 1) has been solved by molecular replacement and phase combination and refined to an R-factor of 19.2% for all data between 38 and 1.9 A. The refined model includes amino acid residues 1-309, one calcium ion, one sodium ion, iron-protoporphyrin IX, and 146 solvent molecules. BP 1 has the apparently unique property of being unable to catalyze the reaction with the primary substrate hydrogen peroxide to form compound I at pH values > 5, a feature investigated by obtaining crystal structure data at pH 5.5, 7.5, and 8.5. Structural comparison shows that the overall fold of inactive barley grain peroxidase at these pH values resembles that of both horseradish peroxidase C and peanut peroxidase. The key differences between the structures of active horseradish peroxidase C and inactive BP 1 include the orientation of the catalytic distal histidine, disruption of a hydrogen bond between this histidine and a conserved asparagine, and apparent substitution of calcium at the distal cation binding site with sodium at pH 7.5. These profound changes are a result of a dramatic structural rearrangement to the loop region between helices B and C. This is the first time that structural rearrangements linked to active site chemistry have been observed by crystallography in the peroxidase domain distal to heme.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Glycosylation and thermodynamic versus kinetic stability of horseradish peroxidase.

The influence of N-linked glycans on the stability of glycoproteins has been studied using horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C (HRP), which contains eight asparagine-linked glycans. HRP was deglycosylated (d-HRP) with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and purified to an enzymatically active homogeneous protein containing (GlcNAc)2 glycans. The thermal stability of HRP and d-HRP at pH 6.0, measured by residual activity, was indistinguishable and showed transition midpoints at 57 degrees C, whereas the unfolding in guanidinium chloride at pH 7.0, 23 degrees C was 2-3-fold faster for d-HRP than for HRP. The results are compatible with a glycan-induced decrease in the dynamic fluctuation of the polypeptide chain.

Enzyme Stability↗

Purification and characterization of peroxidases correlated with lignification in poplar xylem.

Lignin is an integral cell wall component of all vascular plants. Peroxidases are widely believed to catalyze the last enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of lignin, the dehydrogenation of the p-coumaryl alcohols. As the first stage in identifying lignin-specific peroxidase isoenzymes, the classical anionic peroxidases found in the xylem of poplar (Populus trichocarpa Trichobel) were purified and characterized. Five different poplar xylem peroxidases (PXP 1, PXP 2, PXP 3-4, PXP 5, and PXP 6) were isolated. All five peroxidases were strongly glycosylated (3.6% to 4.9% N-glucosamine), with apparent molecular masses between 46 and 54 kD and pI values between pH 3.1 and 3.8. Two of the five isolated peroxidases (PXP 3-4 and PXP 5) could oxidize the lignin monomer analog syringaldazine, an activity previously correlated with lignification in poplar. Because these isoenzymes were specifically or preferentially expressed in xylem, PXP 3-4 and PXP 5 are suggested to be involved in lignin polymerization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

From sequence analysis of three novel ascorbate peroxidases from Arabidopsis thaliana to structure, function and evolution of seven types of ascorbate peroxidase.

Ascorbate peroxidases are haem proteins that efficiently scavenge H2O2 in the cytosol and chloroplasts of plants. Database analyses retrieved 52 expressed sequence tags coding for Arabidopsis thaliana ascorbate peroxidases. Complete sequencing of non-redundant clones revealed three novel types in addition to the two cytosol types described previously in Arabidopsis. Analysis of sequence data available for all plant ascorbate peroxidases resulted in the following classification: two types of cytosol soluble ascorbate peroxidase designated cs1 and cs2; three types of cytosol membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase, namely cm1, bound to microbodies via a C-terminal membrane-spanning segment, and cm2 and cm3, both of unknown location; two types of chloroplast ascorbate peroxidase with N-terminal transit sequences, the stromal ascorbate peroxidase (chs), and the thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase showing a C-terminal transmembrane segment and designated cht. Further comparison of the patterns of conserved residues and the crystal structure of pea ascorbate peroxidase showed that active site residues are conserved, and three peptide segments implicated in interaction with reducing substrate are similar, excepting cm2 and cm3 types. A change of Phe-175 in cytosol types to Trp-175 in chloroplast types might explain the greater ascorbate specificity of chloroplast compared with cytosol ascorbate peroxidases. Residues involved in homodimeric subunit interaction are conserved only in cs1, cs2 and cm1 types. The proximal cation (K+)-binding site observed in pea ascorbate peroxidase seems to be conserved. In addition, cm1, cm2, cm3, chs and cht ascorbate peroxidases contain Asp-43, Asn-57 and Ser-59, indicative of a distal monovalent cation site. The data support the hypothesis that present-day peroxidases evolved by an early gene duplication event.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

pH dependence and structural interpretation of the reactions of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase with hydrogen peroxide, ferulic acid, and 2,2'-azinobis.

Steady-state and transient-state analysis of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase, CIP (identical to Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase), was used to characterize the kinetics of the three fundamental steps in heme peroxidase catalysis: compound I (cpd I) formation, cpd I reduction, and compound II (cpd II) reduction. The rate constant k1 for cpd I formation determined by transient-state analysis is (9.9 +/- 0.6) x 10(6) M-1 s-1. The k1 determined by steady-state analysis is (8.8 +/- 0.6) x 10(6) M-1 s-1 in the presence of ferulic acid and (6.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(6) M-1 s-1 in the presence of ABTS. The value of k1 is constant from pH 6 to 11. However, at low pH the value of k1 decreases, corresponding to titration of an enzyme group with a pKa of 5.0. Titration of this group is also detected from cyanide-binding kinetics. Furthermore, titration of this group is linked with marked spectroscopic changes unique to CIP. We ascribe these changes to protonation of proximal His183. A very low pKa is proposed for distal His55 in the resting state of CIP. The rate constants, k2 for cpd I and k3 for cpd II reduction, are very large for both ferulic acid and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). For ferulic acid, transient-state kinetic analysis shows that the values of k2 and k3 are identical at pH 5-6, and the ratio k2/k3 increases to 10 at pH 10. The similar magnitude of k2 and k3 is unusual for a peroxidase. Both k2 and k3 decrease with increasing pH, and both are influenced by two ionizations: one with a pKa value near 7, assumed to reflect the protonation of His55; and the other with pKa of 9.0 +/- 0.7 for k2 and 8.8 +/- 0.4 for k3, perhaps reflecting the phenol-linked deprotonation of ferulic acid. Steady-state analysis at pH 7.0 gave k2k3/(k2 + k3) = (2.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M-1 s-1 for ferulic acid, and (2.0 +/- 0.7) x 10(7) M-1 s-1 for ABTS and revealed a unimolecular step with ku = 1500 s-1, ascribed to slow ABTS radical product release. From transient-state results at pH 7, the values of k2 and k3 were found to be identical also for ABTS. A mechanism for cpd I and II reduction involving distal histidine and arginine is proposed.

Benzothiazoles↗

Sequence and RT-PCR expression analysis of two peroxidases from Arabidopsis thaliana belonging to a novel evolutionary branch of plant peroxidases.

cDNA clones encoding two new Arabidopsis thaliana peroxidases, ATP 1a and ATP 2a, have been identified by searching the Arabidopsis database of expressed sequence tags (dbEST). They represent a novel branch of hitherto uncharacterized plant peroxidases which is only 35% identical in amino acid sequence to the well characterized group of basic plant peroxidases represented by the horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) isoperoxidases HRP C, HRP E5 and the similar Arabidopsis isoperoxidases ATP Ca, ATP Cb, and ATP Ea. However ATP 1a is 87% identical in amino acid sequence to a peroxidase encoded by an mRNA isolated from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). As cotton and Arabidopsis belong to rather diverse families (Malvaceae and Crucifereae, respectively), in contrast with Arabidopsis and horseradish (both Crucifereae), the high degree of sequence identity indicates that this novel type of peroxidase, albeit of unknown function, is likely to be widespread in plant species. The atp 1 and atp 2 types of cDNA sequences were the most redundant among the 28 different isoperoxidases identified among about 200 peroxidase encoding ESTs. Interestingly, 8 out of totally 38 EST sequences coding for ATP 1 showed three identical nucleotide substitutions. This variant form is designated ATP 1b. Similarly, six out of totally 16 EST sequences coding for ATP 2 showed a number of deletions and nucleotide changes. This variant form is designated ATP 2b. The selected EST clones are full-length and contain coding regions of 993 nucleotides for atp 1a, and 984 nucleotides for atp 2a. These regions show 61% DNA sequence identity. The predicted mature proteins ATP 1a, and ATP 2a are 57% identical in sequence and contain the structurally and functionally important residues, characteristic of the plant peroxidase superfamily. However, they do show two differences of importance to peroxidase catalysis: (1) the asparagine residue linked with the active site distal histidine via hydrogen bonding is absent; (2) an N-glycosylation site is located right at the entrance to the heme channel. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify mRNAs coding for ATP 1a/b and ATP 2a/b in germinating seeds, seedlings, roots, leaves, stems, flowers and cell suspension culture using elongation factor 1alpha (EF-1alpha) for the first time as a positive control. Both mRNAs were transcribed at levels comparable to EF-1alpha in all plant tissues investigated which were more than two days old, and in cell suspension culture. In addition, the mRNA coding for ATP 1a/b was found in two day old germinating seeds. The abundant transcription of ATP 1a/b and ATP 2a/b is in line with their many entries in dbEST, and indicates essential roles for these novel peroxidases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and organ specificity of an anionic peroxidase from Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension culture.

The predominant peroxidase (pI 3.5) (E.C. 1.11.1.7) of an Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension culture was purified and partially sequenced. Oligonucleotides were designed and a specific probe was obtained. A cDNA clone was isolated from an Arabidopsis cell suspension cDNA library and completely sequenced. The cDNA clone comprised 1194 bp and encodes a 30 residue signal peptide and a 305 residue mature protein (Mr 31,966). The sequence of the mature protein is 95% identical to the well-characterized horseradish peroxidase HRP A2 and has therefore been designated ATP A2. Three introns at positions identical to those found in Arabidopsis and horseradish genes encoding cationic peroxidases were identified. RT-PCR analysis revealed root-specific expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Asp245-->Asn mutant of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase. Characterization by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and comparison with the wild-type enzyme.

The resting, fluoride-ligated and cyanide-ligated states of the Asp245-->Asn mutant of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (D245N CIP) have been characterized using 1H-NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with parallel studies of the wild-type enzyme. Analysis of the spectra of resting state D245N CIP over the pH range 5-10 has uncovered the existence of three high-spin species in dynamic equilibrium with each other. The predominant species at neutral pH is six-coordinate high-spin (6-c HS), with a distal water molecule as the sixth ligand. This species is in slow exchange on the NMR time scale with a second six-coordinate high-spin species (6-c HS*) and a five-coordinate high-spin species (5-c HS**), toward acidic and alkaline pH values, respectively. The 6-c HS* species appears to be unique and is proposed to differ from the 6-c HS species by protonation of the proximal His residue, whereas the 5-c HS** species lacks the proximal His ligand and is coordinated by a hydroxyl group. In sharp contrast, wild-type CIP is a five-coordinate high-spin (5-c HS) species over the same pH range. The D245N CIP mutant also exhibits a greater affinity for fluoride than wild-type CIP. The 1H-NMR spectrum of cyanide-ligated D245N CIP, assigned using two-dimensional methods, differs significantly from that of the wild-type enzyme. Perturbations to heme and heme-linked proton resonances are rationalised in terms of the loss or significant weakening of the hydrogen bond between His183 N delta 1H and the side-chain of residue 245 when Asp is replaced by Asn. This subtle interaction directly affects the heme pocket structure of CIP both proximal and distal to the heme plane.

Arginine↗

Versatility of heme coordination demonstrated in a fungal peroxidase. Absorption and resonance Raman studies of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase and the Asp245-->Asn mutant at various pH values.

The pH dependence of the electronic absorption and resonance Raman (RR) spectra of FeIII and FeII forms of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP) and its Asp245-->Asn (D245N) mutant has been examined in detail. The spectral data were obtained in the pH range 3.8-12.0. These spectra were used to assess the spin and ligation states of the heme via the porphyrin marker band frequencies and the wavelengths of the absorption maxima, especially that of the band (CT1) due to the charge transfer from the porphyrin to the heme iron via the a' 2u(pi)-->eg (d pi) electronic transition. The RR spectra were obtained by using different excitation wavelengths and polarized light. The data obtained for ferric CIP show that two pH-induced structural transitions exist. At acid pH the Soret and the CT1 absorption maxima occur at 394 and 652 nm, respectively, compared with the values of 403 and 649 nm observed at neutral pH. The electronic data indicate that at acid pH the proximal Fe-Im bond might be weakened or ruptured, and the RR spectra show a new species (5-c HS) different from the normal neutral 5-coordinate high-spin (5-c HS) heme. At pH 12.0, the protein converts to a 6-coordinate low-spin (6-c LS) heme with a hydroxyl ligand coordinated in the sixth position of the heme iron and strongly hydrogen-bonded with the positively charged guanidinium group of the distal Arg51 residue. Replacement of the aspartate carboxylate group of Asp245, which acts as hydrogen-bond acceptor to the proximal His183 ligand of the heme Fe, with a carboxamide group of an asparagine residue has a profound influence on the heme coordination. The RR spectra of the Fe(II) form of this mutant at both neutral and alkaline pH values show a band at 204 cm-1 assigned to the Fe-His stretch associated with a fairly weak or non-hydrogen-bonded imidazole. The ferric form of the mutant shows a great variability in coordination and spin states upon pH titration. Between pH 8.8 and 3.8 the spectra are mainly characteristic of a 6-coordinate high-spin heme, presumably with a water molecule bound on the distal side of the Fe atom. The pKa of the alkaline transition of the mutant is much lower than that of the wild-type protein. At pH 10.0 the D245N mutant is in its final alkaline form, which markedly differs from that of the parent enzyme. The spectral data indicate that the majority of the protein has 5-coordinate high-spin heme (5-c HS), with the Fe-His 183 bond broken and the distal axial coordination site of the heme iron occupied by a hydroxyl group, which is strongly hydrogen-bonded with distal Arg51. Therefore, the Asp245-->Asn mutation on the proximal side results in the breakage of the Fe-His bond at alkaline pH.

Asparagine↗

Unfolding and refolding of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase at high pH, in urea, and at high temperature. Effect of organic and ionic additives on these processes.

The unfolding and refolding rates of the heme-and Ca2+ -containing Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP) have been measured at pH 12.1, in 4 M urea, and at 61.2 degrees C. The change in peroxidase activity paralleled the change in the Soret band absorbance of the heme group. The unfolding rate constant (ku), was determined independently in thermolysin digestion and EDTA experiments at 59.4 degrees C. Both gave ku values of 1.5 ms-1, and also showed that the presence of 4 mM EDTA made CIP unfolding practically irreversible. Unfolding and refolding rates could therefore be determined under identical conditions of denaturation having either EDTA or Ca2+ in excess. The refolding rates at high pH and in 4 M urea were measured by adding Ca2+ to the unfolded CIP, whereas refolding at 61.2 degrees C was evaluated by comparing the unfolding carried out under reversible (excess of Ca2+) and irreversible conditions (excess EDTA). The activation energies for the unfolding at 61.2 degrees C are approximately delta G++(u) 100, T delta S++(u) 200, and delta H++(u) 300 kJ/mol. Five different additives, glycerol, EtOH, Na2SO4, guanidinium chloride (GdmCl), and NaCl, all at 100 mM, were used as probes to evaluate the mechanism of base, urea, and heat on unfolding and refolding. Salts destabilized CIP at high pH, primarily by enhancing the unfolding rate but also by decreasing the refolding rate. Glycerol had the reverse effects and thus stabilized CIP at high pH. The unfolding rate in urea was only slightly affected by the additives, with the exception of GdmCl which enhanced the unfolding rate. The refolding rate was decreased in urea by EtOH and GdmCl, in contrast to glycerol and Na2SO4 which increased the refolding rate. At high temperature the unfolding was affected only slightly by the additives, except for GdmCl, and to a lesser extent NaCl, which enhanced the unfolding rate. The refolding rates were greatly decreased by Na2SO4, EtOH, and GdmCl, whereas glycerol and Nacl enhanced the process. It appears that 100 mM NaCl functions as a catalyst for the temperature-induced process, enhancing both the unfolding and refolding rates. The results indicate that the mechanisms of CIP unfolding and refolding are similar in urea and at high temperature but different at high pH.

Coprinus↗

Mild chemical deglycosylation of horseradish peroxidase yields a fully active, homogeneous enzyme.

Horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C (HRP) contains eight N-linked glycans composed of Man, Xyl, Fuc, and GlcNAc. These glycans were resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis by endoglycosidases peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase F, endo-beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase H, and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F under conditions where ovalbumin was deglycosylated. However, using anhydrous trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS) in the presence of 90 mM phenol for 5 min at--10 degrees C, all carbohydrate except GlcNAc was removed. Sixty percent of deglycosylated HRP was active after this TFMS treatment. Benzhydroxamic acid affinity chromatography separated active and inactive deglycosylated HRP. TFMS treatment, however, introduced negative charges in all inactive HRP and in about 90% of the active deglycosylated HRP. The nature of this modification has not been identified. After ion-exchange chromatography, homogeneous and fully active deglycosylated HRP, showing the original pI of 9, electronic absorption spectrum, and enzyme kinetics, was obtained, In this purified product no amino acid modifications were detected by amino acid analysis, partial sequencing, and mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides. The deglycosylated product showed greatly reduced solubility in salt solution compared to that of authentic HRP.

Enzyme Activation↗

Rate enhancement of compound I formation of barley peroxidase by ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and coniferyl alcohol.

Reactions of barley peroxidase 1 were studied using transient-state and steady-state kinetics at pH 3.96, 25 degrees C, and 0.1 M ionic strength, in both the presence and the absence of 1 mM calcium ion. The rate of compound I formation from barley peroxidase 1 and hydrogen peroxide in the absence of reducing substrate is very slow, with or without calcium. When each of the three reducing substrates ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and coniferyl alcohol is added individually, there is a striking enhancement of the rate of compound I formation by a factor of 10-40 depending on the substrate. These unique rate enhancements can be explained by the effect of tight substrate binding to the native enzyme, and they may be indicative of an activating effect of reducing substrate on barley peroxidase 1 under physiological conditions. All steady-state kinetic results can be explained by an initial tight binding of reducing substrate AH to the barley peroxidase, Peroxidase + AH reversible Peroxidase-AH, and substitution of the peroxidase-AH complex for native enzyme in the standard modified ping-pong mechanism for peroxidase reactions [Dunford, H. B. (1991) in Peroxidases in Chemistry and Biology (Everse, J., Everse, K. E., & Grisham, M. B., Eds.) Vol. II, pp 1-24, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL]. The dissociation constant of barley peroxidase 1 and ferulic acid was 1.4 +/- 0.6 microM as determined by the change in the absorbance at the Soret maximum at the conditions mentioned above.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Caffeic Acids↗

Disulfide bonds and glycosylation in fungal peroxidases.

Four conserved disulfide bonds and N-linked and O-linked glycans of extracellular fungal peroxidases have been identified from studies of a lignin and a manganese peroxidase from Trametes versicolor, and from Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP) and recombinant C. cinereus peroxidase (rCIP) expressed in Aspergillus oryzae. The eight cysteine residues are linked 1-3, 2-7, 4-5 and 6-8, and are located differently from the four conserved disulfide bridges present in the homologous plant peroxidases. CIP and rCIP were identical in their glycosylation pattern, although the extent of glycan chain heterogeneity depended on the fermentation batch. CIP and rCIP have one N-linked glycan composed only of GlcNAc and Man at residue Asn142, and two O-linked glycans near the C-terminus. The major glycoform consists of single Man residues at Thr331 and at Ser338. T. versicolor lignin isoperoxidase TvLP10 contains a single N-linked glycan composed of (GlcNAc)2Man5 bound to Asn103, whereas (GlcNAc)2Man3 was found in T. versicolor manganese isoperoxidase TvMP2 at the same position. In addition, mass spectrometry of the C-terminal peptide of TvMP2 indicated the presence of five Man residues in O-linked glycans. No phosphate was found in these fungal peroxidases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Resonance Raman study of the active site of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase.

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra for the resting state ferric and the reduced ferrous forms of recombinant Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP), obtained with different excitation wavelengths and in polarized light, are reported. The spectra are compared with those obtained previously for cytochrome c peroxidase expressed in Escherichia coli [(CCP(MI)] and horseradish peroxidase (HRP-C). Although the enzymic properties of CIP and HRP-C are similar, the RR data show that, in terms of the heme cavity structures, CIP and CCP(MI) are much more closely related to each other than to HRP-C. The ferric state of CIP at neutral pH is characteristic mainly of a five-coordinate high spin heme. However, the lower frequency of the v2 mode and a higher frequency of the v(C = C) vinyl stretching modes for CIP as compared to CCP, indicate a higher degree of vibrational coupling between the two modes in CIP. In addition, CIP is rather unstable under low laser power irradiation as an irreversible transition to a six-coordinate high spin heme followed by a second transition to a six-coordinate low spin heme is observed. This instability of CIP as compared to CCP(MI) is proposed to be a consequence of the presence of a distal Phe54 in CIP rather than the homologous Trp51 in CCP, as Trp51 is hydrogen-bonded to a distal water molecule located above the heme Fe thereby preventing its coordination in CCP. In CIP the FeII-His RR band has two components with frequencies at 230 and 211 cm-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Binding Sites↗

NMR studies of recombinant Coprinus peroxidase and three site-directed mutants. Implications for peroxidase substrate binding.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to characterise and compare wild-type fungal and recombinant Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP) and three mutants in which Gly156 and/or Asn157 was replaced by Phe. Analysis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra of recombinant CIP was undertaken for comparison with the fungal enzyme and in order to establish a meaningful basis for solution studies of CIP mutants. Proton resonance assignments of haem and haem-linked residues obtained for the cyanide-ligated form of recombinant CIP revealed a high degree of spectral similarity with those of lignin and manganese-dependent peroxidases and extend previously reported NMR data for fungal CIP. The three mutants examined by NMR spectroscopy comprised site-specific substitutions made to a region of the structure believed to form part of the peroxidase haem group access channel for substrate and ligand molecules. Proton resonances of the aromatic side-chains of Phe156 and Phe157 were found to have similar spectral characteristics to those of two phenylalanine residues known to be involved in the binding of aromatic donor molecules to the plant peroxidase, horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C. The results are discussed in the context of complementary reactivity studies on the mutants in order to develop a more detailed understanding of aromatic donor molecule binding to fungal and plant peroxidases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural analysis of chicken factor B-like protease and comparison with mammalian complement proteins factor B and C2.

Chicken complement factor B-like protease is a glycoprotein of 95 kDa. Activation of chicken serum complement with inulin cleaved the B-like protease into an N-terminal Ba fragment of 37 kDa and a C-terminal Bb fragment of 60 kDa. The whole protein and the two fragments were purified by affinity chromatography using mAb to chicken Ba or Bb followed by ion exchange chromatography. Amino acid sequencing showed that chicken B-like protease was cleaved at a site homologous to that cleaved in mammalian complement components B and C2 on activation. Limited tryptic digestion of the B-like protease generated fragments similar to Ba and Bb. More than 200 residues of the Ba sequence and two N-linked glycosylation sites were established by amino acid sequencing of peptides derived by digestion with four proteases. Comparison of human and mouse C2 and B sequences indicated a slower evolutionary rate for B (85% sequence identity) than for C2 (74% sequence identity). Comparison of chicken Ba to human and mouse C2b and Ba showed 42 to 45% sequence identity with respect to C2b fragments, and 46 to 49% sequence identity with respect to Ba fragments. Taking the slower evolutionary rate of factor B into account, chicken factor B-like protease seems to be equally related to mammalian complement components B and C2, and the B-like protease most likely represents the present-day descendant of a common ancestral protein for mammalian B and C2. This conclusion is in agreement with the requirement for the B-like protease in both classical and alternative activation pathways for chicken complement, and with the apparent lack of a chicken serum protein with exclusive C2 activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗