Resonance Raman Studies of the Heme Active Site of the Homodimeric Myoglobin from Nassa mutabilis: A Peculiar Case

Abstract

A spectroscopic investigation by resonance Raman has been carried out at pH 7.0 in 0.1 M phosphate buffer on the cooperative homodimeric myoglobin from Nassa mutabilis. The study has been performed on the unligated ferrous form, as well as on the ligated species MbO2 and MbC, and on the ferric form met-Mb. Two v(C = C) vinyl stretching modes have been observed in all the investigated forms, reflecting different degrees of vinyl conjugation with the porphyrin ring, as a consequence of a strongly asymmetric environment for the two side groups of the heme. Furthermore, the ferric form displays a hexacoordinate low-spin heme, which suggests the presence of an endogenous ligand bound to the Fe atom. The frequency of the v(Fe-Im) stretching mode of Mb from Nassa mutabilis shifts down by 4 cm-1 as compared with that of horse heart myoglobin, reflecting a protein-induced proximal strain as a result of heme-heme interaction due to the close proximity of the two hemes in the dimer. The lower frequency of the v(Fe-Im) stretching mode agrees well with the lower affinity for oxygen binding found for Nassa mutabilis Mb and with the slight heme core expansion with respect to horse heart Mb, suggesting a critical role for the Fe-His bond on the heme's function and structure.