The structural role of the copper-coordinating and surface-exposed histidine residue in the blue copper protein azurin

Abstract

Copper K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and 15N NMR relaxation studies were performed on samples of a variant azurin in which the surface-exposed histidine ligand of the copper atom (His117) has been replaced by glycine. The experiments were performed to probe the structure of the active site and the protein dynamics. The cavity in the protein structure created by the His → Gly replacement could be filled by external ligands, which can either restore the spectroscopic properties of the original type-1 copper site or create a new type-2 copper site. The binding of external ligands occurs only when the copper atom is in its oxidised state. In the reduced form, the binding is abolished. From the EXAFS experiments, it is concluded that for the oxidised type-1 copper sites the protein plus external ligand (L) provide an NSS∗L donor set deriving from His46, Cys112, Met121 and the external ligand. The type-2 copper site features an S(N/O)3 donor set in which the S-donor derives from Cys112, one N-donor from His46 and the remaining two N or O donors from one or more external ligands. Upon reduction of the type-1 as well as the type-2 site, the external ligand drops out of the copper site and the coordination reduces to 3-fold with an SS∗N donor set deriving from His46, Cys112 and Met121. The Cu-Sδ(Met) distance is reduced from about 3.2 to 2.3 Å. Analysis of the NMR data shows that the hydrophobic patch around His117 has gained fluxionality when compared to wild-type azurin, which may explain why the His117Gly variant is able to accommodate a variety of external ligands of different sizes and with different chelating properties. On the other hand, the structure and dynamics of the β-sandwich, which comprises the main body of the protein, is only slightly affected by the mutation. The unusually high reduction potential of the His117Gly azurin is discussed in light of the present results.