Fe-His Bond Research Articles

Synergistic activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by YC-1 and carbon monoxide: implications for the role of cleavage of the iron-histidine bond during activation by nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (.NO) is used in biology as both an intercellular signaling agent and a cytotoxic agent. In signaling, submicromolar quantities of .NO stimulate the soluble isoform of guanylate cyclase (sGC) in the receptor cell. .NO increases the Vmax of this heterodimeric hemoprotein up to 400-fold by interacting with the heme moiety of sGC to form a 5-coordinate complex. Carbon monoxide (CO) binds to the heme to form a 6-coordinate complex, but only activates the enzyme 5-fold, YC-1 is a recently discovered compound that relaxes vascular smooth muscle by stimulating sGC. In the presence of YC-1, CO activates sGC to the same specific activity as attained with .NO. YC-1 did not affect the NO-stimulated activity. The on-rate (kon) and off-rate (koff) of CO for binding to sGC in the presence of YC-1 were determined by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Neither the kon nor the koff varied from values previously obtained in the absence of YC-1, indicating that YC-1 has no effect on the affinity of CO for the heme. In the presence of YC-1, the visible spectrum of the sGC-CO complex has a Soret peak at 423 nm, indicating the complex is 6-coordinate. YC-1 has no effect on the affinity of CO for the heme of sGC. In the presence of YC-1, maximal activation of sGC by CO is achieved by formation of a 6-coordinate complex between CO and the heme indicating that cleavage of the Fe-His bond is not required for maximal activation of sGC.

Analysis of the global architecture of hemoglobin A2 by heme binding studies and molecular modeling.

The kinetics of CNProto- and CNDeutero-hemin binding to apohemoglobin A2 was investigated in a stopped-flow device in 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7, at 10 degrees C. The overall kinetic profile exhibited multiple phases: Phases I-IV corresponding with heme insertion (8.5-13 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)), local structural rearrangement (0.21-0.23 s(-1)), global alphadelta structural event (0.071-0.098 s(-1)), and formation of the Fe-His bond (0.009-0.012 s(-1)), respectively. Kinetic differences observed between apohemoglobin A2 and apohemoglobin A (previously studied) prompted an analysis of the structures of beta and delta chains through molecular modeling. This revealed a structural repositioning of the residues not only at, but also distant from the site of the amino acid substitutions, specifically those involved in the heme contact and subunit interface. A significant global change was observed in the structure of the exon-coded 3 region and provided additional evidence for the designation of this as the subunit assembly domain.

Assignment of conformation-sensitive near-infrared bands in high-spin ferrous haemoproteins.

An assignment of the near-infrared bands in the 600–800 nm spectral region observed in magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of high-spin ferrous haemoproteins is presented. The assignment is based on a relative energy level scheme for iron d-electrons, a comparison of predicted and measured temperature dependences of MCD intensity, a sign of MCD bands and a group theoretical analysis of allowed transitions. The proposed assignment is consistent with the ∼15-nm red shift of the ∼760 nm band on breakage of the Fe-His bond in deoxy-myoglobin at low pH, with low-temperature photolysis experiments available for CO complexes of several haemoproteins. In accordance with the observations, the intensity of the MCD bands for proteins with a sulphur anion of cysteine as proximal haemligand (cytochrome P450 and chloroperoxidase) is predicted to be diminished by at least one order of magnitude compared to that for proteins with an imidazole of a histidine as a protein-derived haemligand (i.e. myoglobin, haemoglobin and horseradish peroxidase).

Tension in haemoglobin revealed by Fe-His(F8) bond rupture in the fully liganded T-state

In 1972, Perutz proposed that the low affinity of T-state haemoglobin is caused by tension in the bond between the iron and the proximal histidine, restraining the Fe from moving into the porphyrin plane on binding oxygen. This proposal has often been disputed. If such tension does exist, it will be manifest in the liganded T-state. Here we describe the structure of the fully liganded T-state cyanide complex of haemoglobin, in which the Fe-proximal histidine bond in the α-subunits, but not in the β-subunits, is ruptured. This rupture uncouples the structural changes at the α-haem from those in the globin and the β-haem, and demonstrates unequivocally the existence of tension and its transmission through this bond.

Nonsteric factors dominate binding of nitric oxide, azide, imidazole, cyanide, and fluoride to the Rhizobial heme-based oxygen sensor FixL

The FixL protein is a heme-based sensor. Binding of oxygen to a unique heme domain inhibits a kinase domain of the type found in two-component regulators. Oxygen association is slow, but the dissociation rate is comparable to that of myoglobins. We have probed the size and chemistry of the FixL heme pocket by measuring the affinites, on rates and off rates for a wide variety of ferric heme ligands. Cyanide, but not fluoride, regulates the kinase activity. To examine how the sensory heme domain interacts with the kinase, we asked how the presence of the kinase domain affects ligand binding. The affinities of ferric FixL for heme ligands follow the same trend as their pKa values: cyanide > 4-methyl imidazole > imidazole > fluoride > azide >> thiocyanate. The association rates follow the reverse trend. Striking differences from myoglobin include a 6-fold greater affinity for, and faster binding to, the bulky ligand imidazole, a 14-fold faster on rate for nitric oxide, a 2 800-fold lower affinity for azide, and a complete failure to bind thiocyanate. The presence of the kinase domain does not alter the affinity or binding kinetics of the high-spin ligand fluoride, but affects the off rates of other ligands. The EPR spectrum shows a characteristic pentacoordinate nitrosyl heme, indicating that the Fe-His bond in FixL is strained. The importance of ligand deprotonation to the on rates and the fact that large ligands bind readily indicate that the heme pocket is open and apolar. Ligand basicity strongly influences the strength of binding. The destabilization of inhibitory ligands by the presence of the kinase domain is consistent with a 'load' imposed by coupling to the inactivating mechanism.

Structural evolution of the heme group during the allosteric transition in hemoglobin: Insights from resonance raman spectra of isotopically labeled heme

Visible resonance Raman spectra in the low-frequency region (200–500 cm−1) are reported for hemoglobin (Hb) reconstituted with heme that is deuterated at the meso carbon atoms (meso-d4). Spectra were obtained in the deoxy form and in the immediate photoproduct of the carbonmonoxide adduct, HbCO. The isotope shifts permit assignment of two out-of-plane modes, γ6 and γ7, and the in-plane skeletal mode ν8, as well as the well-known iron-histidine [Fe-His] stretching vibration. Important differences between deoxyHb and the immediate photoproduct include 1) a large upshift in the Fe-His frequency, from 216 to 228 cm−1, 2) an upshift in γ6 (349 to 353 cm−1) together with substantial diminution of the ν8 (341 cm−1) intensity, and 3) collapse of two γ7 bands (305 and 296 cm−1) to a single band at 304 cm−1. This last observation implies subunit heterogeneity in deoxyHb but not in the photoproduct. When these bands are monitored in the time-resolved RR spectra following HbCO photolysis, it is seen that subunit heterogeneity is first detectable in the 0.5-μs transient [intermediate S], which has been associated with the initial rearrangement of the subunits to form the T-state contacts, on the basis of ultraviolet RR spectroscopy.1 However the intensification of ν8 does not occur until the 17-μs transient (intermediate T′), in which the T-state contacts are locked in and the Fe-His bond is strained. Implications for the mechanism of Hb allostery are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.

Femtosecond coherence spectroscopy of heme proteins

Femtosecond pump-probe experiments are used to study the photophysics and photochemistry of heme proteins on ultrafast time scales. Using electronic relaxation measurements combined with reaction-driven coherence signals, we determine that, after the photoexcitation of myoglobin (Mb)NO, the bond-breaking time is on the order of the electronic dephasing time (∼ 20 fs) and the electronic ground state of deoxy Mb appears on a time scale of 80 ± 30 fs. This latter time scale is linked to the Fe-His bond compression (TFe-His/2 ∼ 75 fs), which is initiated by the photolytic depletion of electron density from the antibonding dz2 orbital. The subsequent depression of the dx2-y2 orbital energy, and its population as the iron moves out of plane, leads to the formation of the S = 2 electronic ground state and drives the doming of the heme (Tdome/4 ∼ 100 fs). Thus, the initial stage of heme doming is completed in TFe-His/2 + Tdome/4 ∼ 180 fs. Samples of hemoglobin (Hb)NO display a strong coherent Fe-His stretching vibration at 230 cm−1, which appears immediately (∼ 200 fs) after photodissociation. The data also show a lower-frequency component at 95 cm−1, which we assign to heme doming. The reaction driven coherence of HbNO is observed to be much stronger than the impulsively stimulated Raman coherence of Hb, as might be expected, based on the large relative displacement between reactant and product equilibrium position. The Raman coherence of deoxy Mb is also studied as a function of temperature. As the temperature decreases from 290 to 10 K, the amplitude of the 370 cm−1 mode increases while the amplitude of the 220 cm−1 Fe-His stretching mode decreases. Finally, we report preliminary observations of the first Raman coherences in samples of another heme protein, cytochrome P450. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Loss of allosteric behaviour in recombinant hemoglobin α2β29 r)F8)His→Ala: Restoration upon addition of strong effectors

In the stereochemical model proposed by Perutz [1], the Fe-His(F8) bond plays a significant role in the allosteric transition in hemoglobin and the resulting cooperativity in ligand binding. When this bond is ruptured, there is a loss in the transmission of the information concerning ligand binding; examples are Hb(NO) 4 in the presence of inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP), or nickel substituted Hb hybrids which, despite being liganded, exhibit deoxy-like properties. To study the effects of the loss of the iron proximal histidine bond, we have engineered the α 2 β 2(F8)H92A recombinant Hb. The replacement of the highly conserved proximal histidine F8 residue by an alanine results in a low affinity for the heme group and a loss of the allosteric properties; kinetics of CO recombination after photodissociation show only the rapid bimolecular phase, characteristic of the high affinity R-state. However, a significant amount of deoxy (T-state) kinetics are observed after addition of external effectors such as IHP. The iron-histidine bond is apparently crucial for the heme-heme interaction, but the allosteric equilibrium may still be influenced by external constraints.

Origin of the pH-dependent spectroscopic properties of pentacoordinate metmyoglobin variants.

The pH dependence of the electronic and EPR spectra of two variants of horse heart myoglobin (Mb) in which the distal His64 ligand has been replaced by either Thr or Ile has been studied. Both of these variants exhibit spectroscopic changes with pH that are indicative of a transition between two ferric high-spin forms that occurs with a pKa of 9.49 for the His64Thr variant and 9.26 for the His64Ile variant and that is distinctly different from the pH-dependent spectroscopic changes related to titration of the distal aquo ligand of wild-type Mb. The electronic and EPR spectra of both variants at all values of pH studied are consistent with the presence of a pentacoordinate heme iron center. For the His64Thr variant, a high-resolution (1.9 A) structure determination establishes the lack of the distal aquo ligand and demonstrates an out-of-plane movement of the ferric iron toward the proximal histidine together with a decrease of the Fe-His bond length. Investigation of this pH-linked equilibrium by EPR spectroscopy reveals rhombically split high-spin signals at both pH 7 and 11 with a greater degree of rhombicity exhibited by the alkaline species. We propose that the pH-linked spectroscopic transition exhibited by these distal histidine variants results from the deprotonation of the proximal His93 residue to produce imidazolate ligation at alkaline pH.

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

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.

Correlation of Carbon Monoxide Association Rates and the Position of Absorption Band III in Hemoproteins

We have examined the absorbance of a charge-transfer transition near 760 nm, known as band III, in several hemoproteins and heme complexes. The band III position correlates with the rate of carbon monoxide binding to the heme. A band III present at 760 nm indicates an unfavorable geometry of the heme for carbon monoxide binding; a red-shift of the band III to 765 nm indicates a less-constrained geometry of the heme as evidenced by higher carbon monoxide association rates. The band III position correlates well with the Raman frequency of the Fe-His(F8) bond as suggested previously for normal hemoglobin A [Sassaroli, M. & Rousseau, D. L. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 3092-3098]. Aplysia myoglobin and the chimeric heme protein kinase FixL from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, hemoproteins with an apolar residue in place of the highly conserved polar histidine E7, do not fit the relationship between the band III position and the rate of binding of carbon monoxide to the heme. With these few exceptions, the measurement of band III appears to be a practical means to probe the stretch frequency of the Fe-His(F8) bond.

Correlation of carbon monoxide association rates and the position of absorption band III in hemoproteins.

We have examined the absorbance of a charge-transfer transition near 760 nm, known as band III, in several hemoproteins and heme complexes. The band III position correlates with the rate of carbon monoxide binding to the heme. A band III present at 760 nm indicates an unfavorable geometry of the heme for carbon monoxide binding; a red-shift of the band III to 765 nm indicates a less-constrained geometry of the heme as evidenced by higher carbon monoxide association rates. The band III position correlates well with the Raman frequency of the Fe-His(F8) bond as suggested previously for normal hemoglobin A [Sassaroli, M. & Rousseau, D. L. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 3092-3098]. Aplysia myoglobin and the chimeric heme protein kinase FixL from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, hemoproteins with an apolar residue in place of the highly conserved polar histidine E7, do not fit the relationship between the band III position and the rate of binding of carbon monoxide to the heme. With these few exceptions, the measurement of band III appears to be a practical means to probe the stretch frequency of the Fe-His(F8) bond.

Raman dispersion spectroscopy probes heme distortions in deoxyHb-trout IV involved in its T-state Bohr effect

The depolarization ratios of heme protein Raman lines arising from vibrations of the heme group exhibit significant dependence on the excitation wavelength. From the analysis of this depolarization ratio dispersion, one obtains information about symmetry-lowering distortions deltaQ(Gamma) of the heme group that can be classified in terms of the symmetry races Gamma = A(1g), B(1g), B(2g), and A(2g) in D(4h) symmetry. The heme-protein interaction can be changed by the protonation of distinct amino acid side chains (i.e., for instance the Bohr groups in hemoglobin derivates), which gives rise to specific static heme distortions for each protonation state. From the Raman dispersion data, it is possible to obtain parameters by fitting to a theoretical expression of the Raman tensor, which provide information on these static distortions and also about the pK values of the involved titrable side chains. We have applied this method to the nu(4) (1,355 cm(-1)) and nu(10) (1,620 cm(-1)) lines of deoxygenated hemoglobin of the fourth component of trout and have measured their depolarization ratio dispersion as a function of pH between 6 and 9. From the pH dependence of the thus derived parameters, we obtain pK values identical to those of the Bohr groups, which were earlier derived from the corresponding O(2)-binding isotherms. These are pK(alpha1) = pK(alpha2) = 8.5 for the alpha and pK(beta1) = 7.5, pK(beta2) = 7.4 for the beta chains. We also obtain the specific distortion parameters for each protonation state. As shown in earlier studies, the nu(4) mode mainly probes distortions from interactions between the proximal histidine and atoms of the heme core (i.e., the nitrogens and the C(alpha) atoms of the pyrroles). Group theoretical argumentation allows us to relate specific changes of the imidazole geometry as determined by its tilt and azimuthal angle and the iron-out-of-plane displacement to distinct variations of the normal distortions deltaQ(Gamma) derived from the Raman dispersion data. Thus, we found that the pH dependence of the heme distortions deltaQ(A1g) (totally symmetric) and deltaQ(B1g) (asymmetric) is caused by variations of the azimuthal rather than the tilt angle of the Fe-His (F8) bond. In contrast to this, the nu(10) line mainly monitors changes resulting from the interaction between peripheral substituents of the porphyrin macrocycle (vinyl). From the pH dependence of the parameters, it is possible to separately identify distortions deltaQ(Gamma) affecting the hemes in the alpha and beta chains, respectively. From this, we find that in the alpha subunit structural changes induced on protonation of the corresponding Bohr groups are mainly transferred via the Fe-N(epsilon) bond and give rise to changes in the azimuthal angle. In the beta subunit, however, in addition, structural changes of the heme pocket arise, which most probably result from protonation of the imidazole of the COOH-terminal His (HC3 beta). This rearranges the net of H bonds between His HC3 beta, Ser (F9 beta), and Glu (F7 beta).

Carboxy Mb at pH 3. Time-resolved resonance Raman study at cryogenic temperatures

Cryogenic samples of MbCO at pH3 are studied using nanosecond and picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy. It is observed that under excitation conditions sufficient to completely photodissociate MbCO at pH7, the pH3 sample at 10 ns remains substantially unphotolyzed even at 15 K. The similarity in the optical and resonance Raman spectra of MbCO at pH3 with that of pH7 indicates that at pH3 the iron remains six-coordinate and low-spin. The Fe-CO stretch frequency is consistent with a more upright CO orientation. The absence of the v(Fe-His) band in the 30 ps photoproduct Raman spectrum suggests that the Fe-His(F8) bond is broken within 30 ps of photodissociation. Other Raman bands, though, are not consistent with a normal four-coordinate heme for the photoproduct, Mb*. Suggested possible interpretations include a four-coordinate heme highly perturbed by the close lying protonated proximal histidine or a five-coordinate heme with the Fe-His bond significantly weakened. The partial photolysis monitored at 30 ps and 100 K indicates either a significant amount of geminate recombination within 30 ps or low quantum yield or photolysis. The time course for CO recombination is monitored via the Raman spectra from 30 ps to 3 ns at 100 K and 160 K. Of the fraction of protein-ligand pairs that remain photodissociated at 30 ps, 50% recombine by approximately 250 ps at 100 K and 160 K, supporting the flash photolysis rebinding data of Cowen et al. (Cowen, B. R. 1990. Ph. D. thesis. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Cowen, B. R., D. Braunstein, H. Frauenfelder, P. J. Steinbach, and R. D. Young. 1989. Biophys. J. 55:55a. [Abstr.].) The conclusions from these resonance Raman studies are extended to solution phase studies at ambient temperatures.

Resonance Raman study on the role of the iron-ligand bond for functional activity of heme proteins

Abstract

The iron-proximal histidine linkage and protein control of oxygen binding in hemoglobin. A transient Raman study.

Time-resolved Raman studies have shown that communication between the heme oxygen binding sites and the surrounding globin occurs through the iron-proximal histidine linkage. By comparing the frequency of the Fe-His stretching mode in equilibrium deoxy- and photoinduced transient deoxyhemoglobins, we have found that ligand binding induces protein structural changes that strengthen the Fe-His linkage. The extent of this increase is observed to depend upon the quaternary state. This dependence is reflected in the restricted set of values observed in transient and equilibrium studies for the frequency of the Fe-His stretching mode in both R and T state deoxyhemoglobins. For T state hemoglobins the frequency increases from 215 cm-1 to approximately 222 cm-1 in going from the stable to the nanosecond transient deoxy species. The corresponding change for R state human hemoglobins is from approximately 222 cm-1 to approximately 230 cm-1. Studies on transients derived from Fe-Co hybrid hemoglobins reveal no subunit heterogeneity associated with the R state transient (230 cm-1) at high pH. We also observe that perturbations of the protein known to destabilize the structure of ligand-bound R state hemoglobins are associated with a decrease in the frequency of the iron-proximal histidine stretching mode in the corresponding transient species. Such effects can originate from changes in either quaternary state or solution conditions as well as species-specific variations in protein structure. These results indicate that modulation of the Fe-His linkage could be a general mechanism for regulating ligand binding properties in hemoglobin. A direct connection between ligand binding and the Fe-His bond is suggested from our finding that the structural parameter(s) regulating the barrier height for germinate recombination is likely to be the same as the one(s) modulating the frequency of the Fe-His stretching mode in the transient deoxy species. Based on the recent conclusion that the variation in the tilt of histidine with respect to the heme plane is primarily responsible for the spectrum of frequencies observed for the Fe-His stretching mode we have examined a model in which protein regulation of binding occurs via a protein-induced change in the histidine tilt.

Resonance Raman spectra of photodissociated carbonmonoxy hemoglobin and deoxy hemoglobin at 10 K.

Resonance Raman data from deoxy hemoglobin and photodissociated carbonmonoxy hemoglobin (Hb*) at low temperature (10 K) are reported. At this temperature with 457.9 nm excitation, the iron-histidine (Fe-His) stretching mode in deoxy hemoglobin disappears, although with 441.6 nm excitation it is detected at 235 cm-1. The intensity change is interpreted as resulting from changes in energy of iron d orbitals induced by the shortening of the Fe-His bond on temperature reduction. The previously reported narrowing of the Fe-His mode with temperature reduction has been found to be artifact. In Hb*, the Fe-His stretching mode is present with 457.9 nm as well as 441.6 nm excitation and is at higher frequency (242-244 cm-1) than it is in the deoxy samples. Several porphyrin skeletal frequencies are also shifted in Hb* with respect to deoxy hemoglobin. These data are interpreted as resulting from perturbations on the ligand-free histidine-porphyrin complex by the liganded conformation of the heme pocket. We find no evidence that the dissociated CO molecule interacts with the heme in Hb*.

Nonequivalence of subunits in [15N]nitrosylhemoglobin Kansas. A single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance investigation.

EPR spectra of Hb15NO crystals of mutant Kansas (Asn G4(102) beta leads to Thr) have been recorded at every 5' intervals and in three orthogonal planes. The nitrosylhemes are nonequivalent for the alpha and beta subunits, their assignments are made possible by comparison with the powder EPR specrtra of Hb15NO of mutant Iwate (His F8(87)alpha leads to Tyr) (Trittelvitz, E., Gersonde, K., and Winterhalter, K.H. (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 51, 33-42). The EPR parameters for the beta-nitrosylhemes of Hb Kansas are: gxx=2.094 gyy=2.031, gzz=2.00, Azetazeta=11 G, Azetazeta=32.5 G, Aetaeta=12.5 G; the Fe-N-O bond angle is about 105 degrees. The paramters for the alpha-nitrosyl hemes are: gxx=2.058, gyy=2.021, gzz=1.977, Azetazeta=24.5 G, Azetazeta less than or equal to 5G, Aetaeta=23 G; the Fe-N-O bond angle is about 167 degrees. Hyperfine splittings of 7 to 8 gauss with 14Nepsilon atom of His(F8) were observed for the beta-nitrosylhemes; none was resolved for the alpha-nitrosylhemes. The results were interpreted to mean that the tension on the iron of the beta subunits is not large in the unliganded state and this tension was not greatly increased by the binding of nitric oxide in the strongly bent configuration. The tension at the iron in the deoxyhemoglobin is dominant at the alpha subunits. Binding of nitric oxide in this case causing either the breaking or great weakening of the Fe-His(F8) bond. The nitrosyl is in a nearly linear configuration. The unpaired electron densities at the nitrogen atom of the bound nitric oxide is about 63% for the beta-nitrosylheme and 37% for the alpha-nitrosylhemes.