Q-band Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Research Articles

Primary donor triplet states of Photosystem I and II studied by Q-band pulse ENDOR spectroscopy

The photoexcited triplet state of the “primary donors” in the two photosystems of oxygenic photosynthesis has been investigated by means of electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) at Q-band (34 GHz). The data obtained represent the first set of 1H hyperfine coupling tensors of the 3P700 triplet state in PSI and expand the existing data set for 3P680. We achieved an extensive assignment of the observed electron-nuclear hyperfine coupling constants (hfcs) corresponding to the methine α-protons and the methyl group β-protons of the chlorophyll (Chl) macrocycle. The data clearly confirm that in both photosystems the primary donor triplet is located on one specific monomeric Chl at cryogenic temperature. In comparison to previous transient ENDOR and pulse ENDOR experiments at standard X-band (9–10 GHz), the pulse Q-band ENDOR spectra demonstrate both improved signal-to-noise ratio and increased resolution. The observed ENDOR spectra for 3P700 and 3P680 differ in terms of the intensity loss of lines from specific methyl group protons, which is explained by hindered methyl group rotation produced by binding site effects. Contact analysis of the methyl groups in the PSI crystal structure in combination with the ENDOR analysis of 3P700 suggests that the triplet is located on the Chl aʹ (PA) in PSI. The results also provide additional evidence for the localization of 3P680 on the accessory ChlD1 in PSII.

Influence of Ring-Expanded N-Heterocyclic Carbenes on the Structures of Half-Sandwich Ni(I) Complexes: An X-ray, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) Study.

Potassium graphite reduction of the half-sandwich Ni(II) ring-expanded diamino/diamidocarbene complexes CpNi(RE-NHC)Br gave the Ni(I) derivatives CpNi(RE-NHC) (where RE-NHC = 6-Mes (1), 7-Mes (2), 6-MesDAC (3)) in yields of 40%-50%. The electronic structures of paramagnetic 1-3 were investigated by CW X-/Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Q-band 1H electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. While small variations in the g-values were observed between the diaminocarbene complexes 1 and 2, pronounced changes in the g-values were detected between the almost isostructural species (1) and diamidocarbene species (3). These results highlight the sensitivity of the EPR g-tensor to changes in the electronic structure of the Ni(I) centers generated by incorporation of heteroatom substituents onto the backbone ring positions. Variable-temperature EPR analysis also revealed the presence of a second Ni(I) site in 3. The experimental g-values for these two Ni(I) sites detected by EPR in frozen solutions of 3 are consistent with resolution on the EPR time scale of the disordered components evident in the X-ray crystallographically determined structure and the corresponding density functional theory (DFT)-calculated g-tensor. Q-band 1H ENDOR measurements revealed a small amount of unpaired electron spin density on the Cp rings, consistent with the calculated SOMO of complexes 1-3. The magnitude of the 1H A values for 3 were also notably larger, compared to 1 and 2, again highlighting the influence of the diamidocarbene on the electronic properties of 3.

Nitrogen split interstitial center(N−N)Nin GaN: High frequency EPR and ENDOR study

The nitrogen split interstitial defect introduced by high-energy particle irradiation in n-type GaN has been investigated by very high (up to 324 GHz) frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Q-band electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. The increased resolution of the EPR spectra at 324 GHz has allowed us to determine the g-tensor anisotropy, which is not resolved at X or Q band. The good agreement of the principal values g(xx) = 1.9966, g(yy) = 2.0016, and g(zz) = 2.0036 with the theoretically predicted g tensor confirm the (N-N)(N)(0) defect model. The hyperfine interactions of this defect have been studied byQ-band ENDOR. We observed well-resolved ENDOR lines with distant Ga atoms from which the quadrupole coupling constants and the electrical field gradients were determined and discussed with the help of theoretical values. The observation of ENDOR spectra of the central N and Ga atoms predicted in the 20-90-MHz range required the use of field-frequency ENDOR due to the large linewidth of the ENDOR lines. Our results confirm the importance of the nitrogen split interstitial in particle irradiated GaN similar to the case of diamond and silicon carbide in which the stable configuration at room temperature of the carbon interstitials is also the split interstitial configuration.

The Basic Properties of the Electronic Structure of the Oxygen-evolving Complex of Photosystem II Are Not Perturbed by Ca2+ Removal

Ca(2+) is an integral component of the Mn(4)O(5)Ca cluster of the oxygen-evolving complex in photosystem II (PS II). Its removal leads to the loss of the water oxidizing functionality. The S(2)' state of the Ca(2+)-depleted cluster from spinach is examined by X- and Q-band EPR and (55)Mn electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. Spectral simulations demonstrate that upon Ca(2+) removal, its electronic structure remains essentially unaltered, i.e. that of a manganese tetramer. No redistribution of the manganese valence states and only minor perturbation of the exchange interactions between the manganese ions were found. Interestingly, the S(2)' state in spinach PS II is very similar to the native S(2) state of Thermosynechococcus elongatus in terms of spin state energies and insensitivity to methanol addition. These results assign the Ca(2+) a functional as opposed to a structural role in water splitting catalysis, such as (i) being essential for efficient proton-coupled electron transfer between Y(Z) and the manganese cluster and/or (ii) providing an initial binding site for substrate water. Additionally, a novel (55)Mn(2+) signal, detected by Q-band pulse EPR and ENDOR, was observed in Ca(2+)-depleted PS II. Mn(2+) titration, monitored by (55)Mn ENDOR, revealed a specific Mn(2+) binding site with a submicromolar K(D). Ca(2+) titration of Mn(2+)-loaded, Ca(2+)-depleted PS II demonstrated that the site is reversibly made accessible to Mn(2+) by Ca(2+) depletion and reconstitution. Mn(2+) is proposed to bind at one of the extrinsic subunits. This process is possibly relevant for the formation of the Mn(4)O(5)Ca cluster during photoassembly and/or D1 repair.

Binding of histidine in the (Cys)3(His)1-coordinated [2Fe-2S] cluster of human mitoNEET.

Human mitoNEET is a homodimeric iron-sulfur protein located in the outer mitochondrial membrane with unknown function, but which is known to interact with thiazolidinedione diabetes drugs. Each monomer houses a [2Fe-2S] cluster with an unusual (Cys)(3)(His)(1) ligation. The His ligand is important for enabling cluster release and for tuning the redox potential. We use multifrequency (X-, Ka-, and Q-band) and multitechnique (continuous-wave, electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM), pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), and hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE)) electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the cluster in its paramagnetic reduced [Fe(2+)Fe(3+)] (S = 1/2) state. It has a rhombic g tensor (2.007, 1.937, 1.897) with an average g value of 1.947 that falls between those of Rieske-type and ferredoxin-type [2Fe-2S] clusters. Simulation and least-squares fitting of orientation-selective Ka- and Q-band ENDOR, 1D ESEEM, and HYSCORE spectra of (14)N and (15)N-labeled mitoNEET yield the principal values and orientations of both the hyperfine tensor ((14)N, A(iso) = -6.25 MHz, T = -0.94 MHz) and the quadrupolar tensor (e(2)Qq/h = -2.47 MHz, eta = 0.38) of the ligating histidine nitrogen N(delta). From these, we can infer the absolute g tensor orientation with respect to the cluster: The g(2) axis is close to perpendicular to the [2Fe-2S] plane, and g(1) and g(3) are in-plane, but skewed from the Fe-Fe and S-S axes. In X-band ENDOR and ESEEM spectra, a weakly coupled nitrogen is visible, most likely the N(epsilon) of the histidine in the protonated state. We find that the cluster is in a valence-localized state, where Fe(2+) is His-bound. The field-sweep spectra show evidence of intercluster dipolar coupling that can be simulated using an uncoupled spin model for each cluster (S(Fe(2+)) = 2, S(Fe(3+)) = 5/2). The parameters determined in this work can function as reporters on how the cluster structure is altered upon pH changes and drug binding.

Multi-frequency high-field EPR study of (H +)(e −) pairs localized at the surface of polycrystalline MgO

The g-tensor of excess electron centres (H +)(e −) generated at the surface of polycrystalline MgO has been determined by multi-frequency, high-field electron-paramagnetic resonance (EPR) performed at 9.5, 34, 190 and 285 GHz. The A tensor for the interacting 1H was also determined by complementary Q-band electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR). Due to the high spectral resolution the anisotropy of the g-tensor could be fully resolved in the powder continuous-wave EPR spectrum. Computer simulation of the experimental data revealed small g-tensor anisotropies: Δ g x = −0.00294, Δ g y = −0.00286, Δ g z = −0.00101, with Δ g i = g i − 2.0023.

Phylloquinone and Related Radical Anions Studied by Pulse Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Spectroscopy at 34 GHz and Density Functional Theory

1H hyperfine (hf) coupling constants of semiquinone radical anions of 1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, and 2-methyl-3-phytyl-1,4-naphthoquinone in frozen alcoholic solutions were measured using pulse Q-band electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy. The resolved signals of the quinone protons as well as from hydrogen bond and solvent shell protons were analyzed and assigned. Both in-plane and out-of-plane hydrogen bonding with respect to the pi-plane of the radical is observed. Interactions with nonexchangeable protons from the surrounding matrix are detected and assigned to solvent protons above and below the quinone plane. Density functional theory was used to calculate spin Hamiltonian parameters of the radical anions. Solvent molecules of the first solvent shell that provide hydrogen bonds to the quinones were included in the geometry optimization. The conductor-like screening model was employed to introduce additional effects of the solvent cage. From a comparison of the experimental and calculated hf tensors it is concluded that four solvent molecules are coordinated via hydrogen bonds to the quinone oxygens. For all radicals very good agreement between experimental and calculated data is observed. The influence of different substituents on the spin density distribution and hydrogen bond geometries is discussed.

ENDOR of NO-Ligated Cytochromec‘

The five-coordinate NO-bound heme in cytochrome c' from an overexpressing variant of denitrifying R. sphaeroides 2.4.3 was investigated by proton, nitrogen, and deuterium Q-band ENDOR (electron nuclear double resonance). ENDOR was a direct probe of the unpaired electron density on the nitrogen of NO and, as measured across the EPR line shape, showed a hyperfine coupling range from 36 to 44 MHz for 14NO and 51 to 63 MHz for 15NO. The smallest NO coupling occurred at an electronic g-tensor axis perpendicular to the FeNO plane, and the largest hyperfine coupling occurred in the FeNO plane where the highest nitrogen valence spin density is located. The isotropic component of the NO hyperfine coupling indicated that the electron spin on the NO is not simply in a pi orbital having only 2p character but is in an orbital having 2s and 2p character in a 1:2 ratio. ENDOR frequencies from heme meso-protons, assigned with reference to porphyrin models, were determined to result from an anisotropic hyperfine tensor. This tensor indicated the orientation of the heme with respect to the FeNO plane and showed that the FeNO plane bisects the heme N-Fe-N 90 degrees angle. ENDOR provided additional structural information through dipolar couplings, as follows: (1) to the nearest proton of the Phe14 ring, approximately 3.1 A away from the heme iron, where Phe14 is positioned to occlude binding of NO as a 6th (distal) ligand; (2) to exchangeable deuterons assigned to Arg127 which may H-bond with the proximal NO ligand.

Role of the Coordinating Histidine in Altering the Mixed Valency of Cu A: An Electron Nuclear Double Resonance-Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Investigation

The binuclear Cu A site engineered into Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin has provided a Cu A-azurin with a well-defined crystal structure and a CuSSCu core having two equatorial histidine ligands, His120 and His46. The mutations His120Asn and His120Gly were made at the equatorial His120 ligand to understand the histidine-related modulation to Cu A, notably to the valence delocalization over the CuSSCu core. For these His120 mutants Q-band electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) (X, C, and S-band), all carried out under comparable cryogenic conditions, have provided markedly different electronic measures of the mutation-induced change. Q-band ENDOR of cysteine C β protons, of weakly dipolar-coupled protons, and of the remaining His46 nitrogen ligand provided hyperfine couplings that were like those of other binuclear mixed-valence Cu A systems and were essentially unperturbed by the mutation at His120. The ENDOR findings imply that the Cu A core electronic structure remains unchanged by the His120 mutation. On the other hand, multifrequency EPR indicated that the H120N and H120G mutations had changed the EPR hyperfine signature from a 7-line to a 4-line pattern, consistent with trapped-valence, Type 1 mononuclear copper. The multifrequency EPR data imply that the electron spin had become localized on one copper by the His120 mutation. To reconcile the EPR and ENDOR findings for the His120 mutants requires that either: if valence localization to one copper has occurred, the spin density on the cysteine sulfurs and the remaining histidine (His46) must remain as it was for a delocalized binuclear Cu A center, or if valence delocalization persists, the hyperfine coupling for one copper must markedly diminish while the overall spin distribution on the CuSSCu core is preserved.

Q-band electron nuclear double-resonance detection of the cation vacancies near thecis−[RhCl6]4−⋅2Vaccomplex in NaCl

A low spin ${d}^{7}{\mathrm{Rh}}^{2+}$ center in NaCl with nearly axial symmetry is studied using Q-band electron nuclear double resonance. The analysis of the interaction of the unpaired electron with the first shell ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ions along the ${g}_{z}$ axis of the complex proves that the center has ${C}_{2v}$ symmetry, strongly supporting its identification as a $[{\mathrm{RhCl}}_{6}{]}^{4\ensuremath{-}}$ complex accompanied by two next-nearest-neighbor cation vacancies in a cis configuration. In addition, the twofold symmetry axis of this complex is identified as the g tensor axis corresponding to the largest principal g value. The magnetic resonance properties of this center can be explained by assuming that the central ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{2+}$ ion exhibits an off-center displacement toward the cation vacancies.

Detection of charge compensating cation vacancies near Rh2+ complexes in AgCl and NaCl using Q-band ENDOR

The effect of a charge compensating next nearest neighbour (nnn) cation vacancy on the electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectrum of a [RhCl6]4− complex in AgCl and NaCl single crystals is studied at Q-band. The Rh2+ ion has a low spin 4d7 ground state configuration and at low temperature, the complex undergoes an elongation along a crystal [001] direction (gz axis). The unpaired electron strongly interacts with two equivalent Cl− ions along the elongation axis. The electron nuclear double resonance spectrum of these axial Cl− ions is clearly separated from all other interactions. The Q-band ENDOR analysis reveals a tilt in the (010) plane of the superhyperfine and quadrupole tensors for this interaction, due to the presence of the nnn cation vacancy on the axis. The tilt can be directly observed in the spectra through a splitting of the ENDOR transitions recorded in this plane and may be regarded as a fingerprint for the presence of the vacancy.

Mn2+ Sites in the Hammerhead Ribozyme Investigated by EPR and Continuous-Wave Q-band ENDOR Spectroscopies

Metal ions are critical to the structure and function of many RNA molecules, but measuring detailed coordination environments in RNA is challenging under solution conditions. The phosphodiester bond cleavage reaction of the hammerhead ribozyme is activated by Mn2+, which provides a paramagnetic probe for EPR-based spectroscopic techniques. In this study, EPR and continuous-wave Q-band (34 GHz) electron nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopies have been used to investigate the coordination environment of a high-affinity Mn2+ site in the hammerhead ribozyme. Small changes in low-temperature X-band EPR signals are detected as signatures of Mn2+ ions in the RNA binding pocket. 1H and 31P Q-band ENDOR spectra are presented for Mn−hammerhead and Mn−nucleotide model complexes. The 31P ENDOR data allow discrimination between direct Mn2+−phosphodiester coordination versus coordination through a hydrogen-bonded water molecule. Observation of hyperfine-coupled 31P (A(31P) ∼4 MHz) provides evidence for direct coordination to a phosphodiester group in the hammerhead Mn2+ site. Exchangeable protons from aqueous ligands and nonexchangeable protons from base ligands also are examined for the Mn−nucleotide and Mn−ribozyme complexes. These signals indicate an ordered site for Mn2+ in the hammerhead ribozyme and allow the ligand environment to be predicted, demonstrating the potential of ENDOR spectroscopy as a probe of RNA−metal interactions.

Role of the nonheme Fe(II) center in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone ethylene.

The final step of ethylene biosynthesis in plants is catalyzed by the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase (ACCO). In addition to ACC, Fe(II), O2, CO2, and ascorbate are required for in vitro enzyme activity. Direct evidence for the role of the Fe(II) center in the recombinant avocado ACCO has now been obtained through formation of enzyme.(substrate or cofactor).NO complexes. These NO adducts convert the normally EPR-silent ACCO complexes into EPR-active species with structural properties similar to those of the corresponding O2 complexes. It is shown here that the ternary Fe(II)ACCO.ACC.NO complex is readily formed, but no Fe(II)ACCO.ascorbate.NO complex could be observed, suggesting that ascorbate and NO are mutually exclusive in the active site. The binding modes of ACC and the structural analog alanine specifically labeled with 15N or 17O were examined by using Q-band electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR). The data indicate that these molecules bind directly to the iron through both the alpha-amino and alpha-carboxylate groups. These observations are inconsistent with the currently favored mechanism for ACCO, in which it is proposed that both ascorbate and O2 bind to the iron as a step in O2 activation. We propose a different mechanism in which the iron serves instead to simultaneously bind ACC and O2, thereby fixing their relative orientations and promoting electron transfer between them to initiate catalysis.

Pulsed ENDOR and ESEEM Study of [Bis(maleonitriledithiolato)nickel](-): An Investigation into the Ligand Electronic Structure.

By a combination of Q-band pulsed ENDOR (electron nuclear double resonance) and X-band ESEEM (electron stimulated echo envelope modulation) techniques, we have determined the hyperfine tensors for ethylene (C1) and cyano (C2) carbons and N, of [Ni(mnt)(2)](-), along with the quadrupole tensor for nitrogen. These measurements give pi electron spin densities of rho(C1) approximately 0.03 in the C1 2p(z)() orbital, rho(C2) < 0.003, rho(N) approximately 0.01, such that in total, approximately 0.15 of the spin resides on the ligand atoms C and N, while the rest resides in the NiS(4) core, giving rho(NiS(4)(-)) = 0.85. These results are compared with extended Hückel and density functional (BLYP) MO calculations, as well as with Xalpha calculations reported earlier.

Q-band Electron Nuclear Double Resonance of Ferric Bleomycin and Activated Bleomycin Complexes with DNA: Fe(III) Hyperfine Interaction with 31P and DNA-Induced Perturbation to Bleomycin Structure

Q-band electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) has measured anisotropic, distance-dependent dipolar hyperfine couplings from iron in ferric bleomycin [Fe(III)-BLM] and in activated bleomycin [Act...

Metal-Ion Valencies of the FeMo Cofactor in CO-Inhibited and Resting State Nitrogenase by 57Fe Q-Band ENDOR

The resting state of nitrogenase shows an S = 3/2 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal resulting from the FeMo-cofactor (M-center; inorganic portion, [Mo, Fe7, S9]) of the MoFe-protein. When the enzyme undergoes turnover under a CO atmosphere, this signal disappears and two new ones appear: one under low pressure of CO (denoted lo-CO; 0.08 atm) with g = [2.09, 1.97, 1.93] and the other under high pressure of CO (denoted hi-CO; 0.5 atm) with g = [2.06, 2.06, 2.17]. Our recent Q-band (35 GHz) 57Fe and 13C electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) studies clearly identified [FeMo-cofactor][CO]n, as the origin of the EPR signals from both lo-CO (n = 1) and hi-CO (n = 2) [Christie, P. D.; Lee, H. I.; Cameron, L. M.; Hales, B. J.; Orme-Johnson, W. H.; Hoffman, B. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 8707−8709 and Pollack, R. C.; Lee, H. I.; Cameron, L. M.; Derose, V. J.; Hales, B. J.; Orme-Johnson, W. H.; Hoffman, B. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 8686−8687], and a previous paper discusses CO binding in detail [Lee, H. I.; Cameron, L. M.; Hales, B. J.; Hoffman, B. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 10121−10126]. We now present complete orientation-selective 57Fe ENDOR measurements of the CO-bound FeMo-cofactor in both lo- and hi-CO forms of the MoFe-protein from Azotobacter vinelandii. The 57Fe ENDOR signals associated with the seven Fe ions of the FeMo-cofactor of lo-CO can be completely assigned and interpreted in terms of four magnetically distinct iron signals. Analysis of these signals following the procedures of Mouesca et al. [Mouesca, J.-M.; Noodleman, L.; Case, D. A.; Lamotte, B. Inorg. Chem. 1995, 34, 4347−4359] has led us to propose valence assignments and charges for the cofactor cluster, [Mo, Fe7, S9]+ = [Mo4+, Fe3+1, Fe2+6, S2-9]+, organized into one Fe2.5+ pair and five Fe2+ ions, [Mo4+, (2Fe2.5+)1, Fe2+5, S2-9]+. The result is a formal d-electron count of 43. ENDOR and functional studies indicate that the lo-CO, hi-CO, and resting states of the M-center are all at the same oxidation level. Hence, the proposed valency assignments apply to all three states.

CO Binding to the FeMo Cofactor of CO-Inhibited Nitrogenase: 13CO and 1H Q-Band ENDOR Investigation

The resting state of nitrogenase shows an S = 3/2 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal resulting from the FeMo-cofactor (MoFe7S9:homocitrate) of the MoFe protein. When the enzyme undergoes turnover under a CO atmosphere, this signal disappears and two new ones appear: one under low pressure of CO (denoted lo-CO; 0.08 atm) and the other under high pressure of CO (denoted hi-CO; 0.5 atm). Our recent Q-band (35 GHz) 13C and 57Fe electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) studies demonstrated that one CO is bound to the FeMo-cofactor of lo-CO and two to the cofactor of hi-CO. [Christie, P. D.; Lee, H. I.; Cameron, L. M.; Hales, B. J.; Orme-Johnson, W. H.; Hoffman, B. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 8707−8709. Pollack, R. C.; Lee, H. I.; Cameron, L. M.; DeRose, V. J.; Hales, B. J.; Orme-Johnson, W. H.; Hoffman, B. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 8686−8687.] In the present report, we examine the CO-bound FeMo-cofactor in both the lo- and hi-CO forms of the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii by complete orientation-selective 13C and 1H ENDOR measurements. 1H ENDOR studies reveal that well-resolved signals from a solvent-exchangeable proton seen in the resting state FeMo-cofactor are lost in both of the CO-inhibited forms, indicating a loss in hydrogen bonding as compared to the resting state. This supports the hypothesis that CO binds near the “waist” of the cofactor. Determination of 13C hyperfine tensors of bound 13CO to lo-CO and hi-CO leads to the suggestion that the single CO bound to the FeMo-cofactor of lo-CO may bridge or semibridge two iron ions, while each of the two CO bound to hi-CO is a terminal ligand. These ENDOR measurements and recent FTIR results of Thorneley and co-workers [George, S. J.; Ashby, G. A.; Wharton, C. W.; Thorneley, R. N. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 6450−6451] provide strong mutual support.

Q-band Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) and X-band EPR of the Sulfobetaine 12 Heat-treated Cytochrome c Oxidase Complex

Heat treatment of the bovine cytochrome c oxidase complex in the zwitterionic detergent sulfobetaine 12 (SB-12) results in loss of subunit III and the appearance of a type II copper center as characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Previous authors (Nilsson, T., Copeland, R. A., Smith, P. A., and Chan, S. I. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 8254-8260) have interpreted this type II copper center as a modified version of the CuA site. By using electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy, it is found that the CuA proton and nitrogen resonances remain present in the SB-12 heat-treated enzyme and that three new nitrogen resonances appear having hyperfine coupling constants consistent with histidine ligation. These hyperfine coupling constants correlate well with those recently found for the CuB histidines from the cytochrome aa(3)-600 quinol oxidase from Bacillus subtilis (Fann, Y. C., Ahmed, I., Blackburn, N. J., Boswell, J. S., Verkhovskaya, M. L., Hoffman, B. M., and Wikstr9om, M. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 10245-10255). In addition, the total EPR-detectable copper concentration per enzyme molecule approximately doubles upon SB-12 heat treatment. Finally, the observed type II copper EPR spectrum is virtually indistinguishable from the EPR spectrum of CuB of the as-isolated cytochrome bo3 complex from Escherichia coli. These data indicate that the type II copper species that appears results from a breaking of the strong antiferromagnetic coupling of the heme a3-CuB binuclear center.

Compound ES of Cytochrome c Peroxidase Contains a Trp .pi.-Cation Radical: Characterization by Continuous Wave and Pulsed Q-Band External Nuclear Double Resonance Spectroscopy

The fully oxidized state of cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP), called ES, contains two oxidizing equivalents, one as an oxyferryl heme and the other as an organic radical on an amino acid residue. The unusual electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of ES has been shown to be due to a weak distributed exchange coupling between the two paramagnetic redox centers. Various residues have been proposed as the radical site over the years. In this paper continuous wave and pulsed Q-band electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy confirms that the radical is located on Trp-191, as previously proposed. The paper completes the characterization of the active site of compound ES as being comprized of an oxyferryl heme coupled to the Trp-191 {pi}-cation radical by a weak spin exchange. 47 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.

95/00288 Monopoly issue emerges as political bombshell

The g-tensor of excess electron centres (H+)(e−) generated at the surface of polycrystalline MgO has been determined by multi-frequency, high-field electron-paramagnetic resonance (EPR) performed at 9.5, 34, 190 and 285 GHz. The A tensor for the interacting 1H was also determined by complementary Q-band electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR). Due to the high spectral resolution the anisotropy of the g-tensor could be fully resolved in the powder continuous-wave EPR spectrum. Computer simulation of the experimental data revealed small g-tensor anisotropies: Δgx = −0.00294, Δgy = −0.00286, Δgz = −0.00101, with Δgi = gi − 2.0023.