Electrostatic interactions in Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. Effects of Ca(II) and of anions not binding to the copper.

ABSTRACT

Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) from bovine erythrocyte was found to enhance Tb(III) luminescence in a way suggestive of the presence of specific sites binding calcium. Binding of Ca(II) had no effect on the enzyme activity. However, the low-temperature EPR spectra of the enzyme-bound copper were modified into a more axial line shape by Ca(II) and Tb(III), but not by other cations. This effect was not observed by room-temperature EPR and was interpreted as being due to a long-range conformational effect on the copper-binding site occurring on freezing when specific charged amino acid side-chains are neutralized. This interpretation is supported by similar effects observed with anions that neither have inhibitory effect on the activity nor bind to the copper. These results indicate the presence of specific electrostatic interactions of the protein moiety of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase and the occurrence of changes of the symmetry of the copper site when the protein is frozen under certain conditions.