RESUMO
Haemoglobins have the ability to discriminate between oxygen and other diatomic molecules. To further understanding of this process the X-ray crystal structures of carbonmonoxy and nitrosyl-leghaemoglobin have been determined at 1.8 A resolution. The ligand geometry is discussed in detail and the controversial issue of bent versus linear carbon monoxide binding is addressed. The bond angle of 160 degrees for CO-leghaemoglobin is in conflict with recent spectroscopy results on myoglobin but is consistent with angles obtained for myoglobin X-ray crystal structures. In contrast to the numerous carbon monoxide studies, very little stereochemical information is available for the nitric oxide adduct of haemoglobin. This is provided by the X-ray structure of NO-leghaemoglobin, which conforms to expected geometry with an Fe-NO angle of 147 degrees and a lengthened iron-proximal histidine bond. Thus crystallographic evidence is given for the predicted weakening of this bond on the binding of nitric oxide.
Assuntos
Monóxido de Carbono/metabolismo , Leghemoglobina/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Sítios de Ligação , Monóxido de Carbono/química , Cristalografia por Raios X , Eletroquímica , Fabaceae/metabolismo , Heme/química , Cinética , Leghemoglobina/química , Ligantes , Modelos Moleculares , Estrutura Molecular , Óxido Nítrico/química , Plantas Medicinais , Ligação Proteica , Estrutura Secundária de ProteínaRESUMO
The leghaemoglobins have oxygen affinities 11 to 24 times higher than that of sperm whale myoglobin, due mainly to higher rates of association. To find out why, we have determined the structures of deoxy- and oxy-leghaemoglobin II of the lupin at 1.7 A resolution. Results confirm the general features found in previous X-ray analyses of this protein. The unique feature that has now emerged is the rotational freedom of the proximal histidine. In deoxy-leghaemoglobin the imidazole oscillates between two alternative orientations, eclipsing either the lines N1-N3 or N2-N4 of the porphyrin; in oxy-leghaemoglobin it is fixed in a staggered orientation. The iron atom moves from a position 0.30 A from the plane of the pyrrole nitrogen atoms in deoxy- to a position in the plane in oxy-leghaemoglobin while the Fe-
Assuntos
Fabaceae/química , Leghemoglobina/análogos & derivados , Leghemoglobina/química , Leghemoglobina/metabolismo , Plantas Medicinais , Cristalografia por Raios X , Globinas/química , Modelos Moleculares , Oxirredução , Oxigênio/química , Oxigênio/metabolismo , Conformação ProteicaRESUMO
A kinetic characterization was performed for inorganic pyrophosphatase from Thermus thermophilus. The optimum activity with Mg2+ as the activating metal ion lies in a pH range between 8.3 and 9.5. The hydrolysis of inorganic pyrophosphate is also activated by Zn2+, Mn2+, and Co2+. Calcium ions are not activating at all. Tripolyphosphate is another substrate hydrolyzed by the enzyme but only with Zn2+ as the activating metal ion. Other potential substrates like ATP and cyclic metaphosphates are not hydrolyzed even at high enzyme concentrations. Computer modelling of kinetic data obtained from activity measurements with different total magnesium ion and pyrophosphate concentrations confirms a kinetic model which was shown to be valid also for inorganic pyrophosphatases from other microbial sources. The corresponding parameter values are given. The inorganic pyrophosphatase from T. thermophilus exhibits extremely high thermostability which is decreased by addition of EDTA indicating a stabilizing effect of divalent metal ions.