title: Rack-induced bonding in blue-copper proteins.
abstract: The unique spectroscopic properties of blue-copper centers, i.e. the strong charge-transfer band at approximately 600 nm and the narrow hyperfine coupling in the EPR spectrum, are reviewed. The concept of rack-induced bonding is summarized. The tertiary structure of the protein creates a performed chelating site with very little flexibility, the geometry of which is in conflict with that preferred by Cu2+. The structure of the metal site in azurin is discussed. It is shown that the three strong ligands, one thiolate S and two imidazole N, are in a configuration intermediate between those preferred by Cu2+ and Cu+. It is emphasized that cysteine is an obligatory component of a blue site, whereas the weak interaction with a methionine S is not necessary. The minimum rack energy is estimated to be 70 kJ.mol-1. It is pointed out that the high reduction potentials of blue-copper centers are a result of the protein-forced ligand-field-destabilized site structure. It is suggested that the potentials are tuned by variations in pi back bonding, and this is supported by a linear increase in delta LF (ligand field) with decreasing electron-transfer enthalpy. Site-directed mutagenesis has shown that large hydrophobic residues in the site increase the potential, whereas negative groups or water decrease it. It is also shown that the fine-tuning of the properties of the metal site by rack-induced bonding can alter the electron-transfer reorganization energy. Kinetic results with azurin mutants support a through-bond tunneling mechanism for intramolecular electron transfer in proteins. Finally, it is pointed out that the concept of rack-induced bonding is a universal principle of macromolecular structure/function relationships, which should be applied also to other systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Malmström
mesh_terms: D001400:Azurin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D008667:Metalloproteins; D001400:Azurin; D003300:Copper