title: High Cu(I) and low proton affinities of the CXXC motif of Bacillus subtilis CopZ.
abstract: CopZ, an Atx1-like copper chaperone from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, functions as part of a complex cellular machinery for Cu(I) trafficking and detoxification, in which it interacts specifically with the transmembrane Cu(I)-transporter CopA. Here we demonstrate that the cysteine residues of the MXCXXC Cu(I)-binding motif of CopZ have low proton affinities, with both exhibiting pK(a) values of 6 or below. Chelator competition experiments demonstrated that the protein binds Cu(I) with extremely high affinity, with a small but significant pH-dependence over the range pH 6.5-8.0. From these data, a pH-corrected formation constant, beta(2)= approximately 6 x 10(22) M(-2), was determined. Rapid exchange of Cu(I) between CopZ and the Cu(I)-chelator BCS (bathocuproine disulfonate) indicated that the mechanism of exchange does not involve simple dissociation of Cu(I) from CopZ (or BCS), but instead proceeds via the formation of a transient Cu(I)-mediated protein-chelator complex. Such a mechanism has similarities to the Cu(I)-exchange pathway that occurs between components of copper-trafficking pathways.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: Nick E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Le Brun
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011522:Protons; D003300:Copper