title: Electron transfer to the active site of the bacterial nitric oxide reductase is controlled by ligand binding to heme b₃.
abstract: The active site of the bacterial nitric oxide reductase from Paracoccus denitrificans contains a dinuclear centre comprising heme b₃ and non heme iron (Fe(B)). These metal centres are shown to be at isopotential with midpoint reduction potentials of E(m) ≈ +80 mV. The midpoint reduction potentials of the other two metal centres in the enzyme, heme c and heme b, are greater than the dinuclear centre suggesting that they act as an electron receiving/storage module. Reduction of the low-spin heme b causes structural changes at the dinuclear centre which allow access to substrate molecules. In the presence of the substrate analogue, CO, the midpoint reduction potential of heme b₃ is raised to a region similar to that of heme c and heme b. This leads us to suggest that reduction of the electron transfer hemes leads to an opening of the active site which allows substrate to bind and in turn raises the reduction potential of the active site such that electrons are only delivered to the active site following substrate binding.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences and School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR47TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Roldan
authors.forename: Sophie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Marritt
authors.forename: Julea N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Watmough
mesh_terms: D020134:Catalytic Domain; D004579:Electron Transport; D006418:Heme / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008024:Ligands; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010231:Paracoccus denitrificans / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D006418:Heme; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C034747:nitric-oxide reductase