Oxidation-reduction potential measurements of cytochrome c peroxidase and pH dependent spectral transitions in the ferrous enzyme

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1978 Nov 20;537(1):62-9. doi: 10.1016/0005-2795(78)90602-5.

Abstract

The redox potential of the ferrous/ferric couple in cytochrome c peroxidase has been measured as a function of pH between pH 4.5 and 8. The redox potential decreases linearly as a function of pH between pH 4.5 and 7 with a slope of --57 +/- 2 mV per pH unit. Above pH 7, there is a positive inflection in the midpoint potential versus pH plot attributed to an ionizable group in the ferrous enzyme with pKa of 7.6 +/- 0.1. The midpoint potential at pH 7 is--0.194 V relative to the standard hydrogen electrode at 25 degree C. Ferrocytochrome c peroxidase undergoes a reversible spectral transition as a function of pH. Below pH 7, the enzyme has a spectrum typical of high spin ferroheme proteins while above pH 8, the spectrum is typical of low spin ferroheme proteins. The transition is caused by a co-operative, two proton ionization with an apparent pKa of 7.7 +/- 0.2. Two other single proton ionizations cause minor perturbations to the spectrum of ferrocytochrome c peroxidase. One has a pKa of 5.7 +/- 0.2 while the second has a pKa of 9.4 +/- 0.2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cytochrome-c Peroxidase*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Iron
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Peroxidases*
  • Potentiometry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Iron
  • Peroxidases
  • Cytochrome-c Peroxidase