Tuning the geometries of a de novo blue copper protein by axial interactions

J Biol Inorg Chem. 2012 Oct;17(7):1025-31. doi: 10.1007/s00775-012-0916-x. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

Abstract

The axial interactions of Cu(2+) in type 1 copper proteins control the physical characteristics of the proteins. We tuned the geometries of a de novo designed blue copper protein with a four-helical bundle structure. The designed protein axially bound various ligands, such as chloride, phosphate, sulfate, acetate, azide, and imidazole, to Cu(2+), exhibiting a blue or green color. The UV-vis spectral bands were observed at approximately 600 nm and approximately 450 nm, with the A (~450)/A (~600) ratios between 0.14 and 1.58. The stronger axial interaction shifted the geometry of the type 1 copper site from trigonal planar geometry (blue copper) toward a tetrahedral-like geometry (green copper). Resonance Raman spectral analyses showed that the phosphate-bound type had the highest-strength Cu-S bond, similar to that of plastocyanin. The chloride-bound type exhibited features similar to those of stellacyanin and nitrite reductase, and the imidazole-bound type exhibited features similar to those of azurin M121E mutant.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Azides / chemistry
  • Binding Sites
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Color
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Sequence Data

Substances

  • Azides
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Ligands
  • copper-binding protein