Ligand Binding and Structural Perturbations in Cytochrome c Peroxidase

Crystal structures of the complexes formed between cytochrome c peroxidase and cyanide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, apd fluoride have been determined and refined to 1.85 A. In all four complexes significant changes occur in the distal heme pocket due to movement of Arg-48, His-52, and a rearrangement of active site water molecules. In the cyanide, nitric oxide, and carbon monoxide complexes, Arg-48 moves away from the ligand while in the fluoride complex Arg-48 moves in toward the ligand to form a hydrogen bond or ion pair with the fluoride. More subtle changes occur on the proximal side of the heme. In an earlier study at lower resolution (Edwards, S. L., Kraut, J., and Poulos, T. L. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 8074-8081), we found that nitric oxide binding causes perturbations in the proximal domain involving Trp-191 which has been confirmed by the present study. Trp-191 is stacked parallel to and in contact with the proximal ligand, His175. Nitric oxide binding results in a slight movement of Trp-191 away from His-175 and a large increase in crystallographic temperature factors indicating increased mobility of these residues on the proximal side of the heme. These proximal-side changes are unique to nitric oxide and are not related strictly to spin-state or oxidation state of the iron atom since similar changes were not observed in the cyanide (lowspin ferric), carbon monoxide (low-spin ferrous), or fluoride (high-spin ferric) complexes.