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The intrinsic protein fluorescence of dopamine beta-monooxygenase (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine, ascorbate:oxygen oxidoreductase (beta-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.17.1) has been characterized. The fluorescence is dominated by emission from tryptophans in a hydrophobic environment. Changes in the conformation of the enzyme induced by anions, pH changes, metal-chelating agents and Cu2+ have been determined. Conformational transitions induced by anions take place at concentrations between 0.05 and 0.2 M. Most anions give rise to a blue-shift, while ClO4- induces a red-shift of the emission spectrum. pH dependence of the protein fluorescence revealed a conformational change between pH 6.0 and 5.0. The interactions between dopamine beta-monooxygenase and seven different metal-chelating agents have been investigated using protein fluorescence, heat inactivation, and inhibition measurements. All the metal-chelating agents are able to remove the active-site copper as demonstrated by complete inhibition of enzyme activity, restoration of activity by the addition of copper, and the observation that the enzyme becomes more sensitive to heat inactivation in the presence of chelating agents, thus behaving similarly to the copper-free apoenzyme. The charge and size of the chelating agents are of importance for the reaction with the active-site copper, which is consistent with a mechanism for removal of the copper, including a ternary enzyme-copper chelating agent complex. By contrast, under turnover conditions in the presence of substrates, dissociation of the active-site copper and chelation of the free copper is a dominating mechanism. Three distinct conformations were characterized on the basis of the fluorescence spectra and the degree of quenching by Cu2+ and I-. For the copper-free apoenzyme a unique binding site for binding of the first copper was demonstrated by larger quenching of the protein fluorescence than for binding of additional copper.

A direct spectrophotometric method was used for detection of the ascorbate free radical formed during enzyme catalysis with dopamine beta-monooxygenase and with ascorbate oxidase. The optical absorption spectra in the range of 330-390 nm for the free radical formed by either of these enzymes were quite similar to the previously reported spectrum from pulse radiolysis experiments. The second order rate constant for dismutation of the radical generated by dopamine beta-monooxygenase at 23 degrees C was estimated from the levels of radical in the steady state, and the values of 2.4 .10(-6) M-1 . s-1 at pH 7.0 and 9.7 . 10(-6) M-1 . s-1 at pH 6.0 were in close agreement with reported values from experiments in which the radical had been generated with ascorbate oxidase or with pulse radiolysis. Moreover, the steady state radical levels at different levels of dopamine beta-monooxygenase or its substrate tyramine were also those predicted by a mechanism of nonenzymic dismutation of the radical. We conclude, in agreement with our earlier report with the cytochrome c scavenger method, that the radical is not an enzyme-bound intermediate, but a product of dopamine beta-monooxygenase catalysis.

The catalytically inactive complex generated by the combination of the Azotobacter vinelandii MoFe protein (Av1) and the Clostridium pasteurianum Fe protein (Cp2) inhibits N2 reduction, C2H3 reduction, H+ reduction and ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by the homologous nitrogenases. Kinetic data indicate that the inactive complex consists of two molecules of Cp2 to one molecule of Av1, with values for the inhibitor constant in the range of 1--10 nM. Inhibition of C. pasteurianum nitrogenase by Av1 produces a lag phase in acetylene reduction that increases with increasing Av1. The lag phase is found only at levels of Av1 sufficient to keep the ratio of Cp2 : Cp1 lower than 2. Gel filtration of a mixture of Av1 and Cp2 provides evidence for complex formation and indicates that each Av1 molecule binds more than one Cp2 molecule. The Av1-Cp2 complex binds two molecules of MgATP per molecule of Cp2. MgATP is not required for complex formation, but complex formation lowers the MgATP-Cp2 dissociation constant approx. 3-fold. Av1 protects the iron-sulfur center in Cp2 completely against the MgATP-induced reaction with chelators. This provides additional evidence for formation of the Av1-Cp2 complex and together with the results of the MgATP-binding studies suggests that the two binding sites for MgATP are some distance away from the iron-sulfur site on Cp2.

Native ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum proved to be resistant to proteolytic cleavage under anaerobic conditions, but was digested in the presence of air. Apoferredoxin was hydrolyzed by the proteinases used, while cobalt-substituted ferredoxin was resistant both under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. These studies indicate that metal binding of the protein stabilizes the folded state, which is extremely resistant to proteolytic attack. Sulfitolyzed apoferredoxin was subjected to specific cleavage by pepsin at pH 3.2, yielding two fragments. The fragments could be reconstituted to an unstable holoprotein with UV-visible absorption features like that of the native form.