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F S Mathews

Publications and source records attributed to F S Mathews.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The structure of cytochrome b562 from Escherichia coli at 2.5 A resolution.

The structure of cytochrome b562 from Escherichia coli has been determined at 2.5 A resolution by x-ray diffraction methods. Protein phases were computed by the single isomorphous replacement method with anomalous scattering measurements from the native and uranyl acetate-substituted crystals. The electron density was averaged about the noncrystallographic 2-fold axis relating 2 molecules in the triclinic unit cell. The protein consists of four nearly parallel alpha helices and represents a new class of cytochrome structure. The heme group is inserted between the helices near one end of the molecule with one heme face partially exposed to solvent. The two heme ligands are histidine and methionine. The 2 phenylalanines are packed internally near the heme group, and the 2 tyrosines are on the surface, also near the heme group. The folding of the protein resembles that of hemerythrin and tobacco mosaic virus protein and shows a different topology from that of cytochrome b5, cytochrome c, or the globins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The structure of ferrocytochrome b5 at 2.8 A resolution.

Crystals of cytochrome b5 reduced by sodium dithionite are isomorphous with the oxidized form. An electron density difference map between the two forms was calculated at 2.8 A resolution. There are no changes in main chain conformation or internal side chain orientation upon reduction. However, an ion becomes attached at the entrance of the heme crevice causing displacement of a surface lysine side chain on an adjacent molecule. The ion, identified as a cation by the nature of its coordinating ligands, appears to neutralize one of the heme propionate groups which is partially buried. It is proposed that the negatively charged propionate serves to neutralize the net formal positive charge on the heme iron in the oxidized cytochrome and that the neutralization of the heme iron upon reduction then leads to binding of a cation to the propionate.

Animals↗