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M Tegoni

Publications and source records attributed to M Tegoni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning and bacterial expression of a general odorant-binding protein from the cabbage armyworm Mamestra brassicae.

A cDNA clone encoding a general odorant-binding protein (GOBP2) was isolated from antennal RNA of Mamestra brassicae by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and RACE-PCR. The cDNA encoding the GOBP2 was further used for bacterial expression. Most of the recombinant GOBP2 (>90%) was found to be insoluble. Purification under denaturing conditions consisted of solubilisation of inclusion bodies, affinity chromatography, refolding and gel filtration. The refolded rGOBP2 was cross-reactive with a serum raised against the GOBP2 of the Lepidoptera Antheraea polyphemus. The purified refolded rGOBP2 was further characterised by native PAGE, IEF, N-terminal sequencing, and two-dimensional NMR. A functional characterisation of the rGOBP2 was carried out by testing its ability to bind pheromone compounds. The yields of production and purification fulfil the requirements of structural studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Kinetics and interaction studies between cytochrome c3 and Fe-only hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough.

Hydrogenases from Desulfovibrio are found to catalyze hydrogen uptake with low potential multiheme cytochromes, such as cytochrome c3, acting as acceptors. The production of Fe-only hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough was improved with respect to the growth phase and media to determine the best large-scale bacteria growth conditions. The interaction and electron transfer from Fe-only hydrogenase to multiheme cytochrome has been studied in detail by both BLAcore and steady-state measurements. The electron transfer between [Fe] hydrogenase and cytochrome c3 appears to be a cooperative phenomenon (h = 1.37). This behavior could be related to the conductivity properties of multihemic cytochromes. An apparent dissociation constant was determined (2 x 10(-7) M). The importance of the cooperativity for contrasting models proposed to describe the functional role of the hydrogenase/cytochrome c3 complex is discussed. Presently, the only determined structure is from [NiFe] hydrogenase and there are no obvious similarities between [NiFe] and [Fe] hydrogenase. Furthermore, no crystallographic data are available concerning [Fe] hydrogenase. The first results on crystallization and X-ray crystallography are reported.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed1998

Conformational changes occurring upon reduction and NO binding in nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Nitrite reductase (NiR) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EC 1.9.3.2) (NiR-Pa) is a soluble enzyme catalyzing the reduction of nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO). The enzyme is a 120 kDa homodimer, in which each monomer carries one c and one d1 heme. The oxidized and reduced forms of NiR from Paracoccus denitrificans GB17 (previously called Thiosphaera pantotropha) (NiR-Pd) have been described [Fülop, V., et al. (1995) Cell 81, 369-377; Williams, P. A., et al. (1997) Nature 389, 406-412], and we recently reported on the structure of oxidized NiR-Pa at 2.15 A [Nurizzo, D., et al. (1997) Structure 5, 1157-1171]. Although the domains carrying the d1 heme are almost identical in both NiR-Pa and NiR-Pd oxidized and reduced structures, the c heme domains show a different pattern of c heme coordination, depending on the species and the redox state. The sixth d1 heme ligand in oxidized NiR-Pd was found to be Tyr25, whereas in NiR-Pa, the homologuous Tyr10 does not interact directly with Fe3+, but via a hydroxide ion. Furthermore, upon reduction, the axial ligand of the c heme of NiR-Pd changes from His17 to Met108. Finally, in the oxidized NiR-Pa structure, the N-terminal stretch of residues (1-29) of one monomer interacts with the other monomer (domain swapping), which does not occur in NiR-Pd. Here the structure of reduced NiR-Pa is described both in the unbound form and with the physiological product, NO, bound at the d1 heme active site. Although both structures are similar to that of reduced NiR-Pd, significant differences with respect to oxidized NiR-Pd were observed in two regions: (i) a loop in the c heme domain (residues 56-62) is shifted 6 A away and (ii) the hydroxide ion, which is the sixth coordination ligand of the heme, is removed upon reduction and NO binding and the Tyr10 side chain rotates away from the position adopted in the oxidized form. The conformational changes observed in NiR-Pa as the result of reduction are less extensive than those occurring in NiR-Pd. Starting with oxidized structures that differ in many respects, the two enzymes converge, yielding reduced conformations which are very similar to each other, which indicates that the conformational changes involved in catalysis are considerably diverse.

Crystallization↗
PubMed1998

Temperature-jump and potentiometric studies on recombinant wild type and Y143F and Y254F mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae flavocytochrome b2: role of the driving force in intramolecular electron transfer kinetics.

The kinetics of intramolecular electron transfer between flavin and heme in Saccharomyces cerevisiae flavocytochrome b2 were investigated by performing potentiometric titrations and temperature-jump experiments on the recombinant wild type and Y143F and Y254F mutants. The midpoint potential of heme was determined by monitoring redox titrations spectrophotometrically, and that of semiquinone flavin/reduced flavin (Fsq/Fred) and oxidized flavin (Fox)/Fsq couples by electron paramagnetic resonance experiments at room temperature. The effects of pyruvate on the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were also investigated. At room temperature, pH 7.0 and I = 0.1 M, the redox potential of the Fsq/Fred, Fox/Fsq, and oxidized heme/reduced heme (Hox/Hred) couples were -135, -45, and -3 mV, respectively, in the wild-type form. Although neither the mutations nor excess pyruvate did appreciably modify the potential of the heme or that of the Fsq/Fred couple, they led to variable positive shifts in the potential of the Fox/Fsq couple, thus modulating the driving force that characterizes the reduction of heme by the semiquinone in the -42 to +88 mV range. The relaxation rates measured at 16 degreesC in temperature-jump experiments were independent of the protein concentrations, with absorbance changes corresponding to the reduction of the heme. Two relaxation processes were clearly resolved in wild-type flavocytochrome b2 (1/tau1 = 1500 s-1, 1/tau2 = 200 +/- 50 s-1) and were assigned to the reactions whereby the heme is reduced by Fred and Fsq, respectively. The rate of the latter reaction was determined in the whole series of proteins. Its variation as a function of the driving force is well described by the expression obtained from electron-transfer theories, which provides evidence that the intramolecular electron transfer is not controlled by the dynamics of the protein.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed1998

The structure of the monomeric porcine odorant binding protein sheds light on the domain swapping mechanism.

The X-ray structure of the porcine odorant binding protein (OBPp) was determined at 2.25 A resolution. This lipocalin is a monomer and is devoid of naturally occurring bound ligand, contrary to what was observed in the case of bovine OBP [Tegoni, M., et al. (1996) Nat. Struct. Biol. 3, 863-867; Bianchet, M. A., et al. (1996) Nat. Struct. Biol. 3, 934-939]. In this latter protein, a dimer without any disulfide bridges, domain swapping was found to occur between the beta- and alpha-domains. A single Gly (121) insertion was found in OBPp when it was compared to OBPb, which may prevent domain swapping from taking place. The presence of a disulfide bridge between the OBPp beta- and alpha-domains (cysteines 63 and 155) may lock the resulting fold in a nonswapped monomeric conformation. Comparisons with other OBPs indicate that the two cysteines involved in the OBPp disulfide bridge are conserved in the sequence, suggesting that OBPp may be considered a prototypic OBP fold, and not OBPb.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

N-terminal arm exchange is observed in the 2.15 A crystal structure of oxidized nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NiR-Pa) is a dimer consisting of two identical 60 kDa subunits, each of which contains one c and one d1 heme group. This enzyme, a soluble component of the electron-transfer chain that uses nitrate as a source of energy, can be induced by the addition of nitrate to the bacterial growth medium. NiR-Pa catalyzes the reduction of nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO); in vitro, both cytochrome c551 and azurin are efficient electron donors in this reaction. NiR is a key denitrification enzyme, which controls the rate of the production of toxic nitric oxide (NO) and ultimately regulates the release of NO into the atmosphere. RESULTS: The structure of the orthorhombic form (P2(1)2(1)2) of oxidized NiR-Pa was solved at 2.15 A resolution, using molecular replacement with the coordinates of the NiR from Thiosphaera pantotropha (NiR-Tp) as the starting model. Although the d1-heme domains are almost identical in both enzyme structures, the c domain of NiR-Pa is more like the classical class I cytochrome-c fold because it has His51 and Met88 as heme ligands, instead of His17 and His69 present in NiR-Tp. In addition, the methionine-bearing loop, which was displaced by His17 of the NiR-Tp N-terminal segment, is back to normal in our structure. The N-terminal residues (5/6-30) of NiR-Pa and NiR-Tp have little sequence identity. In Nir-Pa, this N-terminal segment of one monomer crosses the dimer interface and wraps itself around the other monomer. Tyr10 of this segment is hydrogen bonded to an hydroxide ion--the sixth ligand of the d1-heme Fe, whereas the equivalent residue in NiR-Tp, Tyr25, is directly bound to the Fe. CONCLUSIONS: Two ligands of hemes c and d1 differ between the two known NiR structures, which accounts for the fact that they have quite different spectroscopic and kinetic features. The unexpected domain-crossing by the N-terminal segment of NiR-Pa is comparable to that of 'domain swapping' or 'arm exchange' previously observed in other systems and may explain the observed cooperativity between monomers of dimeric NiR-Pa. In spite of having similar sequence and fold, the different kinetic behaviour and the spectral features of NiR-Pa and NiR-Tp are tuned by the N-terminal stretch of residues. A further example of this may come from another NiR, from Pseudomonas stutzeri, which has an N terminus very different from that of the two above mentioned NiRs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Resonance Raman study on the oxidized and anionic semiquinone forms of flavocytochrome b2 and L-lactate monooxygenase. Influence of the structure and environment of the isoalloxazine ring on the flavin function.

The oxidized and semiquinone anion radical forms of flavin mononucleotide carried by flavocytochrome b2 and L-lactate monooxygenase have been studied by resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy. The RR spectra of their oxidized forms are compared with previously published RR data on various flavins and flavoproteins. Taking as a support available X-ray crystallographic data on flavoproteins, we have found correlations between the frequencies of RR bands II (1575-1588 cm-1), III (1534-1557 cm-1), and X (1244-1266 cm-1) and the H-bonding environment and/or the structure of the flavin ring. The present RR data provide strong evidence that the electron density, the conformation, and the H-bonding environment of the oxidized flavin mononucleotide of flavocytochrome b2 and L-lactate monooxygenase are different. As far as the anionic semiquinone form of flavoproteins is concerned, the behavior of two bands observed at 1280-1300 and 1320-1350 cm-1 suggests that they have vibrational origins similar to those of RR bands II and III of oxidized compounds. On this basis, the differences in conformation and H-bonding environment of the isoalloxazine ring, observed for the oxidized form of flavocytochrome b2 and L-lactate monooxygenase, appear to be preserved upon one-electron reduction of the flavin. For both flavoproteins, the RR spectra of the semiquinone form are affected by pyruvate binding. The data are interpreted in the frame of a change in H-bonding interaction of the C4&dbd;O carbonyl group of the flavin without significant alteration of the isoalloxazine conformation. This modification in electrostatic interaction quantitatively accounts for the pyruvate-induced changes of the oxidized/semiquinone and semiquinone/reduced redox potentials of the flavoproteins. Considering the high homology in the flavin catalytic sites of flavocytochrome b2 and L-lactate monooxygenase, the observed differences in H-bonding environment and conformation of the FMN ring are related to the different biological functions of the two flavoproteins.

Benzoquinones↗
PubMed1997

Molecular interpretation of inhibition by excess substrate in flavocytochrome b2: a study with wild-type and Y143F mutant enzymes.

The crystal structure of flavocytochrome b2 (L-lactate dehydrogenase) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggests that Tyr143 plays a dual role at the active site: it contributes to substrate binding and, most importantly, makes a hydrogen bond to a heme propionate, which could facilitate communication between the domains. Previous work on the Y143F mutant enzyme provided support for these hypotheses [Miles, C. S., Rouvière-Fourmy, N., Lederer, F., Mathews, F. S., Reid, G. A., Black, M. T., & Chapman, S. K. (1992) Biochem. J. 285, 187-192; Rouvière-Fourmy, N., Capeillère-Blandin, C., & Lederer, F. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 798-806]. In the course of kinetic comparisons between the wild-type (WT) enzyme and the Y143F mutant protein, we observed for the latter signs of inhibition by excess substrate at much lower concentrations than observed for the former. A detailed investigation of the phenomenon has shown that, for the wild-type and Y143F forms, lactate at high concentrations inhibits both cytochrome c and ferricyanide reduction. In these cases, inhibition appears to be a specific effect, since acetate at identical concentrations exerts an inhibitory effect that is markedly weaker than that of lactate. In the pre-steady-state, in the absence of acceptor, flavin and heme reduction are unaffected by high substrate concentrations in the WT enzyme case. For the Y143F mutant, flavin reduction is similarly unaffected, but heme reduction is inhibited to nearly the same extent by high lactate and acetate concentrations. In this case, inhibition can probably be ascribed to ionic strength effects. The combination of stopped-flow and steady-state results suggests that lactate binds with weak affinity at the active site when the flavin is in the semiquinone state, preventing electron transfer to heme b2 and hence to acceptors. This phenomenon is analogous to the inhibition exerted by pyruvate when bound to the enzyme at the semiquinone stage [Tegoni, M., Janot, J. M., & Labeyrie, F. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 190, 329-342]. We suggest that the substrate carboxylate and the heme propionate of the mobile heme-binding domain compete for the Tyr143 hydroxyl group, hence for approach to the flavin. In the Y143F mutant enzyme, in which the interdomain interaction is impaired, competition would play in favor of the substrate, resulting in the inhibition at lower lactate concentrations than observed for the wild-type enzyme.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed1996

Domain swapping creates a third putative combining site in bovine odorant binding protein dimer.

In mammals, odorant binding proteins may play an important role in the transport of odors towards specific olfactory receptors on sensory neurones across the aqueous compartment of the nasal mucus. We have solved the X-ray structure of such a transport protein, bovine odorant binding protein (OBP) at 2.0 A resolution. The beta-barrel of OBP is similar to that of lipocalins, but OBP dimer association results from domain swapping, an observation unique among the lipocalins. The alpha-helix of each monomer stacks against the beta-barrel of the other monomer. Contrary to previous reports, each monomer has an internal buried cavity which could accommodate a naturally occurring molecule. Besides this cavity, an open cavity is located at the dimer interface. Data in solution suggest that this central cavity may be a binding site created by domain swapping.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Control of the redox potential in c-type cytochromes: importance of the entropic contribution.

The enthalpic and entropic components of the redox free energy variation of cytochrome c553 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough and its mutant Y64V, flavocytochrome b2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the different hemes of cytochromes c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway have been determined in 0.1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.0 (7.6 for cytochromes c3) at 25 degrees C by using nonisothermal potentiometric titrations. The set of available experimental data demonstrates that the entropic component plays an important role in the control of the redox potential in c-type and b-type cytochromes. The variation of the entropic component within the class of cytochromes characterized by a positive value of E degrees ' is proposed to be mainly determined by the variation of the exposure of the heme propionates to the solvent. In the case of tetraheme cytochromes c3, the thermodynamic characteristics vary largely among the hemes belonging to the same molecule, which reflects the environmental peculiarities of each heme and also the heme-heme redox interactions. This study substantiates the existence of compensatory effects between large and opposite contributions to E degree ' predicted by all the current theoretical models which are based on electrostatic free energy calculations.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

X-ray structure of two complexes of the Y143F flavocytochrome b2 mutant crystallized in the presence of lactate or phenyl lactate.

Flavocytochrome b2 is a flavohemo enzyme localized in the intermembrane space of yeast mitochondria, where it catalyzes the electron transfer from its substrate, L-lactate, to cytochrome c. We have obtained crystals of a flavocytochrome b2 mutant, Y143F, which are isostructural with those of the native recombinant enzyme [Tegoni, M., & Cambillau, C. (1994) Protein Sci.3, 303-314]. These crystals were grown under similar conditions to those used to obtain the recombinant enzyme, but in the presence of phenyl lactate or lactate. We report here on the structural analysis of the two complexes of flavocytochrome b2 with the reaction products at 2.9 A resolution. In both structures, the Phe143 phenyl ring keeps the same position as that of the phenolic ring of Tyr143 in both the native recombinant and in the native wild-type enzymes. The product of the reaction, phenyl pyruvate or pyruvate, is present at the active site of both subunits, and not only in subunit 2 as observed in the wild-type structure [Xia, Z.-X., & Mathews, F.S. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 212, 837-863]. The number of interactions between the FMN and the heme domain is considerably lower in the Y143F mutant than in the native proteins. The latter finding strongly supports the hypothesis that the main role of Tyr143 in the native proteins. The latter findings strongly supports the hypothesis that the main role of Tyr143 in the native protein probably consists in establishing a hydrogen bond with the heme [Xia, Z.-X., & Mathews, F.S. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 212, 837-863]. This interaction appears to be essential for the two domains to approach each other suitably so that the intramolecular electron transfer can occur.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1995

Reaction of the Hansenula anomala flavocytochrome b2 and cytochrome b2 core with inorganic outer sphere redox compounds.

The oxidation of reduced cytochrome b2 core and flavocytochrome b2 by three inorganic outer sphere compounds, Fe(CN)6(3-), Co(phen)3(3+) and Mn(CyDTA) (H2O)-, has been studied by stopped-flow. The reaction with Fe(CN)6(3-) is very rapid; the second order rate constants at 10 degrees C (pH 7) and I = 0.02 M are k = 1 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 and 1 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 for cytochrome b2 core and flavocytochrome b2, respectively. The reaction between cytochrome b2 core and Co(phen)3(3+), too fast at pH 7.0, has been characterized at 10 degrees C and pH 4.0; the second order rate constant is k = 2 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 and becomes 4 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 at pH 6.5. The reaction between flavocytochrome b2 and Co(phen)3(3+) has a second order rate constant k = 2 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 at pH 7.0, 10 degrees C. The oxidation of both proteins by Mn(CyDTA)(H2O)- is characterized by a second order rate constant k = 2.8 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 and 2.3 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 for cytochrome b2 core and flavocytochrome b2, respectively, at pH 7.0 and 10 degrees C. The reactivity of the b2 heme towards the outer sphere oxidants is higher than that reported for heme c in bacterial and eukaryotic cytochrome c. The larger delta E and the larger accessibility of the b2 heme can account for this result. The flavodehydrogenase domain seems to modulate the electron transfer also to these inorganic compounds, as found previously in the case of macromolecular electron acceptors.

Cobalt↗
PubMed1994

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a new crystal form of nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EC 1.9.3.2), a redox enzyme synthesized by the bacterium grown in the presence of nitrate, is a soluble dimer of two identical subunits of 60 kDa, each containing one c and one d1 haem as prosthetic groups. A new crystal from of the Ps. aeruginosa nitrite reductase in the oxidized state, suitable for X-ray structure determination, has been obtained by vapour diffusion at 20 degrees C, in the presence of 10% polyethylene glycol 4000, 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.7), 400 mM NaCl and at a protein concentration of 14 mg/ml. The crystals are dark green elongated tetragonal prisms of dimensions 1.5 mm x 0.2 mm x 0.2 mm for the largest ones. These crystals are tetragonal with space group P4(1(3))2(1)2 and cell dimensions a = b = 128.2 A, c = 172.6 A. They diffract at least up to 2.8 A. Assuming a dimer in the asymmetric unit, the VM value is 2.95 A3/Da (58% of solvent).

Crystallization↗
PubMed1994

The 2.6-A refined structure of the Escherichia coli recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae flavocytochrome b2-sulfite complex.

Flavocytochrome b2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzes the oxidation of L-lactate to pyruvate and the electron transfer to cytochrome c in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. It is a homotetramer with a molecular weight of 4 x 58 kDa, each monomer of which is composed of 2 distinct domains, the one carrying FMN and the other, a "b5-like" heme. The native structure has been described at a resolution of 2.4 A (Xia ZX, Mathews FS, 1990, J Mol Biol 212:837-863). The heme domains protrude from the central body of the tetramer consisting of the 4 FMN binding domains. Because only 2 heme domains are visible in the electron density map, the other 2 are probably disordered. We crystallized the Escherichia coli recombinant flavocytochrome b2 from S. cerevisiae inhibited by sulfite. Although the crystals were obtained under very different conditions from those of the pyruvate-containing native enzyme, they were found to be isostructural (P 3(2) 2 1, a = b = 164.5 A, c = 114.0 A). The 2.6-A X-ray structure was extensively refined with X-PLOR (R = 17.3%), which made it possible to describe in detail the recombinant flavocytochrome b2 molecular structure. There exist few differences between the native and recombinant structures, in line with the fact that they show similar kinetic behavior, and they further confirm the intrinsic mobility of the heme domain (Labeyrie F, Beloil JC, Thomas MA, 1988, Biochim Biophys Acta 953:134-141). This structure will be used as a starting model in the structural resolution of flavocytochrome b2 point mutants.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1994

Structural studies on recombinant and point mutants of flavocytochrome b2.

Flavocytochrome b2 from S cerevisiae is a homotetramer with a molecular mass of 4 x 58 kDa. It catalyses the oxidation of L-lactate into pyruvate and the electron transfer to cytochrome c in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Each monomer is composed of a flavinmononucleotide (FMN) carrying domain and a 'b5-like' heme domain. The wild type structure has been described at a resolution of 2.4 A. We report here on the refined structure of the E. coli native recombinant flavocytochrome b2 from S cerevisiae inhibited by sulphite and that of two point mutants, Y143F and Y254F, in which pyruvate is bound to the active site. The crystals, obtained under very different conditions from those of the native enzyme, are isostructural (P 3(2) 2 1, a=b=164.5 A, c=114.0 A). In line with the similarities found to exist in the kinetic behaviour of the native and recombinant protein, few structural differences were observed here, and the crystallographic data further confirm the intrinsic mobility of the heme domain. The superimposable position of the aromatic rings of Phe 143 in the mutant Y143F and Tyr 143 in the native protein makes it seem unlikely that the aromatic ring may be directly involved in the intramolecular electron transfer. The fact that a very restricted number of domain interactions was observed in Y143F shows that Tyr 143 is one of the amino acids essential to the formation of the productive complex. In the Y143F mutant, the number of catalytically efficient complexes is probably drastically decreased, which will severely limit the rate of intramolecular election transfer. The structure of Y254F shows a reorientation of the substrate at the active site. Together with the kinetic results, this finding definitely excludes the possibility that Tyr 254 may act as general base and that the substrate may interact directly with Phe 254 in the mutant. The model between flavocytochrome b2 and cytochrome c will serve as a basis for designing suitable mutants of the amino acids involved either in the interaction or the electron transfer.

Cytochrome c Group↗
PubMed1993

Expression in Escherichia coli of the flavin and the haem domains of Hansenula anomala flavocytochrome b2 (flavodehydrogenase and b2 core) and characterization of the recombinant proteins.

The flavin and haem domains of Hansenula anomala flavocytochrome b2 have been independently expressed in Escherichia coli. The flavin domain activity, studied only in the total cellular extract, owing to its instability, has characteristics very similar to those of the flavin domain obtained by proteolysis. The haem domain (r-core) has been purified to homogeneity and characterized in detail from spectroscopic and functional points of view. Spectral differences with respect to the domain produced by proteolysis (p-core) were found using resonance Raman and c.d. spectroscopy and have been interpreted in terms of changes in haem-protein interactions. However, this structural difference is functionally silent, since the r-core is able to reduce cytochrome c with the same efficiency as the proteolytic domain.

Base Sequence↗