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Neutral endopeptidase of a human airway epithelial cell line recovers after hypochlorous acid exposure: dexamethasone accelerates this by stimulating neutral endopeptidase mRNA synthesis.

Hypocholorous acid (HOCl) exposure of Calu-1 cells in situ leads to a relatively rapid and substantial decrease in whole cell neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity that may result from the internalization of NEP from plasma membrane surfaces. To confirm this, and to assess the time course of changes in cell NEP after oxidant exposure and the potential influence of corticosteroid treatment on these, we evaluated Calu-1 NEP activity by high performance liquid chromatography and NEP-specific mRNA over the ensuing 48 h after HOCl in the presence or absence of 1 microM dexamethasone. Cells, grown to confluency in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, were exposed for 5 min to 100 microM HOCl and then maintained in culture for 48 h thereafter. Before exposure, some cell plates were cooled to 4 degrees C and/or incubated for 5 min in 1 mM sodium azide. In some experiments, post-HOCl changes in NEP-specific mRNA in the presence or absence of dexamethasone were also evaluated using Northern blot analysis. We found that sodium azide at 4 degrees C totally blocked the effect of HOCl on Calu-1 NEP (n = 6). In the absence of sodium azide, NEP activity spontaneously recovered to preexposure levels within 24 h. This recovery occurred 6 h earlier in the presence of 1 microM dexamethasone. Furthermore, dexamethasone increased NEP activity at 24 and 48 h after HOCl. Northern blot analysis indicated that NEP-specific mRNA did not change during spontaneous recovery, but was increased by dexamethasone 24 h after HOCl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Relatively immediate relaxant effects of cholera toxin on isolated rabbit blood vessels.

A study was made on the relatively immediate relaxant effect of cholera toxin (CTX) on the isolated ear artery, thoracic aorta and saphenous vein of the rabbit. Both preparations of CTX, containing sodium azide (NaN3) and azide-free, showed no effect on the non-precontracted artery, but CTX containing NaN3 relaxed the moderately precontracted blood vessels with methoxamine promptly, i.e., with a time course of min order. However, the immediate relaxation produced by CTX containing NaN3 was attributed mainly to NaN3. Azide-free CTX, on the other hand, at 1-10 micrograms/ml gradually produced concentration-dependent relaxation of the precontracted vessels. The relaxant effects of CTX on the vessels were slow and long-lasting, i.e., with a time course of 10 min order. The relaxation induced by CTX was not influenced by the removal of endothelium nor by pretreatment with 10 microM indomethacin, 3 microM atropine or 3 microM propranolol. Activation of protein kinase C by a phorbol ester inhibited the relaxant effect of CTX. These results indicate that CTX relaxes the blood vessels by directly acting on the smooth muscles, without mediation by known endogenous relaxing factor, such as endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF = NO) or prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin) and by muscarinic receptor or beta-adrenoceptor.

Animals↗

An improved fixation technique for ultrastructural preservation of embryonic lenses.

Substandard ultrastructural preservation of mitochondria in rat lenses, resulting from glutaraldehyde fixation, prompted us to apply the technique of Minassian and Huang which involved the addition of 0.1% sodium azide (NaN3), an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, to the fixative. As had been found in other tissue types by these investigators, we determined that the presence of NaN3 greatly improved the ultrastructure of mitochondria in embryonic lenses. That the effect of NaN3 was not strictly osmotic was established by comparison of lenses fixed in azide solution with those fixed in non-azide solutions of comparable and higher osmolalities.

Animals↗

Hydrogen peroxide formation by cells treated with a tumor promoter.

To determine whether oxidants capable of DNA modification are produced by cells treated with tumor promoters, we adapted a fluorometric method to our needs. HeLa cells were preincubated with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFdAc), treated with various agents, sonicated, centrifuged and fluorescence of the oxidized product (DCF) was determined in supernatants. When cells were exposed to H2O2 in the presence of azide (catalase inhibitor) or o-phenanthroline (a lipophilic Fe chelator), an increase in fluorescence was observed. These results show that some Fe ions were interacting with the H2O2 which entered the cells, thus decreasing its levels available for oxidation of the substrate and potentially increasing formation of .OH, known DNA-damaging species. Glutathione (GSH), which is present in cells in substantial amounts, was found to reduce DCF whereas azide counteracted GSH-mediated reduction. Treatment of HeLa cells with 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in the presence of DCFdAc and azide resulted in dose- and time-dependent formation of DCF. Even when cells were sonicated prior to incubation with TPA, DCF was formed at levels proportional to the number of cells as well as dose of TPA. Flow cytometry of TPA-treated cells confirmed these findings. These results demonstrate that tumor promoters can cause oxidative activation of HeLa cells, which produce active oxygen species, most likely H2O2, that ultimately contribute to the formation of oxidized bases such as 5-hydroxymethyl uracil in cellular DNA. They also show that this fluorometric method can be utilized for determination of cellular H2O2 formation at nM concentrations.

Azides↗

Spin trapping of the azidyl radical in azide/catalase/H2O2 and various azide/peroxidase/H2O2 peroxidizing systems.

The azidyl radical is formed during the oxidation of sodium azide by the catalase/hydrogen peroxide system, as detected by the ESR spin-trapping technique. The oxidation of azide by horseradish peroxidase, chloroperoxidase, lactoperoxidase, and myeloperoxidase also forms azidyl radical. It is suggested that the evolution of nitrogen gas and nitrogen oxides reported in the azide/catalase/hydrogen peroxide system results from reactions of the azidyl radical. The azide/horseradish peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide system consumes oxygen, and this oxygen uptake is inhibited by the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, presumably due to the competition with oxygen for the azidyl radical. Although azide is used routinely as an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase and catalase, some consideration should be given to the biochemical consequences of the formation of the highly reactive azidyl radical by the peroxidase activity of these enzymes.

Azides↗

Purification and characterization of a catalase-peroxidase from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata.

Catalase-peroxidase was isolated from aerobically grown Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. The enzyme resembles typical catalases in some of its physicochemical properties. It has an apparent molecular weight of 236,000 and is composed of four identical subunits. It shows a typical high spin ferric heme spectrum with absorption maxima at 403 and 635 nm and shoulders at 503 and 535 nm. Upon binding of cyanide, the enzyme is converted to the low spin state, as shown by the shift of the Soret maximum to 418 nm and the band at 532 nm. It has an isoelectric point at pH 4.5. The enzyme differs from typical catalases in also having a strong peroxidatic activity with dianisidine, pyrogallol, and diaminobenzidine as electron donors. Both the catalatic and the peroxidatic activities are similarly inactivated by treatment with 1 mM H2O2, heating to 50 degrees C, exposure to ethanol/chloroform, and photooxidative conditions. In contrast to typical catalases, but similarly to peroxidases, the enzyme is reduced by sodium dithionite. The pH optimum of the peroxidatic activity is 5-5.3 (in contrast to 6-6.5 of the catalatic activity). 50% of the apparent maximal activities are reached at 0.3 and 4.2 mM H2O2 for the peroxidatic and catalatic activities, respectively. Both enzymic activities are equally inhibited by cyanide, 50% inhibition being achieved with 2.2 X 10(-5) M KCN. Contrarily, the two activities differ in their response to hydroxylamine and azide. 50% inhibition of the catalatic activity is obtained with 1.5 X 10(-4) M azide or 2.15 X 10(-6) M hydroxylamine; 50% inhibition of the peroxidatic activity requires 7.3 X 10(-4) M azide or 7.8 X 10(-5) M hydroxylamine. The activation energies of the catalatic and the peroxidatic activities are 1.9 and 1.7 kcal/mol, respectively.

Azides↗

In vitro penetration and absorption of chemicals into the ovine hoof.

Techniques are described for testing the ability of chemicals to penetrate through ovine hoof horn. Most chemicals tested had penetration rates of less than 0.1 mm per hour and formalin, a chemical widely used for treatment of foot rot, penetrated very poorly (less than 0.02 mm per hour). Chloramphenicol in ethanol solution gave the highest penetration rate (0.21 to 2.38 mm per hour) and other penetrative chemicals were zinc sulphate (0.06 to 0.58 mm per hour), copper sulphate (less than 0.05 to 0.38 mm per hour) and sodium azide (less than 0.05 to 0.24 mm per hour) in aqueous solution. Inclusion of sodium lauryl sulphate in treatments enhanced the penetration rates of zinc and azide approximately sixfold. Ethanol and nickel ammonium hydroxide also improved the penetration of zinc and azide, particularly through the hard horn from the abaxial wall of the claw. Absorption of zinc from solutions containing 10 per cent zinc sulphate gave hoof tissue concentrations of zinc from 0.22 to 0.88 mg zinc ions per g tissue (10 to 20 times that found in normal hoof samples) and most of this zinc was retained after the horn was washed continuously in running water for 24 hours.

Absorption↗

The respiration pathways of wild-type and petite mutants of Kluyveromyces lactis.

The existence of two alternative respiration pathways in Kluyveromyces lactis has been confirmed. Both pathways may be demonstrated in petite mutants of this yeast, suggesting that the major components in these pathways have an extramitochondrial origin. The antimycin A insensitive/sodium azide insensitive pathway (pathway I) is abolished by glucose repression of this yeast, whereas the antimycin A insensitive/sodium azide sensitive pathway (pathway II) is unaffected by this treatment. In K. lactis wild-type cells, the antimycin A insensitive/sodium azide sensitive respiration pathway (pathway II) is inhibited by salicyl hydroxamic acid, and this inhibition may be overcome upon addition of exogenous Fe3+ ions. This pathway in petite cells is unaffected by the presence of this inhibitor. The possible reasons for this are discussed.

Antimycin A↗

Ligand-dependent polyubiquitination of c-kit gene product: a possible mechanism of receptor down modulation in M07e cells.

Quantities of proteins in cells are balanced by protein synthesis and degradation. Protein ubiquitination is an important adenosine-triphosphate dependent proteolytic pathway for "short-lived" proteins. We show that soluble steel-factor (SLF) stimulation at 37 degrees C rapidly induced polyubiquitination of c-kit protein in growth-factor-dependent human-myeloid cell line M07e, resulting in smeared, retarded migration of c-kit protein in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the molecular weight region of 145 kD. Receptor ubiquitination was almost completely absent when cells were treated with SLF at 4 degrees C or at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.2% sodium azide, or when the cells were pretreated with anti-c-kit monoclonal antibody or genistein, a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor. This suggested that c-kit ubiquitination was ligand dependent and appeared to require intrinsic tyrosine-kinase activation of the c-kit protein. Flow-cytometric analysis of c-kit expression on the cell surface of M07e cells showed down modulation of c-kit within 5 minutes after soluble-SLF treatment at 37 degrees C. However, rapid receptor down modulation was almost completely suppressed when cells were treated with SLF at 4 degrees C or at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.2% sodium azide, conditions that concomitantly suppressed polyubiquitination of c-kit protein. In addition, these conditions almost completely suppressed radiolabeled SLF (125I-SLF) internalization after ligand-receptor interaction. Pulse-chase studies of 35S-methionine-labeled c-kit protein showed that SLF stimulation at 37 degrees C strikingly enhanced c-kit degradation (T1/2; approximately 20 minutes) compared with that in cells stimulated with SLF at 4 degrees C or at 37 degrees C with 0.2% sodium azide. However, in the presence of chloroquine, which blocks lysosomal degradation, this ligand-induced c-kit degradation at 37 degrees C was only suppressed in part. These data suggest that SLF-induced polyubiquitination of the c-kit receptor protein may play a role in regulation of c-kit-encoded protein-receptor expression in M07e cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glucocorticoid receptors in ATP-depleted cells. Dephosphorylation, loss of hormone binding, HSP90 dissociation, and ATP-dependent cycling.

Dependence of hormone binding to glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) on cellular ATP levels suggested that GRs traverse an ATP-dependent cycle, and without ATP accumulate in forms that cannot bind hormone. Such "null" receptors (NRs) were identified in ATP-depleted WEHI-7 cells, where they are tightly associated with the nuclear fraction and partly dephosphorylated. With WCL2 cells (Chinese hamster ovary cells with overexpressed GRs) depleted of ATP with azide, we have now identified dephosphorylated sites on NRs, studied possible roles of phosphorylation using GR mutants, and measured association with the 90-kDa heat shock protein (hsp90). Most NRs in WCL2 cells are dephosphorylated at serines 220 and 234, but GRs with those serines mutated to alanines do not resemble NRs since they bind hormone. They do not associate strongly with nuclei. On azide treatment, however, mutated GRs lose hormone binding capacity faster than normal GRs. Association of hsp90 (and presumably other heat shock proteins) with cytosolic GRs is drastically reduced by azide treatment, sufficient to account for decreased hormone binding. We conclude that: (a) dephosphorylation of GRs does not yield NRs, but may weaken association with hsp90. (b) The postulated ATP-dependent GR cycle can be accounted for by dissociation, and ATP-dependent reconstitution, of GR-hsp90 complexes. (c) ATP depletion blocks reconstitution of complexes. Uncomplexed GRs may accumulate as one form of NR; they are probably also the precursors for other forms of NR.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

On the two pathways of the M-intermediate formation in the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin.

The flash-photolysis technique was used to study the photocycles of the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin (WT bR) and D96N mutant. Kinetics of the L-intermediate decay and M-intermediate formation at pH 7.0, 20 degrees C fit well a sum of two components having time constants, tau (1) = 60 microS and tau (2) = 250 microS, for the WT bR, and a sum of three components having time constants, tau (1) = 55 microS, tau (2) = 220 microS and tau (3) = 1 mS, for the D96N mutant. The fast component with a time constant of 1.4 microS was found in the photoresponse at 400 nm. It constituted 10% of the total amplitude and may be attributed to the K-->L transition. The component with tau = 1 mS was observed in the photocycle of the WT bR as a lag phase in the relaxation of the photoresponse at 400 nm. The difference absorbance minima, corresponding to the first (55-60 microS) and the second (220-260 microS) components of the M-formation, were located at 550 and 530 nm, respectively. The absorbance spectra, corresponding to the 1-mS-component of the M-formation of the D96N bR, may be represented as a superposition of spectra, corresponding to the first and the second components in the region of 460-700 nm. The effect of azide on the D96N bR revealed two azide-independent components in the decay of L-intermediate. Azide was shown to protonate all M-forms simultaneously. This indicates that the Schiff base pK rises almost immediately after deprotonation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Azides↗

[Saltatory movements of the cytoplasmic granules in the cells of an ESK culture].

Saltatory movements of large (0.3-0.8 micron) granules in the cytoplasm of PK cells were described in norm and after nocodazole and sodium azide treatments. In untreated cells the length of single movements was up to 2 micron and even more (sometimes up to 5 micron). Nocodazole at a concentration of 0.2 micron and sodium azide at a concentration of 20 micron inhibited all rapid movements longer than 1.2 micron, but did not affect the frequency of movements shorter than 1 micron. The effect of nocodazole was reversible: the long rapid movements were seen resumed after its removal. A comparison of histograms (length versus frequency) of the rapid movements of granules in norm and after nocodazole and sodium azide treatments made it possible to conclude that real saltations (ATP and microtubule-dependent motions) are rapid translocations which exceed 1 micron.

Animals↗

Influence of protein environment on magnetic circular dichroism spectral properties of ferric and ferrous ligand complexes of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase.

The addition of exogenous ligands to the ferric and ferrous states of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) is investigated with magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) at 4 degrees C to determine the effect the protein environment may exercise on spectral properties. The MCD spectrum of each derivative is directly compared to those of analogous forms of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myoglobin (Mb), two well-characterized histidine-ligated heme proteins. The ferric azide adduct of CCP is a hexacoordinate, largely low-spin species with an MCD spectrum very similar to that of ferric azide HRP. This complex displays an MCD spectrum dissimilar from that of the Mb derivative, possibly because of the stabilizing interaction between the azide ligand and the distal arginine of CCP (Arg 48). For the ferric fluoride derivative all three proteins display varied MCD data, indicating that the differences in the distal pocket of each protein influences their respective MCD characteristics. The MCD data for the cyanoferric complexes are similar for all three proteins, demonstrating that a strong field ligand bound in the sixth axial position dominates the MCD characteristics of the derivative. Similarly, the ferric NO complexes of the three proteins show MCD spectra similar in feature position and shape, but vary somewhat in intensity. Reduction of CCP at neutral pH yields a typical pentacoordinate high-spin complex with an MCD spectrum similar to that of deoxyferrous HRP. Formation of the NO and cyanide complexes of ferrous CCP gives derivatives with MCD spectra similar to the analogous forms of HRP and Mb in both feature position and shape. Addition of CO to deoxyferrous CCP results in a ferrous-CO complex with MCD spectral similarity to that of ferrous-CO HRP but not Mb, indicating that interactions between the ligand and the distal residues affects the MCD characteristics. Examination of alkaline (pH 9.7) deoxyferrous CCP indicates that a pH dependent conformational change has occurred, leading to a coordination structure similar to that of ferrous cytochrome b5, a known bis-histidine complex. Exposure of this complex to CO further confirms that a conformational change has taken place in that the MCD spectral characteristics of the resulting complex are similar to those of ferrous-CO Mb but not ferrous-CO HRP.

Azides↗

Intracellular production of reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils following activation by the soluble stimuli FMLP, dioctanoylglycerol and ionomycin.

The stimuli, sn-1, 2-dioctanoylglycerol; (DG8) the calcium specific ionophore, ionomycin, and the chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) can interact with normal human neutrophils and activate their superoxide/hydrogen peroxide generating NADPH-oxidase. In response to the peptide as well as DG8, the neutrophils produced both superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Since interaction between the cells and ionomycin was not associated with any notable superoxide production and hydrogen peroxide was induced only in the presence of azide, a potent inhibitor of the hydrogen peroxide-consuming enzymes catalase and myeloperoxidase, we conclude that this stimulus can generate oxygen metabolites intracellularly. Since the DG8-induced production of hydrogen peroxide was increased in the presence of azide, whereas the FMLP-induced response was largely unaffected, we concluded that the three stimuli differ in their capacity to generate oxygen metabolites intracellularly. The use of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol (DG10) as stimulating agent did not result in any detectable activation of the NADPH-oxidase. However, preincubation caused an increased (primed) response during stimulation with the chemotactic peptide FMLP. The response of primed neutrophils to FMLP proceeds with a time-course different from that seen in normal cells. From the results presented on FMLP-induced activity in the presence of azide, we conclude that FMLP causes normal cells to produce oxygen radicals which are released from the cells. However, the primed cells are also capable of generating oxygen metabolites that are retained inside the cells. In fact, measurement of the intracellularly generated metabolites discloses this to be the predominant part of the response.

Adult↗

Use of click chemistry to define the substrate specificity of Leishmania beta-1,2-mannosyltransferases.

Leishmania spp. are human pathogens that utilize a novel beta-1,2-mannan as their major carbohydrate reserve material. We describe a new approach that combines traditional substrate-modification methods and "click chemistry" to assemble a library of modified substrates that were used to qualitatively define the substrate tolerance of the Leishmania beta-1,2-mannosyltransferases responsible for beta-1,2-mannan biosynthesis. The library was assembled by using the highly selective copper(I)-catalysed cycloaddition reaction of azides and alkynes to couple an assortment of azide- and alkyne-functionalized small molecules with complementary alkyne- and azide-functionalized mannose derivatives. All mannose derivatives with alpha-orientated substituents on the anomeric carbon were found to act as substrates when incubated with a Leishmania mexicana particulate fraction containing GDP-mannose. In contrast, 6-substituted mannose derivatives were not substrates. Representative products formed from the library compounds were analysed by mass spectrometry, methylation linkage analysis and beta-mannosidase digestions and showed extension with up to four beta-1,2-linked mannosyl residues. This work provides insights into the substrate specificity of this new class of glycosyltransferases that can be applied to the development of highly specific tools and inhibitors for their study.

Alkynes↗

Regulation of glucose uptake by stressed cells.

Lactate production by BHK cells is stimulated by arsenite, azide, or by infection with Semliki Forest virus (SFV). In the case of arsenite or SFV infection, the increase correlates approximately with the increase in glucose transport as measured by uptake of [3H] deoxy glucose (dGlc); in the case of azide, the increase in lactate production exceeds that of glucose transport. Hence glucose utilization by BHK cells and its stimulation by anaerobic and other types of cellular stress is controlled at least in part at the level of glucose transport. The glucose uptake by BHK cells is also stimulated by serum and by glucose deprivation. In these circumstances, as with arsenite, stimulation is reversible, with t1/2 of 1-2 hours; stimulation is compatible with a translocation of the glucose transporter protein between an intracellular site and the plasma membrane (shown here for serum and previously for arsenite). The surface binding and rate of internalization of [125I]-labelled transferrin and [125I] alpha 2-macroglobulin was studied to determine whether changes in glucose transport are accompanied by changes in the surface concentration or rate of internalization of membrane proteins. The findings indicate that changes in glucose transport do not reflect a consistent and general redistribution of membrane receptors. Taken together, the results are compatible with the proposal that BHK cells exposed to stimuli like insulin or serum, or to stresses like arsenite, azide, SFV infection, or deprivation of glucose, respond in the same manner: namely, by an increased capacity to transport glucose brought about by reversible and specific translocation of the transporter protein from an (inactive) intracellular site to the plasma membrane.

Anaerobiosis↗

Calcium transport by sarcoplasmic reticulum of vascular smooth muscle: I. MgATP-dependent and MgATP-independent calcium uptake.

The components of 45calcium (Ca) uptake were studied in saponin skinned rat caudal artery. The steady-state Ca content increased when the free Ca concentration was varied from 10(-8) to 10(-4) M but was reduced by azide when the free Ca concentration exceeded 3.1 microM. The azide sensitivity and low affinity for Ca were consistent with functional mitochondria. The azide-insensitive component consisted of a small bound and a larger releasable Ca fraction. After skinning in Triton X-100, approximately 4 mumol Ca/kg wet tissue remained, which represented a tightly bound but slowly exchangeable Ca pool. The Ca content was independent of the free Ca concentration and MgATP, and it was not released with A-23187 or Ca. The Ca content of the larger fraction was a higher order function of the free Ca concentration and was released with A-23187, indicating it resided within a membrane-bounded structure. Ca uptake by the releasable fraction was increased by oxalate, MgATP, phosphocreatine, temperature, phosphate, and ruthenium red and represents Ca sequestered by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) with little contribution from other Ca binding or storage sites. It is described by the coefficients Umax = 96.94 mumol/kg wet tissue, K1/2 = 0.75 microM, and Hill coefficient = 1.70. The SR in this preparation regulates cytosolic Ca concentrations under physiological conditions and can accumulate Ca by MgATP-dependent and MgATP-independent process. The larger, MgATP-dependent Ca uptake is described by the coefficients Umax = 72.87 mumol/kg wet tissue, K1/2 = 0.8 microM, and Hill coefficient = 2.09 and is consistent with Ca sequestered by the Ca-transport ATPase of smooth muscle SR. The smaller, MgATP-independent uptake is described by the coefficients Umax = 24.14 mumol/kg wet tissue, K1/2 = 0.56 microM, and Hill coefficient = 1.01 and represents Ca sequestered by an unidentified mechanism or by a subpopulation of SR.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

EPR studies of ligand binding to the type 2/type 3 cluster in tree laccase.

Detailed investigations of the EPR-active copper ion in the trinuclear type 2/type 3 cluster site of T1Hg Rhus vernicifera laccase suggest that at least some inhibitor anions bind to what was an EPR-silent copper center of the resting enzyme. The key observation is that with [15N]azide the adduct exhibits remarkably well resolved ligand hyperfine structure indicative of splitting from three protein (histidine) nitrogens and one azide nitrogen. This accords nicely with recent X-ray diffraction studies of adducts of the related enzyme, ascorbate oxidase (A. Messerschmidt, H. Luecke, and R. Huber, 1993, J. Mol. Biol. 230, 997-1014). We have also characterized a previously unknown dicyanide adduct that exhibits an EPR signal with ligand hyperfine structure from two protein nitrogens and two cyanide carbons. Cyanide may bind to the same copper center as azide, but not without a structural reorganization of the cluster. The results also imply that the protonation of a bridging ligand within the type 2/type 3 cluster explains the pH dependence of anion binding. Imidazole interacts with the protein but does not bind to the EPR-active copper. In keeping with the function of the dioxygen reduction site, the type 2/type 3 cluster in laccase proves to be an extremely flexible host capable of accommodating a variety of ligands.

Azides↗