Introduction and characterization of a functionally linked metal ion binding site at the exposed heme edge of myoglobin

A binding site for metal ions has been created on the surface of horse heart myoglobin (Mb) near the heme 6-propionate group by replacing K45 and K63 with glutamyl residues. One-dimensional H-1 NMR spectroscopy indicates that Mn2+ binds in the vicinity of the heme 6-propionate as anticipated, and potentiometric titrations establish that the affinity of the new site for Mn2+ is 1.28(4) x 10(4) M-1 (pH 6.96, ionic strength I = 17.2 muM, 25 C). In addition, these substitutions lower the reduction potential of the protein and increase the pK(a) for the water molecule coordinated to the heme iron of metmyoglobin. The peroxidase [2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), ABTS, as substrate] and the Mn2+-peroxidase activity of the variant are both increased approximate to3-fold. In contrast to wild-type Mb, both the affinity for azide and the midpoint potential of the variant are significantly influenced by the addition of Mn2+. The structure of the variant has been determined by x-ray crystallography to define the coordination environment of bound Mn2+ and Cd2+. Although slight differences are observed between the geometry of the binding of the two metal ions, both are hexacoordinate, and neither involves coordination by E63.