Electron paramagnetic resonance properties and oxidation-reduction potentials of the molybdenum, flavin, and iron-sulfur centers of chicken liver xanthine dehydrogenase

Studies by e.p.r. (electron-paramagnetic-resonance) spectroscopy and by stopped-flow spectrophotometry on turkey liver xanthine dehydrogenase revealed strong similarities to as well as important differences from the Veillonella alcalescens xanthine dehydrogenase and milk xanthine oxidase. The turkey enzyme is contaminated by up to three non-functional forms, giving molybdenum e.p.r. signals designated Resting I, Resting II and Slow. Slow and to a lesser extent Resting I signals are like those from the Veillonella enzyme, whereas Resting II is very like a resting signal described by K. V. Rajagopolan, P. Handler, G. Palmer & H. Beinert (1968) (J. Biol. Chem. 243, 3784-3796) for aldehyde oxidase. Another non-functional form that gives the Inhibited signal is produced on treatment of the enzyme with formaldehyde. Stopped-flow measurements at 450 nm show that, as for the milk enzyme, reduction by xanthine is rate-limiting in enzyme turnover. The active enzyme gives rise to Very Rapid and Rapid molybdenum(V) e.p.r. signals, as well as to an FADH signal. That these signals are almost indistinguishable from those of the milk enzyme, confirms the similarities between the active sites. There are two types of iron-sulphur centres that give signals like those in the milk enzyme, though with slightly different parameters. Quantitative reduction titration of the functional enzyme with xanthine revealed two important differences between the turkey and the milk enzymes. First, the turkey enzyme FADH/FADH2 system has a redox potential sufficiently low that xanthine is incapable of reducing the flavin completely. This finding presumably explains the very low oxidase activity. Secondly, whereas the Fe/S II chromophore in the milk enzyme has a relatively high redox potential, for the turkey enzyme the value of this potential is lower and similar to that of its Fe/S I chromophore.

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Oxidation--reduction potentials of turkey liver xanthine dehydrogenase and the origins of oxidase and dehydrogenase behaviour in molybdenum-containing hydroxylases

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj1630279 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 163 (2) ◽

pp. 279-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

M J Barber ◽

R C Bray ◽

R Cammack ◽

M P Coughlan

Keyword(s):

Uric Acid ◽

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Xanthine Dehydrogenase ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Redox Potentials ◽

Paramagnetic Resonance ◽

Reduction Potentials ◽

Oxidation Reduction ◽

Temperature Electron ◽

Full Reduction

Redox potentials for the various centres in the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.37) from turkey liver determined by potentiometric titration in the presence of mediator dyes, with low-temperature electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy. Values at 25 degrees C in pyrophosphate buffer, pH 8.2, are: Mo(VI)/Mo(V)(Rapid),-350 +/- 20mV; Mo(V) (Rapid)/Mo(IV), -362 +/- 20mV; Fe-S Iox./Fe-S Ired., -295 +/- 15mV; Fe-S IIox./Fe-S IIred., -292 +/- 15mV; FAD/FADH,-359+-20mV; FADH/FADH2, -366 +/- 20mV. This value of the FADH/FADH2 potential, which is 130mV lower than the corresponding one for milk xanthine oxidase [Cammack, Barber & Bray (1976) Biochem. J. 157, 469-478], accounts for many of the differences between the two enzymes. When allowance is made for some interference by desulpho enzyme, then differences in the enzymes' behaviour in titration with xanthine [Barber, Bray, Lowe & Coughlan (1976) Biochem. J. 153, 297-307] are accounted for by the potentials. Increases in the molybdenum potentials of the enzymes caused by the binding of uric acid are discussed. Though the potential of uric acid/xanthine (-440mV) is favourable for full reduction of the dehydrogenase, nevertheless, during turnover, for kinetic reasons, only FADH and very little FADH2 is produced from it. Since only FADH2 is expected to react with O2, lack of oxidase activity by the dehydrogenase is explained. Reactivity of the two enzymes with NAD+ as electron acceptor is discussed in relation to the potentials.

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