Abstract

To understand general aspects of stability and folding of c-type cytochromes, we have studied the folding characteristics of cytochrome c553 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough). This cytochrome is structurally similar but lacks sequence homology to other heme proteins; moreover, it has an abnormally low reduction potential. Unfolding of oxidized and reduced cytochrome c553 by guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) was monitored by circular dichroism (CD) and Soret absorption; the same unfolding curves were obtained with both methods supporting that cytochrome c553 unfolds by an apparent two-state process. Reduced cytochrome c553 is 7(3) kJ/mol more stable than the oxidized form; accordingly, the reduction potential of unfolded cytochrome c553 is 100(20) mV more negative than that of the folded protein. In contrast to many other unfolded cytochrome c proteins, upon unfolding at pH 7.0 both oxidized and reduced heme in cytochrome c553 become high-spin. The lack of heme misligation in unfolded cytochrome c553 implies that its unfolded structure is less constrained than those of cytochromes c with low-spin, misligated hemes. Study holds ProTherm entries: 6761, 6762 Extra Details: circular dichroism; cytochrome c; electrochmistry; heme;,protein folding

Submission Details

ID: qG2rAGu9

Submitter: Connie Wang

Submission Date: April 24, 2018, 8:32 p.m.

Version: 1

Publication Details

Wittung-Stafshede P,Protein Sci. (1999) Equilibrium unfolding of a small low-potential cytochrome, cytochrome c553 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris. PMID:10422842

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