Deciphering the structural role of histidine 83 for heme binding in hemophore HasA

J Biol Chem. 2008 Feb 29;283(9):5960-70. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M703795200. Epub 2007 Dec 27.

Abstract

Heme carrier HasA has a unique type of histidine/tyrosine heme iron ligation in which the iron ion is in a thermally driven two spin states equilibrium. We recently suggested that the H-bonding between Tyr75 and the invariantly conserved residue His83 modulates the strength of the iron-Tyr75 bond. To unravel the role of His83, we characterize the iron ligation and the electronic properties of both wild type and H83A mutant by a variety of spectroscopic techniques. Although His83 in wild type modulates the strength of the Tyr-iron bond, its removal causes detachment of the tyrosine ligand, thus giving rise to a series of pH-dependent equilibria among species with different axial ligation. The five coordinated species detected at physiological pH may represent a possible intermediate of the heme transfer mechanism to the receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Heme / chemistry*
  • Heme / genetics
  • Heme / metabolism
  • Histidine / chemistry*
  • Histidine / genetics
  • Histidine / metabolism
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Serratia marcescens / chemistry*
  • Serratia marcescens / genetics
  • Serratia marcescens / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • HasA protein, Serratia marcescens
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Heme
  • Histidine
  • Iron