Combining Raman and XRD to study heme proteins


XRD2 structural data have been used to interpret resonance Raman spectra of neuroglobin mutants, where two protein conformers (with different heme insertion orientations) can be found.

(Ref:  Milazzo, L. et al, FEBS J., 287(17), 4082–4097 (2020))


LSavino_FEBS_2020
Neuroglobin variants show structural differences associated with perturbation of heme ligand binding. Loop mutants, with enhanced flexibility, have been studied: their ferric resonance Raman spectra in solution and in crystals are almost identical. Two protein conformers with a reversed (A) or a canonical (B) heme insertion orientation have been highlighted. Their abundance could be predicted from Raman marker bands and match X‐ray crystallography results. For the first time a reversed heme insertion has been identified by resonance Raman in a native 6‐coordinate low spin heme protein. This diagnostic tool could be extended to other heme proteins in order to detect ligand orientational disorder, which are likely to be correlated to functionally relevant heme dynamics.

Retrieve Article
Lack of orientation selectivity of the heme insertion in murine neuroglobin revealed by resonance Raman spectroscopy,
Lisa Milazzo, Cécile Exertier, Maurizio Becucci, Ida Freda, Linda Celeste Montemiglio, Carmelinda Savino, Beatrice Vallone and Giulietta Smulevich
The FEBS Journal 2020 287(17), 4082–4097, doi: 10.1111/febs.15241, PDB: 6RA6
Ultima modifica il Venerdì, 25 Settembre 2020 19:14