J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 256, Issue 22, 11612-11617, 11, 1981
Proximal strain and visible absorption changes in the model complexes of imidazole methemoglobin
S Neya and I Morishima
The visible absorption changes upon addition of 1-methylimidazole to ferric
protohemin(2-methylimidazole)2 were examined in dimethylsulfoxide at 21
degrees C. The formation of the mixed ligand complex,
protohemin(1-methylimidazole)(2-methylimidazole), was confirmed with the
equilibrium constant of 5.50 +/- 0.41. The absorption changes accompanied
with a rise of the high spin bands and a fall of the low spin bands were
interpreted to reflect the structural change of the iron-imidazole bond in
going from the strained to unstrained states. The calculated difference
spectrum between the mixed ligand complex and
protohemin(2-methylimidazole)2 exhibited peaks at 420, 500, 540, 560, and
620 nm. These peak positions were in good agreement with those reported for
imidazole methemoglobin upon addition of inositol of hexaphosphate (IHP).
The proton NMR observation for 1- methylimidazole-ligated methemoglobin
showed that IHP induces a structural change in the globin of the ligand
bound methemoglobin. This proton NMR observation and the visible difference
spectral similarity between imidazole methemoglobin and its model complex
suggest that IHP imposes a proximal strain of 300 +/- 50 cal/mol in
imidazole methemoglobin. Consideration on the strain energy and the sixth
ligand affinity in the model system suggests that the changes in the
noncovalent interactions between the globin and the porphyrin or ligand are
important to regulate the imidazole affinity of imidazole methemoglobin
bound with IHP.