The chemical modification of beef liver catalase. V. Ethoxyformylation of histidine and tyrosine residues of catalase with diethylpyrocarbonate.

In order to elucidate the possible roles of histidine and tyrosine residues of catalase [EC 1.11.1.6] in maintaining the quaternary structure and catalatic activity, diethylpyrocarbonate modification experiments were carried out. A method for the estimation of N-ethoxyformyl (EF)-His at pH 5--7 and of O-ethoxyformyl (EF)-Tyr in alkaline solution by measuring A 242 nm (ximM = 3.2) and A278 nm (ximM = 1.16), respectively, was developed. The formation of EF-His and EF-Tyr was an electrophilic reaction and was dependent on pH, exhibiting pK values of 6.8 and 9.9, respectively. The maximal yield of EF-His at pH 6.0 was 49% of the total histidine content, but no inactivation nor unfolding of the enzyme was observed. The formation of 12 EF-Tyr residues per mole of catalase at pH 8.1 did not cause any inactivation, but the formation of 8 more EF-Tyr residues at pH 8.9 resulted in both inactivation and unfolding. Nearly complete inactivation and partial splitting of catalase were observed when 43-46 EF-Tyr residues per mole were produced at pH 10.0. More EF-His residues were formed by the reaction of diethyl pyrocarbonate with cyanoethylated (CE)-catalase monomer (subunit) than with CE-catalase tetramer. The CE-catalase tetramer and monomer were extensively O-ethoxyformylated, reaching 100% EF-Tyr formation. These results indicate that a half of the histidine residues may lie outside the protein core and that three-quarters of the tyrosine residues are probably in the protein core of the enzyme. The production of 2--3 EF-Tyr residues per mole of the monomer by ethoxyformylation at pH 7.0 was accompanied by a decrease in the magnitude of the Soret peak. A possible interaction of those tyrosine residues with porphyrin of the heme group is discussed.