Structure of a superoxide dismutase and implications for copper-ion chelation.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) plays a central role in cellular defence against oxidative stress and is of pharmaceutical importance. The SOD from Potentilla atrosanguinea (Pa-SOD) is a unique enzyme as it possesses free-radical scavenging capability at temperatures ranging between 263 and 353 K. The crystal structure of recombinant Pa-SOD has been determined to 2.3 A resolution. The active-site residues are well ordered and additional water molecules are present in place of a bound copper ion. There is a significant difference in the relative orientation of the two subunits of Pa-SOD and asymmetry is also present in numerous hydrogen-bonding interactions. Structures of SODs, both bound with copper and unbound, have been compared with respect to the orientation of the electrostatic and Greek-key loops. This analysis provides new insights into the copper-chelation process in SODs. Several new structural features in Pa-SOD which may be responsible for its unique properties of thermostability and expanded range of antioxidant activity are also highlighted.