A Resonance Raman Marker Band Characterizes the Slow and Fast Form of Cytochrome Oxidase.

Cytochrome oxidase (CcO) in its as-isolated form is known to exist in a slow and fast form, which differ drastically in their ability to bind oxygen and other ligands. While preparation methods have been established that yield either the fast or the slow form of the protein, the underlying structural differences have not been identified yet. Here, we have performed surface enhanced resonance Raman (SERR) spectroscopy of CcO immobilized on electrodes in both forms. SERR spectra obtained in resonance with the heme metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition at 650 nm displayed a sharp vibrational band at 748 or 750 cm when the protein was in its slow or fast form, respectively. DFT calculations identified the band as a mode of the His-419 ligand that is sensitive to the oxygen ligand and the protonation state of Tyr-288 within the binuclear complex. Potential-dependent SERR spectroscopy showed a redox-induced change of this band around 525 mV versus Ag/AgCl exclusively for the fast form, which coincides with the redox potential of the Tyr-O/Tyr-O transition. Our data points to a peroxide ligand in the resting state of CcO for both forms. The observed frequencies and redox sensitivities of the Raman marker band suggest that a radical Tyr-288 is present in the fast form and a protonated Tyr-288 in the slow form.