pH dependence of the redox potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551.

The redox potential of Ps. aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 varies with pH between pH 5 and 8. The pH dependence can be analysed in terms of a pKa of 6.2 in the oxidised form and a pKa of 7.3 in the reduced form. The same pKa values are also observed in NMR spectra of the two oxidation states and the pKa of 7.3 is observed in titration of the visible absorption spectrum of the ferrocytochrome. From the NMR studies these pKa values have been assigned to the ionisation of one of the haem propionic acid groups. pH dependence of redox potential is of variable occurrence among cytochromes and the possible significance and basis of this variation is discussed.