Ion binding to lysine-modified derivatives of cytochrome c

Abstract
The effect of Cl and K+ ions on the apparent equilibrium constant of the reaction between horse ferricytochrome c and potassium ferrocyanide was studied. Unmodified cytochrome was compared with two lysine-modified derivatives. One, guanidinated, had all lysyl groups converted to homoarginine (but retained the same positive charge); the other was trinitrophenylated at one lysine (measured spectrophotometrically). Both modified derivatives had a somewhat larger equilibrium constant in the reaction of the reduced protein with ferricyanide, but, unlike trifluoroacetylated cytochrome c (which has a negative charge), the redox properties were not dramatically different. The native protein and the lysine-modified cytochromes showed differential K+ binding in Tris–cacodylate buffer at constant ionic strength (0.003–0.005 M). More K+ was bound to ferrocytochrome c. This redox-linked binding, however, was unaffected by modification of lysine. All three derivatives also showed redox-linked differential Cl ion binding (more Cl ion was bound to ferricytochrome); however, in this case, the binding was reduced in the lysine-modified molecules. This was interpreted as loss of a single anion site. This anion site critically depends on one or a few lysines which are more reactive with trinitrobenzene sulfonate.

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