The Open Macromolecules Journal

2010, 4 : 53-55
Published online 2010 December 21. DOI: 10.2174/1874343901004010053
Publisher ID: TOMACROJ-4-53

Conformational Transition of Cytochrome c

M. Antalík , D. Fedunová and J. Bágelová
Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, P. J. Šafárik University, Moyzesova 11, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic;

ABSTRACT

Conformational transitions of oxidized and reduced cytochrome c at various solvent conditions are summarized. Sorbitol stabilizes and NaCl destabilizes native cytochrome c structure against the acid denaturation. In the process of heating, NaCl more strongly stabilizes molten globular cytochtome c state than sorbitol in secondary structure region, but in heme region, sorbitol is stronger stabilizer of cytochrome c molten globular state than NaCl. In the presence of strong inorganic acids H2SO4 and HClO4 and their salts two low spin and one high-spin heme conformers occur. The unstable pentacoordinated conformer is formed in 8M H2SO4. Cytochrome c creates complexes with polyanions poly(vynilsulfate) and poly(4-styrene-sulfonate), which are able to mimic the effect of cytochrome c natural redox partner on its structure, as well as to prevent its the aggregation in aggregation prone conditions. Cytochrome c forms complexes with gold nanoparticles covered by glutation, which enhance stability in heme region at room temperature.

Keywords:

Conformational transition, stability, heme coordination, complexation, nanoparticle.