Unfolding process of rusticyanin: evidence of protein aggregation

Eur J Biochem. 2004 Nov;271(21):4284-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04368.x.

Abstract

The unfolding process of the Blue Copper Protein (BCP) rusticyanin (Rc) has been studied using a wide variety of biochemical techniques. Fluorescence and CD spectroscopies reveal that the copper ion plays an essential role in stabilizing the protein and that the oxidized form is more efficient than the reduced species in this respect. The addition of guanidinium chloride to Rc samples produces aggregation of the protein. Gel filtration chromatography and glutaraldehyde cross-linking experiments confirm the formation of such aggregates. Among the BCPs, this feature is exclusive to Rc. The aggregation could be related to the large molecular mass and large number of hydrophobic residues of this protein compared with those of other BCPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Azurin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Azurin / chemistry*
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Copper
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / pharmacology
  • Diffusion
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Guanidine / pharmacology
  • Ions
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Metalloproteins / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Folding
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Ions
  • Metalloproteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • rusticyanin
  • Azurin
  • Copper
  • Guanidine
  • Oxygen