Evidence for two histidine ligands at the diiron site of methane monooxygenase

Abstract

Circular dichroism spectroscopy has shown the hydroxylase component of methane monooxygenase to have a high helical content. The apoprotein has the same secondary structure as the holoenzyme. Chemical modification shows 12 histidines to be reactive with diethylpyrocarbonate in the holoenzyme, whereas 14 are reactive in the apoenzyme. Two histidine residues are implicated as iron ligands. Further chemical modification results suggest a cysteine residue is in close proximity to the diiron centre. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved