Preparation and initial characterization of the compound I, II, and III states of iron methylchlorin-reconstituted horseradish peroxidase and myoglobin: models for key intermediates in iron chlorin enzymes.

To better understand the spectral properties of high valent and oxyferrous states in naturally occurring iron chlorin-containing proteins, we have prepared the oxoferryl compound I derivative of iron methylchlorin-reconstituted horseradish peroxidase (MeChl-HRP) and the compound II and oxyferrous compound III states of iron MeChl-reconstituted myoglobin. Initial spectral characterization has been carried out with UV-visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism. In addition, the peroxidase activity of iron MeChl-HRP in pyrogallol oxidation has been found to be 40% of the rate for native HRP. Previous studies of oxoferryl chlorins have employed tetraphenylchlorins in organic solvents at low temperatures; stable oxyferrous chlorins have not been previously examined. The present study describes the compound I, II, and III states of histidine-ligated iron chlorins in a protein environment for the first time.