An investigation of the decolorization of caeruloplasmin by acid.

1. The acid decolorization of caeruloplasmin was studied at various temperatures and pH values. 2. Two decolorization reactions may be distinguished: (i) an irreversible reaction with the thermodynamic characteristics of a protein denaturation; (ii) the attainment of an equilibrium between blue and colourless forms of caeruloplasmin with apparent pK 3.7 at 25 degrees . 3. The low temperature-dependence of the equilibrium suggests that it does not involve a gross denaturative change. 4. The reversible decolorization occurred both aerobically and anaerobically, indicating that the change does not involve dissociation of a copper-oxygen complex. 5. Spectral changes during the decolorization are described. 6. The changes occurring during acid decolorization are discussed in relation to a formal model of the gross structure of caeruloplasmin.