Binuclear copper clusters as active sites for oxidases.

Binuclear cupric ion clusters have been established in: human ceruloplasmin, hemocyanin, and mushroom tyrosinase. Substantial evidence makes it very probable that fungal laccase and zucchini ascorbate oxidase contain this cluster. Some evidence makes it possible that copper clusters function in the catalytic cycles of cytochrome oxidase (mammalian) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. These studies throw light on the criteria which must be employed to establish the existence of functional binuclear copper clusters in enzymes: (1) Stoichiometric Criteria: binding of O2 and CO with Cu/ligand = 2; redox titrations with n = 2; (2) Physical and Chemical Criteria: magnetic evidence of diminished paramagnetism of cupric centers, EPR evidence of broadened or absent absorptions, EPR evidence of magnetic dipolar interactions among cupric ions; absorption bands characteristic of Cu(II)-Cu(II) complexes; laser resonance raman scattering characteristic of peroxidic dioxygen in the oxyforms.