Resonance Raman spectroscopy of arsanilazocarboxypeptidase A: determination of the nature of the azotyrosyl-248-zinc complex.

Resonance Raman spectra of arsanilazotryosyl-248 carboxypeptidase A (peptidyl-L-amino-acid hydrolase, EC 3.4.12.2) exhibit only the vibrational bands of its chromophoric azotyrosyl-248 residue uncomplicated by background interference from either water or other components of the protein. The resonance Raman spectra contain multiple, discrete bands which change as a function of pH, thereby demonstrating the existence of interconvertible species of the azotyrosine probe in solution. Spectra of model azophenols and of the apoazoenzyme establish the identity of these species. All conclusions about the azoenzyme based on the resonance Raman spectra, including the apparent pK values for the interconversion of these species, are in complete agreement with those drawn earlier from studies by absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the properties of resonance Raman bands that have been identified with the motions of specific atoms of azotyrosyl-248 provide details of the interactions of specific atoms of this chromophore with the catalytic zinc atom at the active site. In particular, this has allowed elucidation of the structure of the azotyrosyl-248-zinc coordination complex. Such experiments are also providing information on the effects of crystallization on the enzyme and on its interaction with inhibitors. The important potential of resonance Raman spectroscopy for the study of the structure of chromophoric components of active enzymatic sites and of metal complex ions is discussed.