Detection by low-temperature magnetic circular-dichroism spectroscopy of optical absorption bands due to molybdenum (V) in the form of xanthine oxidase giving the Desulpho Inhibited e.p.r. signal.

The magnetic circular-dichroism (m.c.d.) spectra in the temperature range 1.5-100 K and the electronic absorption spectra at 4.2 and 295 K were measured for a number of desulpho xanthine oxidase derivatives. There were no significant differences between the absorption spectra that could be attributed to molybdenum. However, the visible-region m.c.d. spectrum of the ethanediol-treated metalloprotein (which gives rise to the Desulpho Inhibited e.p.r. signal) contained features assignable to Mo(V) absorption bands. This is the first report of the detection of optical bands of Mo(V) in an enzyme in the presence of other chromophoric centres.