Contributions of the active site metal to the stability of carbonic anhydrase (CA) were quantified by differential scanning calorimetry and complementary unfolding measurements of CA substituted with Co(2+), Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+) and Mn(2+). The metal ions stabilize the protein to different extent, with the highest stability provided by the native Zn(2+). This additional stability does not correlate with the enthalpy of the three metal-imidazole (His) bonds at the active site or other properties of the metal ions (charge density, hydration enthalpy). However, DFT calculations reveal an energetic penalty associated with metal coordination at the active site, and the magnitude of this penalty correlates inversely with metal contributions to the stability of the protein. While the affinity of CA for metal ions generally reflects the Irving-Williams series, the additional thermal stability provided by metal ions is modulated by the rigid His3 coordination that is imposed at the protein site.
Keywords: Carbonic anhydrase; DFT calculations; Differential scanning calorimetry; Irving–Williams series; Metalloprotein stability.